Opinion
24-cv-01535-MMC
08-29-2024
MARIBETH STENCEL, Plaintiff, v. LYFT, INC., Defendant.
Re: Dkt. No. 35
ORDER GRANTING LYFT'S MOTION TO DISMISS FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT
MARINE M. CHESNEY, United States District Judge
Before the Court is defendant Lyft, Inc.'s (“Lyft”) “Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint,” filed July 19, 2024, pursuant to Rules 12(b)(6) and 9(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff Maribeth Stencel (“Stencel”) has filed opposition, to which Lyft replied. Having read and considered the papers filed in support of and in opposition to the motion, the Court VACATES the hearing scheduled for September 13, 2024, and rules as follows.
BACKGROUND
Stencel, a resident of Arizona, alleges that on August 6, 2022, she was sexually assaulted by her Lyft driver. (See First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) ¶¶ 9, 134-141, Doc. No. 26.) Specifically, she alleges she “ordered a Lyft ride” during which she “began to feel lightheaded,” and that thereafter, the “[d]river reached back to touch her hand” and eventually “pulled into a commercial parking lot and lean[ed] his seat back.” (See id. ¶ 134-36.) She further alleges that she “woke up the next day half inside her doorway,” with her “belongings . . . strewn across the front lawn,” her “knees and legs . . . scraped bloody” and “bruises on her hips and buttocks.” (See id. ¶ 137.) Stencel alleges that she thereafter “went to the hospital where a [sexual assault] exam was performed,” that she subsequently “reported the incident” to the police and to Lyft, and that Lyft subsequently “informed [her] that the Lyft driver had been suspended from the Lyft platform.” (See Id. ¶¶ 139-140.)
According to Stencel, Lyft “has known of the ongoing sexual assaults and rapes by Lyft drivers upon Lyft passengers” for more than “eight years,” and has responded “inadequately]” by “continuing] to hire drivers without performing adequate background checks,” by “allow[ing] culpable drivers to keep driving,” and by “fail[ing] to adopt and implement reasonable monitoring procedures designed to ensure the safety of its passengers.” (See id. ¶¶ 2-3.)
Based on the above allegations, Stencel asserts the following ten causes of action against Lyft and 50 Doe defendants: (1) “Negligence (Including Negligent Hiring, Retention, Supervision, and Entrustment),” (2) “Misrepresentation,” (3) “Negligent Failure to Warn,” (4) “Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress,” (5) “Common Carrier's NonDelegable Duty to Provide Safe Transportation,” (6) “Other Non-Delegable Duties to Provide Safe Transportation,” (7) “Vicarious Liability for Lyft Driver's Torts (Employee, Retained Control, Apparent Agency, Ratification, California Public Utilities Code),” (8) “Breach of Contract,” (9) “Strict Product Liability (Failure to Warn and Design Defect),” and (10) “Violation of Unfair Competition Law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §V 17200 Et Seq.)” (See id 26:27-64:8.)
In her opposition, Stencel “abjures her claims for misrepresentation (Claim 2) and breach of contract (Claim 8), as well as claims arising from California's unfaircompetition statute Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 (Claim 10).” (See Pl.'s Opp'n. to Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss (“Pl.'s Opp'n.”) at 1:11-14, Doc. No. 38.)
LEGAL STANDARD
A. Failure to State a Claim
Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure "can be based on the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory." See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). Rule 8(a)(2), however, "requires only 'a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.'" See Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2)). Consequently, "a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations." See id. Nonetheless, "a plaintiff's obligation to provide the grounds of his entitlement to relief requires more than . . . a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action." See id. (internal quotation, citation, and alteration omitted).
In analyzing a motion to dismiss, a district court must accept as true all material allegations in the complaint and construe them in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. See NL Indus., Inc. v. Kaplan, 792 F.2d 896, 898 (9th Cir. 1986). "To survive a motion to dismiss," however, "a complaint must contain sufficient factual material, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). "Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level," Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, and courts "are not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation," see Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (internal quotation and citation omitted).
