Emily Normandin-Parker, 23, a 2022 University of California, Los Angeles graduate, was riding home in an Uber with friend Luna Moore on August 12, 2023, when Moore became sick and vomited in the car. Driver Vu Tran pulled over on State Route 73 in Orange County at a gore point—a triangular area between highway lanes—following an argument with Moore over a cleaning fee.
According to the arbitration award issued in July 2026, Normandin-Parker wandered into traffic in an inebriated state and was struck and killed. Retired judge Richard A. Stone, the arbitrator, found that Tran could have taken the nearby MacArthur Boulevard exit and stopped in a safe location instead. Stone described the gore point as unsafe and illegal under California Vehicle Code section 21718, noting that Tran himself admitted this at the hearing.
Stone found that Tran knew both women were intoxicated before leaving them at the gore point. GPS data showed Tran drove near Normandin-Parker’s body as he left, then pulled off at the next exit to call Uber about recovering the cleaning fee. The arbitrator characterized Tran’s testimony as “largely, in fact, almost entirely, incredible and unbelievable” and noted he showed more concern for his vehicle than his passengers.
In his ruling, Stone rejected Uber’s argument that it is merely a technology platform not responsible for its drivers’ actions. Instead, he found Uber vicariously liable as a common carrier—a status that carries a non-delegable safety duty under California law. Stone also rejected Uber’s Proposition 22 argument, writing that voters could not have intended to eliminate Uber’s liability for driver actions.
Normandin-Parker’s parents, Carol Normandin and Ken Parker, were each awarded $20 million. Moore received $300,000 for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Stone found Uber and Tran jointly and severally liable. The award noted that Uber had received previous complaints about Tran’s driving, and Stone expressed concern about Uber’s approaches to driver training, safety, and complaint handling.
Uber stated the arbitrator was wrong in holding the company legally responsible and said Tran had completed thousands of trips without unsafe incidents prior to this event. Tran can no longer drive for Uber.
Key facts
- Emily Normandin-Parker, 23, was struck and killed on State Route 73 in Orange County after Uber driver Vu Tran dropped her at a gore point (unsafe highway area)
- Arbitrator Richard A. Stone ordered Uber and Tran to pay $40 million total to Normandin-Parker’s parents ($20 million each) in July 2026
- Stone found Uber vicariously liable as a common carrier with non-delegable safety duties, rejecting arguments that Uber is only a technology platform
- The incident occurred after Moore became sick in the vehicle; Tran argued with her over a cleaning fee before dropping both women at the unsafe location
- Stone rejected Uber’s Proposition 22 argument, finding the 2020 ballot measure does not immunize Uber from vicarious liability for driver negligence