On January 30, Uber Technologies, Inc. launched a legal battle against a group of personal injury attorneys and medical professionals, accusing them of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that exploits minor vehicle collisions to fabricate injuries and inflate insurance claims. The lawsuit names multiple defendants including Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin LLP, Banilov & Associates P.C., the Law Office of Dominick W. Lavelle, Michael Gerling, Leonid Reyfman, and Pain Physicians NY PLLC.
The complaint alleges that these defendants conspired to exploit passengers involved in minor accidents by providing unnecessary medical treatments and surgeries to create false injury claims. According to Uber's filing, this fraudulent activity not only inflates settlement demands but also increases costs for Uber and its users. The defendants are accused of engaging in wire fraud, mail fraud, and bribery as part of their scheme.
Uber's complaint details several instances where passengers were allegedly directed by their attorneys to undergo extensive medical procedures following minor or non-existent accidents. In one case involving "Personal Injury Plaintiff A," it is claimed that the passenger was encouraged to undergo unnecessary spinal surgery after an incident involving a cardboard box on the road. The lawsuit accuses doctors like Michael Gerling and Leonid Reyfman of providing false diagnoses and testimony in exchange for payments from law firms.
The rideshare giant is seeking both equitable relief to prevent future misconduct and monetary damages to hold the defendants accountable for their actions. Uber argues that these fraudulent practices have caused significant financial harm not only to itself but also to other parties involved in similar litigation.
Representing Uber in this legal pursuit are its attorneys from various law firms who aim to bring justice against what they describe as a widespread pattern of corrupt activity affecting numerous individuals beyond just those using Uber’s services. This case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID 1:25-cv-00522.