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Jason Dalton, the Uber driver who allegedly went on a shooting spree that killed six in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in late February, is blaming Uber for his woes.
Jason Dalton, 45, is alleged to have gone on the murder spree in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on February 20, accepting ride fares through Uber in between the shootings.
Jason Dalton is demanding $10 million from Uber in punitive damages, according to the complaint.
“I worked years as a Uber contractor and they ripped me off, never paid me back wages or overtime,” Jason Dalton said in the complaint, which is dated March 11. “I busted my butt for them.”
In a statement, Uber said Jason Dalton refuses to take responsibility for his own actions.
“It’s hard to know how to respond to someone who refuses to take responsibility for his own actions,” the statement read. “Our hearts go out to the victims’ families who have to live with the consequences of his terrible crimes.”
Jason Dalton’s grievances with Uber didn’t end there. He described the car service company as a “hostile workplace environment” that treated him like a second-class citizen. He also said Uber didn’t give him a Christmas bonus, didn’t invite him to corporate parties, made him work when he was sick and didn’t let him spend time with his two children.
“Uber treats their drivers like crap,” Jason Dalton wrote.
Jason Dalton also said that Uber discriminated against his “mental health” and that the company “ruined” his life.
“I’m currently in prison because of Uber,” Dalton wrote. “My wife is divorcing me because of Uber.”
Jason Dalton ended the letter by expressing his wish for the lawsuit to be tried in front of jury. He signed the letter, “Respectfully submitted, Jason Brian Dalton.”
Jason Dalton, a Kalamazoo resident, was arrested on Feb. 21 after allegedly going on a shooting rampage in three separate incidents the day before. He was charged with six counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder and eight charges of using a firearm during the commission of a felony. He plead not guilty in an arraignment on Feb. 22.
He later told police that he believed the Uber app was controlling him.
“… It feels like it is coming from the phone itself, like an artificial presence,” Jason Dalton told investigators.
A spokesperson for Uber refuted that statement.
Jason Dalton has been charged with six counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and eight counts of felony firearm use in connection with the mass shooting.
On March 3, District Judge Tiffany A. Ankley ordered Jason Dalton to undergo an examination to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial. A report on Jason Dalton’s competency is due back to Ankley, Jason Dalton’s attorney, Eusebio Solis, and prosecutors by May 2.
Agencies/Canadajournal