B. Pleading Fraud with Particularity
Rule 9(b) requires a plaintiff to “state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud,” see Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b), specifically, the “who, what, when, where, and how of the misconduct charged,” see Vess v. Ciba-Geigy Corp. USA, 317 F.3d 1097, 1106 (9th Cir. 2003) (internal quotation and citation omitted), and applies to claims based on “misrepresentations” as well as “omissions,” see GlenFed Inc. Sec. Litig., 52 F.3d 1541, at 1543, 1548 (9th Cir. 1994).
C. Choice of Law
A district court sitting in diversity over state-law claims applies the forum state's choice-of-law principles. See Nelson v. Int'l. Paint Co., 716 F.2d 640, 643 (1983), citing Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Elec. Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487 (1941). California uses a “three-step governmental interest analysis” to determine which jurisdiction's law applies. See Washington Mutual Bank, FA v. Superior Court, 24 Cal.4th 906, 919-920 (2001) (internal quotation and citation omitted). First, “the foreign law proponent must identify the applicable rule of law in each potentially concerned state and must show it materially differs from the law of California.” See Id. Second, if the laws differ, the Court must “determine what interest, if any, each state has in having its own law applied to the case.” See id. at 920. Third, where both states have an interest in applying their own law, the Court must “select the law of the state whose interests would be ‘more impaired' if its law were not applied.” See id. Where, however, neither party shows the laws of the two jurisdictions materially differ, California law applies. See Textron Inc. v. Travelers Casualty & Surety Co., 45 Cal.App.5th 733, 755 (2020).
DISCUSSION
By the instant motion, Lyft seeks an order dismissing Stencel's claims alleging common-carrier liability (Claim 5), vicarious liability (Claim 7), and negligent hiring, retention and supervision (Claim 1) for failure to state a claim. (See Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss Pl.'s First Am. Compl. (“Def.'s Mot.”) at 4:17-18, 10:19-20.)
A. Common Carrier Liability
“A common carrier is under a duty to its passengers to take reasonable action to protect them against unreasonable risk of physical harm.” See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 314A (Am. L. Inst. 2022). Stencel seeks to impose liability on Lyft as a common carrier. (See FAC ¶¶ 189-202.)
1. Material Difference in Law a. Arizona Law
Lyft, citing Nunez v. Pro. Transit Mgmt. of Tuscon, Inc., 271 P.3d 1104 (Ariz. 2012), argues common carriers in Arizona are subject to “general ‘reasonable care' principles,” rather than the heightened tort duties typical of a common carrier (see Def.'s Mot. at 4:19-22; see also Nunez, 271 P.3d at 1109 (holding “the appropriate standard of care in negligence actions by passengers against common carriers is the objective, reasonable person standard in traditional negligence law”)), and, consequently, that under Arizona law, Stencel's common carrier claim fails because it is duplicative of her negligence claim.
Stencel concedes the lower standard applies under Arizona law but argues “common carrier liability remains an independent tort which gives rise to Lyft's duty of care to its passengers.” (See Pl.'s Opp'n. to Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss (“Pl.'s Opp'n.”) at 5:18-21, Doc. 38.) As Lyft notes, however (see Def.'s Reply in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss (“Def.'s Reply”) at 2:5-11), such assertion is devoid of citation.
Accordingly, as under Arizona law, Stencel's claim for general negligence and common carrier liability both seek to impose liability for Lyft's negligence, the Court finds Stencel's common carrier claim is duplicative of her negligence claim and, as such, is subject to dismissal under Arizona law.
b. California Law
Under California law, a common carrier “must use the utmost care and diligence,” see Cal. Civ. Code § 2100, a standard higher than the “reasonable person” standard applicable to common carrier claims in Arizona, and thus, if California law applies, Stencel's common carrier claim is not duplicative of her negligence claim.
Accordingly, the Court finds a material difference exists between Arizona and California law on the issue of Lyft's liability as a common carrier.
