California man charged with hitting Uber driver sues driver
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ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2014
In this Dec. 16, 2014 file photo, a man leaves the headquarters of Uber in San Francisco.
COSTA MESA, Calif. » A Southern California man captured on video attacking an Uber driver has sued the driver for $5 million, claiming the video was recorded without his consent, a newspaper reported today.
Former Taco Bell executive Benjamin Golden, 32, of Newport Beach was arrested in November and charged with misdemeanor assault and battery for allegedly hitting driver Edward Caban, 23, on Oct. 30 in Costa Mesa in Orange County.
In November, the driver sued the 32-year-old Golden for more than $25,000 in damages.
The Orange County Register reported today that Golden filed a cross-complaint last month saying Caban illegally recorded him and posted the video to YouTube.
The now-viral video captured by a dashboard-mounted camera shows Golden repeatedly striking Caban on the trip.
According to the newspaper, Golden says he was intoxicated and began to “fear for his safety and well-being” when the driver pulled over to “kick” him out of the car in an unfamiliar location. In the altercation, Golden was blinded by the driver’s pepper spray, the lawsuit says.
As a result of media coverage, Golden says he suffered humiliation and the loss of his job. The lawsuit claims invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress and assault and battery.
In an interview in November, Caban’s attorney Rivers Morrell said the Uber driver was traumatized by the attack.
“It’s been a living nightmare for this young kid who has never had any altercations,” Morrell told the Register. “He’s fearful, he can’t sleep, he just can’t get this out of his head.”
Golden has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges.
7 responses to “California man charged with hitting Uber driver sues driver”
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I sure hope the judge dismisses this suit and make this jack@$% pay for both sides legal fees. What nerve.
Something wrong with the word “jackass”?
Can’t handle his booze don’t drink. People should know that now days just about everyone have the ability to video whats going on around them with the kind of Technology we have. Not so bright for being an executive for a company.
“Golden says he suffered humiliation and the loss of his job.” Whose fault is that? Look who attacked the driver, from behind yet. What, can’t fight him face to face? What a WIMP. EVERYBODY knows your name and your face. Too bad… Send your pitiful rear end to prison for the charges.
What a POS
Too bad the driver did not have a pistol and knew how to use it. Would have saved us all a lot of costs.
I’d ask if that’s really what you think… but that “T” word would be problem