The Taco Bell exec who got canned from his job after he was caught on video drunkenly attacking his Uber driver is suing the driver for $5 million.
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In the video, it appears Caban pulled out a can of pepper spray, reached back and doused Golden as he was being punched.
To boot, Golden is also attempting to have the video footage barred as evidence in the criminal case against him on charges of assault and battery.
Golden worked for Yum Brands and was a corporate manager for Taco Bell in California.
Hey Benjamin Golden! The video didn’t get you fired.
Golden, a Newport Beach resident, is taking an aggressive legal tack against Caban despite lawyers Pilchman and Anita Kay earlier having said that Golden wanted to “sincerely apologize” to the driver for the incident and that he was “extremely remorseful”. Pilchman called the Uber driver “quite the opportunist”.
According to Fortune, the couple welcomed a son at the hospital later that day after traveling with a different Uber driver, and the company refunded the $13.
But Caban’s lawyer noted that the abrupt change in tone from Golden’s earlier statements.
According to Fortune, an Uber driver drove away from David Lee, his wife who was in labor, and the couple’s birthing coach last November after seeing Lee’s wife vomiting on the sidewalk. The lawyer said the audio portion did not play a role in Golden getting fired.
Caban contends that he did tell Golden the ride was being recorded.
Golden was charged with assault and battery, while Caban launched a civil suit seeking damages in excess of $25,000 assault, battery, and infliction of emotional distress. Golden was seen intoxicated and could not communicate his destination, then grew angry when Edward Caban did not now where to go.
California is a two-party state with regard to video and audio recordings, meaning that both parties must consent to being recorded before a tape can be made.
Morrell also said that Caban had told Golden he was recording their ride.
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Golden also says since the video went viral, he’s since suffered from emotional distress and anxiety. “What’s he want to apologize for if everything was the fault of Edward?”