2. Interest in Applying Law
Having ascertained that Arizona and California law differ on Stencel's common carrier claim, the Court next considers each state's interest in applying its own law. See Washington Mut. Bank, 24 Cal.4th at 920. A true conflict exists only “where each jurisdiction has a real and legitimate interest in having its [laws] applied under the circumstances presented [by the case].” See Cassirer v. Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection Found., 89 F.4th 1226, 1235-36 (9th Cir. 2024) (internal quotation and citation omitted).
Here, the conduct on which Stencel's claims are based occurred in Arizona (see FAC ¶ 9), and the California Supreme Court, in McCann v. Foster Wheeler LLC, 48 Cal.4th 68 (2010), itself recognized a jurisdiction's interest “in regulating conduct that occurs within its borders,” as well as “in being able to assure . . . commercial entities operating within its territory that applicable limitations on liability set forth in the jurisdiction's law will be available ... in the event they are faced with litigation.” See McCann, 48 Cal.4th at 97-98. Indeed, the California Supreme Court held that “when a state adopts a rule of law limiting liability for commercial activity conducted within the state in order to provide what the state perceives is fair treatment to, and an appropriate incentive for, business enterprises, . . . the state ordinarily has an interest in having that policy of limited liability applied to out-of-state companies that conduct business in the state, as well as to businesses incorporated or headquartered within the state.” See McCann, 48 Cal.4th at 91-92. Accordingly, the Court finds Arizona has a “real and legitimate interest” in applying its law.
Turning next to California's interest, although Stencel argues California has an interest in “regulating the liability of entities that reside and do business in California,” especially “when the alleged wrongful conduct by that defendant occurred in California” (see Pl.'s Opp'n. at 10:2-5), the cases on which she relies, McCann and Stangvik v. Shiley, Inc., 54 Cal.3d 744, 759 (1991), are readily distinguishable. In McCann, the California Supreme Court recognized California's interest in regulating injury-causing behavior only where “the injured person or business is a California resident,” see McCann, 48 Cal.4th at 94-96, and, in Stangvik, the California Supreme Court, while acknowledging California's interest in “deter[ring] negligent conduct” on the part of instate manufacturers whose products cause injury to out-of-state plaintiffs, found, in the context of forum non-conveniens, “the additional deterrence that would result if defendants were called to account for their allegedly wrongful conduct in a California court rather than the courts of [another jurisdiction] would be negligible,” see Stangvik, 54 Cal.3d at 759. As the California Court of Appeal has noted, although California has a “theoretical interest” in applying its law where a California defendant has caused an injury, that interest becomes “hypothetical” when “the injured persons are not California residents and were not injured in California.” See Chen v. Los Angeles Truck Centers, LLC, 42 Cal.App. 5th 488, 498 (2019) (concluding California had “more hypothetical than real” interest in applying its products liability law where bus distributed by California defendant was involved in roll-over accident in Arizona, injuring non-California resident)
Given the absence of a “real and legitimate interest” on the part of California, the Court finds there is no true conflict between Arizona and California law, and consequently, applies Arizona law to Stencel's claim, under which Lyft is not subject to heightened duties as a common carrier.
Accordingly, Stencel's claim alleging common carrier liability is subject to dismissal as duplicative of her negligence claim.
B. Vicarious Liability
Lyft next seeks dismissal of Stencel's vicarious liability claim, arguing she has failed to state a claim under three distinct theories: respondeat superior, apparent agency, and ratification. Lyft argues Arizona law applies to the claim and would preclude liability under all three theories, while Stencel argues Lyft is liable under all three theories in either jurisdiction.
In the FAC, Stencel also advances a theory of vicarious liability under California Public Utilities Code § 535 (see FAC ¶¶ 238-242) but has not responded to Lyft's argument that she fails to state a claim thereunder. Under these circumstances, the Court finds Stencel has abandoned a claim predicated on such theory. See Carvalho v. Equifax Info. Servs., LLC, 629 F.3d 876, 888 (9th Cir. 2010) (holding “plaintiff who makes a claim in his complaint, but fails to raise the issue in response to a defendant's motion to dismiss, has effectively abandoned his claim”) (internal quotation, citation, and alterations omitted).
