Biotech CEO Sues Uber After Illegal Immigrant Driver Assault in Charleston

Bryan Kobel, CEO of TC BioPharm, filed a lawsuit against Uber after being violently assaulted by an Uber driver, Vadim Uliumdzhiev, an undocumented Russian immigrant with a fake license, in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The altercation occurred after the driver refused to allow Kobel's licensed service dog in the vehicle, leading to Kobel canceling the ride. Surveillance footage shows the driver headbutting and punching Kobel, knocking him unconscious and causing severe head injuries that required medical treatment, including staples and resulting in concussion symptoms. Uliumdzhiev was arrested, charged with second-degree assault and battery, released on bond, and later placed in ICE custody due to his immigration status. Kobel accuses Uber of gross negligence in vetting its drivers and demands accountability for the failure to prevent an undocumented individual with a fake ID from driving for the company. The case has drawn attention to rideshare safety protocols and the need for more robust background checks and identity verification systems.