Uber and Lyft assault claims in North Carolina

Federal Consolidation — Uber MDL 3084 (N.D. Cal.): North Carolina Uber plaintiffs are included in MDL No. 3084 before Judge Charles R. Breyer in San Francisco. Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham are the primary rideshare markets in North Carolina contributing to the MDL plaintiff pool. The MDL provides coordinated discovery of Uber's corporate safety policies and driver background check records without requiring separate actions in the Eastern or Western Districts of North Carolina.

North Carolina Statute of Limitations: North Carolina General Statutes § 1-52 sets a three-year general personal injury SOL. For sexual abuse claims, NCGS § 1-52(16) provides a three-year period running from the date of discovery of the injury and its cause — the discovery rule. North Carolina's Child Sexual Abuse Victims Act (NCGS § 1-17(c)) provides that survivors of childhood sexual abuse have three years from the date they discover the connection between the abuse and a diagnosable injury, with no upper age limit cap, substantially protecting survivors who suppressed memories.

North Carolina Rideshare Regulations and Mandatory Reporting: North Carolina Session Law 2015-237 (TNC Act) requires national criminal background checks including sex offender registry searches for TNC drivers. Drivers with any sexual offense conviction are permanently disqualified. North Carolina's mandatory reporting statute (NCGS § 7B-301) requires certain professionals to report child abuse; adult sexual assault reporting is governed by NCGS § 14-318.4 and victim notification protocols. The North Carolina Utilities Commission oversees TNC permitting and compliance.