1. Arizona Law
(a) Respondeat Superior
Lyft argues that, under Arizona law, an employer is liable for its employee's tortious conduct under the doctrine of respondeat superior only where the employee “was acing within the course and scope of his employment.” (See Def.'s Mot. at 6:20-22 citing Doe v. Roman Cath. Church of the Diocese of Phx., 533 P.3d 214, 222 (Ariz.Ct.App. 2023) (quotation omitted).)
In State v. Shallock, 941 P.2d 1275 (Ariz. 1997), however, the Arizona Supreme Court rejected a rule that the employer is “never vicariously liable for an intentional tort” committed by an employee. See id. at 1281. Under Arizona law, courts examine whether an alleged sexual assault is “expressly or impliedly authorized as part of [the tortfeasor's] job duties” and “incidental to his employment,” thereby subjecting the employer to vicarious liability, or “committed solely to further his own personal interests,” thereby precluding the employer's vicarious liability, to determine whether it is in the scope of employment. See Doe, 533 P.3d at 222.
Although Stencel argues the assault here “was perpetrated due to [the assailant's] job as a Lyft driver and part of or incidental to his role as [such],” her allegations fall short of cases in which Arizona courts have found an assault is within the scope of employment. In Shallock, for example, the Arizona Supreme Court found a jury question as to authorization existed where the defendant employer “was aware for close to a decade that [its employee], the person managing its affairs, was engaged in egregious improprieties and did little or nothing to call it to a halt.” See Shallock, 941 P.2d at 1282. Here, by contrast, although Stencel alleges the assault took place during a Lyft ride (see FAC ¶¶ 134-38), she also alleges that “Lyft informed [her] that the Lyft driver had been suspended from the Lyft platform” (see id. ¶ 140), an allegation essentially negating any inference of express or implied authorization.
Accordingly, under Arizona law, Stencel's vicarious liability claim, to the extent predicated on a theory of respondeat superior, is subject to dismissal.
(b) Apparent Agency
Under Arizona law, apparent agency exists “when (1) a principal intentionally or inadvertently leads one party to believe an agency exists, and (2) the party justifiably relies on the principal's representations.” See Fadely v. Encompass Health Valley of Sun Rehab. Hosp., 515 P.3d 701,706 (Ariz.Ct.App. 2022) (internal quotation and citation omitted). Lyft, relying on the Restatement of agency, argues Stencel fails to state a claim because she has not alleged a “close link between [the] agent's tortious conduct and the agent's apparent authority.” (See Def.'s Mot. at 9:9-12.) In response, Stencel argues “Lyft represented that Lyft drivers were its agents” (see Pl.'s Opp'n. at 12:22-23), and that Arizona law “imposes no requirement that a plaintiff make a showing that the agent had the principal's blessing to commit a tort.” (See Pl.'s Opp'n. at 13:10-11 (emphasis omitted).)
Arizona courts “usually” apply the Restatement “[a]bsent Arizona law to the contrary,” see Ft. Lowell-NSS Ltd. P'ship v. Kelly, 800 P.2d 962, 968 (Ariz. 1990), and neither party cites any Arizona law contradicting the Restatement.
Even accepting Stencel's assertion that she need not allege the Lyft driver had Lyft's blessing to commit the tort, application of the doctrine of apparent agency does no more than put the apparent agent in the same legal shoes as an actual agent, and, as discussed above, Stencel has failed to allege conduct on Lyft's part that would impose on Lyft respondeat superior liability for its driver's sexual assault. Accordingly, under Arizona law, Stencel's vicarious liability claim, to the extent predicated on a theory of apparent agency, is subject to dismissal.
