On the night of September 28, 2020, 27-year-old Andrew Ameer set out to do what thousands of rideshare drivers do every day: help someone get home safely.
Driving for Lyft in north St. Louis, Andrew accepted a routine ride request through the app. When he arrived at the pickup location, he was ambushed by two minors, Christopher Morgan and Ajane Barnes, who had created a fraudulent Lyft account using a false name, fake email, and a gift card.
Moments after Andrew pulled up, the teenagers attempted to carjack him. In the struggle, Morgan fatally shot Andrew, cutting short a young life and devastating his family. Andrew’s mother, Rochelle Ameer, has been fighting ever since to hold Lyft accountable—not just for Andrew but for all drivers and passengers vulnerable to similar dangers.
Thanks to Simon Law and a historic ruling by the Missouri Court of Appeals, she is now one step closer to justice.
A Landmark Legal Victory: Apps as Products
In a decision issued March 3, 2025, the appeals court unanimously reversed a lower court’s dismissal of Rochelle Ameer’s wrongful death lawsuit against Lyft. For the first time in Missouri history, a court ruled that a rideshare app like Lyft’s can be considered a “product” and is therefore subject to Missouri’s product liability laws.
“Rideshare companies have worked hard to make sure consumers cannot take legal action against them, even when the negligence of a rideshare company causes injury or death,” says Johnny Simon of Simon Law. “This ruling significantly changes that and creates a path to hold these companies accountable through litigation for their negligent actions that have had real, tangible, and harmful consequences.”
Simon Law, along with appellate counsel Jon Taylor of Gupta Wessler, argued that defects in Lyft’s app allowed Morgan and Barnes to evade identity verification and commit a violent crime.
They also highlighted that Lyft employs stricter safety measures in other states—such as requiring valid identification for riders using anonymous payment methods—but failed to implement those same protections in Missouri.
Why This Matters: A Duty to Protect
The court concluded that Lyft’s design choices contributed to Andrew’s death and that the company had a duty to protect him from foreseeable harm.
“Lyft brought [Andrew Ameer] into contact with persons Lyft knew or should have known to be particularly liable to commit criminal acts,” the ruling stated. “Lyft’s role is different from a mere service provider because Lyft designed and placed the Lyft app into the stream of commerce for the general public, putting Lyft in the best position to control the risk of harm.”
The court emphasized that a rideshare app, like any other product, must be designed with the safety of its users in mind. By failing to incorporate proper identity verification and other safeguards, Lyft created conditions where drivers like Andrew were exposed to unnecessary risk.
Broader Implications: A Safer Future for Rideshare Users
This ruling has far-reaching consequences not only for Lyft but for the entire rideshare industry. For the first time, a Missouri court has affirmed that digital platforms can be held liable under product liability laws—a significant shift in how tech companies may be regulated and held accountable.
Allowing inconsistent safety features from state to state, Simon Law argued, incentivizes companies to minimize protections in regions with less oversight.
“This decision helps ensure that rideshare drivers and passengers in Missouri—and potentially nationwide—receive the same level of protection that these companies provide elsewhere,” says Simon.
A Mother’s Fight, A Firm’s Commitment
For Rochelle Ameer, the court’s decision is a critical step forward in her fight for justice. And for Simon Law, it reflects their commitment to standing up for victims of corporate negligence.
“This is about more than one tragic night,” says Simon. “It’s about making sure that no other family has to endure what Rochelle and her family have gone through. We will continue to fight until these companies prioritize safety over profits.”
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio in partnership with Simon Law. The views and opinions shared reflect their perspective on the case and their ongoing work. To learn more about how Simon Law is working to protect consumers and create lasting legal change, visit simonlawpc.com.
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