CEO of Biotechnology Company Sues Uber After Alleged Attack

The CEO of TC Biopharm, Bryan Kobel, is suing Uber, alleging that he was violently attacked by one of its drivers, resulting in brain damage.

Kobel claims the incident occurred in April after a disagreement with a driver in South Carolina. He described the initial interaction as “harmless,” but things escalated when he told the driver that he unintentionally knocked him.

“I was in disbelief,” Kobel recalled. “Uber is a massive company valued at $200 billion. When a driver is out there with an Uber sticker, there’s a responsibility that comes with that. You trust that brand.”

Kobel expressed frustration with how Uber handled the situation.

“The driver picked up another fare just two minutes after the incident,” he mentioned. He provided Uber with hospital records, police documentation, and photos of his injuries.

“Within 48 to 72 hours, they disabled my account,” he said.

According to him, Uber did not adequately investigate the driver and avoided taking responsibility for his injuries.

“You’d expect that they would conduct a thorough background check. It seems that there’s a process in place that isn’t being followed,” Kobel asserted.

The driver, Vadim Uliumdzhiev, 42, is reportedly a Russian national who entered the U.S. illegally, as stated by the Department of Homeland Security.

Following the attack, he was arrested and charged with assault and battery, later released on a $10,000 bond, and has now been placed in ICE custody.

“I was left wondering,” Kobel said. “How often does someone like this act out? What else could happen?”

“It seems to me that this is part of Uber’s approach. It puts both drivers and passengers in potentially dangerous situations,” he added. “Whenever something negative occurs, the response is to distance themselves and claim no involvement.”

Kobel explained that the argument began over his service animal. The driver repeatedly insisted that the animal wasn’t permitted. Eventually, Kobel asked him to cancel the ride, stating he would confront him outside the vehicle.

“I simply said, ‘I’m getting in your car,’ and touched it. The next thing I knew, I was back in the hospital.”

His lawsuit claims he sustained a serious concussion and a deep laceration to his head, which required multiple staples.

An Uber representative responded with a statement, saying, “Violence has no place on the Uber platform. While we can’t comment on ongoing lawsuits, we prioritize safety and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.”