(c) Ratification
Under Arizona law, ratification “is the affirmance by a person of a prior act which did not bind him but which was done or professedly done on his account, whereby the act, as to some or all persons, is given effect as if originally authorized by him.” See Phoenix Western Holding Corp. v. Gleeson, 500 P.2d 320, 326 (Ariz.Ct.App. 1972) (citation omitted). It arises when a party “accept[s ] the benefits of an allegedly unauthorized act when accompanied by knowledge of material facts since such [acceptance] amounts to a subsequent approval of the act by the principal who seeks to avoid liability.” See id., 500 P.2d at 326. Where an employer is unaware of an employee's misconduct, however, it cannot be said to have ratified the action. See Smith v. Am. Exp. Travel Related Servs. Co., Inc., 876 P.2d 1166, 1172-73 (Ariz. 1994) (finding employer not liable for sexual misconduct where plaintiff failed to allege knowledge of misconduct).
In the instant case, Stencel, as noted, alleges Lyft “suspended” the driver from its platform after she informed it of the assault (see FAC ¶ 140); she alleges no other facts suggesting Lyft was aware of the particular driver's misconduct and accepted the benefits thereof.
Accordingly, under Arizona law, Stencel's vicarious liability claim, to the extent predicated on a theory of ratification, is subject to dismissal.
2. California Law
(a) Respondeat Superior
In California, the doctrine of respondeat superior permits “an employer [to] be held vicariously liable for torts committed by an employee” when the plaintiff “prove[s] that the employee's tortious conduct was committed within the scope of employment.” See Mary M v. City of Los Angeles, 54 Cal.3d 202, 208 (1991). Vicarious liability attaches where, “in the context of the particular enterprise[,] an employee's conduct is not so unusual or startling that it would seem unfair to include the loss resulting from it among other costs of the employer's business.” See id. (internal quotation and citation omitted).
Here, Stencel argues, “[t]here is an actual conflict between California and Arizona law regarding the question of Lyft's respondeat superior liability for the sexual assault committed by its driver” (see Pl.'s Opp'n. at 9:19-20), and Lyft does not argue to the contrary, apparently relying on its argument that the Arizona Supreme Court's decision in Shallock is limited to an exceptionally narrow body of cases (see Def.'s Mot. at 7:248:18).
Under such circumstances, the Court finds Arizona and California law diverge on the issue of respondeat superior liability, and, where a conflict exists, courts, as discussed above, consider each state's interest in applying its own law. See Washington Mut. Bank, 24 Cal.4th at 920. As also discussed above, Stencel has failed to show California has a real and legitimate interest in applying its law to the conduct here at issue.
Accordingly, to the extent Stencel's vicarious liability claim is based on a theory of respondeat superior, Arizona law applies, and, consequently, such claim is subject to dismissal.
(b) Apparent Agency
Apparent agency in California, denominated “ostensible agency,” arises “when the principal intentionally, or by want of ordinary care, causes a third person to believe another to be his agent who is not really employed by him.” See Cal. Civ. Code § 2300. Ostensible agency has three requirements: (1) “[t]he person dealing with the agent must do so with belief in the agent's authority and this belief must be a reasonable one,” (2) “such belief must be generated by some act or neglect of the principal,” and (3) “the third person relying on the agent's authority must not be guilty of negligence.” See Kaplan v. Coldwell Banker Residential Aff., Inc., 59 Cal.App.4th 741, 747 (1997).
Here, although Stencel argues Lyft “does not dispute in its motion the existence of an apparent agency relationship with its drivers” (see Pl.'s Opp'n. at 12:27-28), Stencel, as discussed above, has alleged no conduct on Lyft's part that would impose on Lyft liability for its driver's sexual assault, irrespective of whether such driver is deemed an actual agent or an apparent one.
Accordingly, no conflict existing between Arizona and California law on the issue of apparent agency, California law applies, see Textron, 45 Cal.App.5th at 755, and, consequently, to the extent Stencel's vicarious liability claim is based on a theory of apparent agency, the claim is subject to dismissal.
