Charleston, South Carolina – A biotech executive has filed a lawsuit against Uber following a disturbing incident in April, when an Uber driver allegedly assaulted him in a downtown Charleston parking lot after refusing to carry his service dog.
Driver Background
Authorities arrested Uliumdzhiev on charges of second-degree assault and battery. After posting a $10,000 bond, he was later detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who discovered he had entered the country illegally and was using a fraudulent driver’s licence.
Despite this, records show he picked up another passenger just two minutes after leaving the scene of the alleged attack.
Incident at King Street
On 24 April 2025, TC BioPharm CEO Bryan Kobel, 45, was waiting with his service dog in a King Street restaurant car park when his Uber driver—identified as Vadim Nikolaevich Uliumdzhiev, 42—refused to allow the pet on board, citing an alleged allergy.
When Kobel asked to cancel the ride, the situation escalated. CCTV footage shows Uliumdzhiev allegedly grabbing Kobel by the throat before head-butting and punching him, knocking him unconscious and sending his dog to the ground.
Severe Injuries
Kobel was taken to hospital where he was treated for a concussion, a deep head wound requiring seven staples and stitches, and temporary cognitive difficulties including memory loss, screen intolerance, and disorientation.
“It was about 60 days before I could really have some semblance of a normal life,” Kobel said. “You wonder, will I ever be whole again?”
Lawsuit Against Uber
Kobel filed a lawsuit on 18 August 2025 against Uber and its subsidiary Raiser, accusing them of negligence in screening, hiring, and monitoring drivers. His attorneys argue that Uber’s failure to properly verify identity and immigration status created a clear safety risk for riders.
“Uber let a wolf into the henhouse,” Kobel said. “They allowed a man who was in the country illegally, with a fake licence, to pass their background checks and attack a passenger without cause.”
Uber’s Response
Uber has said: “There is no place for violence on the Uber platform. While we can’t comment on pending litigation, Uber is deeply committed to safety and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations around worker eligibility.”
The company insists it relies on accredited third-party background check providers such as Checkr, HireRight, and Samba Safety to carry out screenings.
Wider Concerns
The case has sparked fresh concerns about ride-hailing safety and whether background check systems are sufficient to prevent fraud, especially when dealing with fake licences and undocumented drivers.
Kobel’s legal team says the case highlights “serious gaps” in how rideshare companies protect passengers who trust them with their safety.
Source: Fox News
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