Colorado State Representative Jenny Willford has initiated legal action against Lyft, filing a sexual assault lawsuit in a Colorado state court. She alleges that she was assaulted by a driver who was using another person’s profile—someone with a known criminal record. (We are naming the plaintiff because she did not file the case anonymously, and multiple news outlets have reported on the matter.)

The alleged incident took place in February 2024, during a ride where Willford claims she experienced unwanted physical contact, inappropriate remarks, and a distressing feeling of being trapped. Following her report of the assault, she asserts that Lyft’s only response was to issue a fare refund and prevent her from being paired with that driver in the future.

The lawsuit contends that Lyft’s inadequate background screening enabled an individual with previous criminal charges—such as menacing and child abuse—to continue operating on its platform. The legal complaint, which names both Lyft and Shanu Transportation, Inc., accuses the defendants of negligence, civil fraud, defective product liability, and breaches of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.

According to the lawsuit, Willford has experienced ongoing anxiety and a diminished sense of personal security since the incident. The filing also highlights broader concerns regarding Lyft’s handling of sexual assault cases, identity fraud, and unauthorized driver profiles, referencing over 6,000 similar reports. While Uber lawsuits are more commonly seen in such cases, Lyft is also facing multiple sexual misconduct lawsuits across states including California, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.