(c) Ratification
In California, “[a] purported agent's act may be adopted expressly or it may be adopted by implication based on conduct of the purported principal from which an intent to consent or adopt the act may be fairly inferred.” See Dickinson v. Cosby, 37 Cal.App.5th 1138, 1158 (2019). As Stencel notes and Lyft does not dispute, an employer is held to have ratified an employee's conduct “where [the] employer fails to investigate or respond to charges that an employee committed an intentional tort, such as assault or battery.” (See Pl.'s Opp'n. at 15:11-14 citing Thomas v. Regents of the Univ. of Cal., 97 Cal.App.5th 587, 618-619 (2023).)
Here, although Stencel alleges Lyft “failed to respond adequately to reports of sexual misconduct, failed to adequately investigate reports of sexual misconduct, failed to report sexual misconduct to law enforcement, and reinstated drivers after complaints of sexual misconduct” (see FAC ¶ 236), she includes no such allegations particular to her assault or driver. In the absence of such allegations, Stencel has failed to plead ratification under California law. Cf. C.R. v. Tenet Healthcare Corp., 169 Cal.App.4th 1094, 1112 (2009) (finding allegations that “defendant, with knowledge of [employee's] misconduct, continued to employ him and destroyed documents was sufficient to state a claim that it ratified his sexual misconduct”).
Accordingly, no conflict existing between Arizona and California law on the issue of ratification, California law applies, and, consequently, to the extent Stencel's vicarious liability claim is based on a theory of ratification, her claim is subject to dismissal.
C. Negligence
Lastly, Lyft seeks dismissal of Stencel's claim for negligent hiring, supervision, retention, and entrustment. (See FAC ¶¶ 150-155; Def.'s Mot. at 11:3.) In support thereof, Lyft argues, and Stencel does not dispute, that Arizona law and California law are identical with regard Stencel's negligence claim, and, consequently, the Court applies California law. See Textron Inc., 45 Cal.App.5th at 755 (noting California will “apply its own rules of decision” where party fails to show laws are “materially different]”).
In California, “an employer can be held liable for negligent hiring if he knows the employee is unfit, or has reason to believe the employee is unfit or fails to use reasonable care to discover the employee's unfitness before hiring him.” See Juarez v. Boy Scouts of Am., Inc., 81 Cal.App.4th 377, 395 (2000), rev'd. on other grounds by Brown v. USA Taekwondo, 11 Cal.5th 204 (2021). Where, however, “there [is] nothing in [the employee's] background and nothing that [is] made known to [the employer] during [the employee's] tenure . . . that could be deemed a specific warning” of the employee's conduct, liability cannot attach. See Juarez, 81 Cal.App.4th at 397; see, e.g. Doe v. Uber Techs., 184 F.Supp.3d at 778-779 (dismissing claim for negligent hiring where plaintiff did “not allege anything that existed in [driver's] background that . . . should have prevented . . . approval”).
Here, Lyft argues Stencel's negligence claim fails because she alleges nothing in the Lyft driver's background or during his employment to suggest Lyft was negligent in either hiring or retaining him prior to his alleged assault on Stencel. (See Def.'s Mot. at 12:21-27.) Stencel makes no argument in response thereto, and the Court finds no allegations in Stencel's complaint making the requisite showing.
Accordingly, Stencel's negligence claim, to the extent it is based on the negligent hiring, supervision, retention, and entrustment of Stencel's assailant, is subject to dismissal.
To the extent Stencel appears to base her negligence claim on Lyft's failure to train and monitor its drivers as a group, such claim is not subject to dismissal, as Stencel has alleged facts to support a finding that Lyft had knowledge of numerous past sexual assaults (see FAC ¶¶ 111, 123-124) and failed to adopt available procedures to reduce that risk (see id. ¶ 110).
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, Lyft's motion to dismiss is hereby GRANTED. As Stencel may be able to cure the above-discussed deficiencies, she is hereby afforded leave to amend. Stencel Second Amended Complaint, if any, shall be filed no later than October 1,2024.
IT IS SO ORDERED.