From Ride to Lawsuit: Kiefer Sutherland Faces Assault Claims from Uber Driver

When an Uber ride goes catastrophically wrong, it doesn’t usually end with a celebrity arrest and a civil lawsuit. But that’s exactly what Uber driver Rafael Manvelyan is alleging happened on January 12 when he picked up Kiefer Sutherland in Los Angeles.

According to court documents, Manvelyan claims the“24”star was visibly intoxicated from the moment he got in the car. The situation escalated quickly—Manvelyan, who primarily speaks Russian and Armenian with limited English, says Sutherland became agitated and hostile when there was a communication barrier between them. What started as frustration, Manvelyan alleges, turned into something far more violent.

The lawsuit paints a disturbing picture. Manvelyan says Sutherland became increasingly aggressive during the ride, allegedly yelling and verbally abusing him before allegedly threatening to kill him. The driver claims Sutherland then attacked him repeatedly with closed fists, targeting his head, face, neck, and upper body. According to Manvelyan’s account, Sutherland also put him in a chokehold and continued with death threats even after the driver managed to escape the vehicle and run down the street.

The allegations don’t end with the physical altercation. Manvelyan says he has dashcam footage documenting at least portions of the incident, plus witnesses who saw it unfold. When police arrived at the scene, the driver’s forehead showed visible bruising and swelling—injuries he claims extended to his head, face, neck, spine, and shoulder.

Beyond the assault and battery claim, Manvelyan’s attorney, Mitra Sabouri, says the driver is also pursuing charges for intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. The case is seeking unspecified damages, including punitive damages. Sabouri emphasized in a statement that Manvelyan is a private citizen who didn’t seek public attention—he’s simply pursuing legal remedies for the injuries and damages he alleges he suffered. The attorney noted the dashcam footage won’t be released publicly out of respect for the driver’s privacy, allowing the facts and evidence to be addressed through the court process instead.