Ahmed v. Hassel

In November 2018, Ahmed, a Muslim Uber driver in New York City, filed a civil lawsuit against passenger Jennifer Hassel. The case, initiated on November 1, 2018, in New York State Supreme Court, stemmed from an earlier ride during which Hassel allegedly launched a tirade of Islamophobic slurs, attempted to forcibly remove Ahmed's religious head covering, and physically assaulted him. The incident was partially captured on video. Ahmed sought compensatory and punitive damages for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, framing the attack as a hate-fueled violation of his civil rights. The lawsuit highlighted the risks faced by minority rideshare drivers and the need for legal remedies against hate-motivated violence in public accommodations.

The parties reached a confidential out-of-court settlement in 2019. The defendant reportedly issued an apology and agreed to undisclosed financial terms, averting a trial.

Whether the defendant's actions were motivated by religious animus, constituting a hate crime under New York civil tort law, and the determination of appropriate damages for the physical and psychological harm suffered by the plaintiff.

The case drew widespread media attention to the surge of Islamophobic attacks against American Muslims, particularly those working in the gig economy. It prompted rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft to review and strengthen their driver safety policies and anti-discrimination guidelines, and it encouraged other minority drivers to come forward and legally challenge bias-motivated assaults.