An Uber driver who uploaded a video of himself being attacked by a former Taco Bell employee is now suing the suspect and claims to be so afraid of the man, that he now sleeps with a shotgun by his side.
On Tuesday, authorities charged 32-year-old Benjamin Golden of Newport Beach with four misdemeanor counts including assault and battery. On the same day, the driver of the Uber, Edward Caban, filed a lawsuit against Golden for damages in excess of $25,000 for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
“I’m paranoid. I keep waking up in the middle of the night. I think I hear something. I keep the shotgun next to the bed now, and I’m honestly afraid that he’s going to come after me,” Caban told KABC.
https://youtu.be/xtJVbsHIj9o
The passenger, Golden, appears to argue with Caban over directions in the video. When Caban pulls into a shopping center, Golden seems to fall over in his seat. The two men argue and Caban tells Golden to get out of the car.
“Get out of my car or I will call the police,” Caban says.
Golden first opens the door, but then starts to hit Caban from behind and pulls his hair. Caban then pepper sprays Golden in his face.
Caban, who had only been driving for Uber full-time since July, says he is now looking for a new job because he doesn’t feel safe driving around passengers anymore.
Caban’s lawyer told KABC that the lawsuit is about promoting driver safety and making sure a message is sent to all riders and passengers that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated on any level.
