MTA Driver Allegedly Assaults Disabled Passenger

A new lawsuit claims that a driver contracted by the MTA sexually assaulted a disabled passenger, even using a translation app to make his crude comments in Russian more understandable. This troubling situation was brought to light by Deshawn Curley, 54, who described her attacker in vivid detail.

Curley, who has neurological disorders that make traveling by train a challenge, recounts a traumatic incident that unfolded in a vehicle when she requested access on February 4th. The driver, identified as Kaka Chomakhidze, picked her up in a white Tesla outside LaGuardia Community College.

Curley claims she was late for her appointment and that Chomakhidze communicated through a translator, stating he didn’t speak English. As they drove along the highway, Curley alleges that the driver used the translation app to repeatedly say, “I like black girls,” while asking if she wanted to sit in a different seat. This uncomfortable situation escalated when he allegedly touched her inner thigh, court documents indicate.

Describing her distress, Curley explained, “I was crying… I was like, ‘No. It’s not right for him to put his hand between my legs—not once, but twice.’” After the ordeal, she left the car and still had the driver’s number. The next day, she texted him her feelings of distrust, to which he responded with an apology, saying he “just got hooked.”

Following the incident, Curley filed a police report and contacted the MTA, where she was assured the driver would be dismissed. However, her lawsuit claims that it took multiple calls and an entire month for the MTA to confirm his termination. Curley was initially told that the driver claimed she was lying.

The emotional toll has been significant; she struggled to return to classes she had been attending continuously before the assault. Curley, who had previously been a community healthcare worker, expressed, “I will not forget that,” while questioning how comfortable the driver seemed during the attack.

Her attorney, Mark Silian, stressed that this incident reflects a broader issue within the system regarding the protection of vulnerable passengers against sexual assault. He noted that it was only after Curley provided concrete evidence that the involved parties began to take action.

The MTA has not commented directly but confirmed that the contract service associated with Chomakhidze had been terminated following the allegations. Attempts to reach Chomakhidze for his side of the story were unsuccessful.

Curley hopes her lawsuit will encourage improvements in services for disabled individuals in New York. “I was in shock when it happened, so I couldn’t defend myself at the time,” she said, emphasizing that just because someone is disabled does not mean they should be taken advantage of. “I’ve been working my whole life, despite my challenges.”