Waymo lawsuit: San Francisco tennis coach sues company after losing equipment
Dan Linley claims a Waymo self-driving car drove off with his expensive tennis equipment. The company says it's investigating the incident, while the coach has filed a lawsuit seeking $12,500 in damages.
A San Francisco tennis coach filed a lawsuit in small claims court after his professional equipment disappeared inside a Waymo self-driving vehicle. Dan Linley, a resident of the Nob Hill neighborhood, explained that on February 7, he boarded a self-driving taxi that dropped him off in Golden Gate Park, but the trunk didn't open as he expected. Inside, he had a large number of essential items for his job, including balls, racquets, and a portable teaching cart.
According to Linley, he tried to open the trunk using the Waymo app, as he had done on previous trips, but this time the option wasn't available. After contacting customer service, he witnessed the vehicle drive away with all his belongings still on board. Despite taking a photograph of the car and filing a lost and found report, he claims he hasn't received a satisfactory response in over two months.
Lawsuit for losses and lack of response
Linley claims that the missing equipment not only represents a significant financial loss, but has also affected his ability to generate income, as he is unable to teach classes without his materials. Therefore, he has requested $12,500 in compensation, covering both the value of the equipment and the lost earnings. The trainer stated that more than 20 people are currently interested in taking classes with him, but his lack of equipment prevents him from serving them.
Waymo, for its part, has not offered interviews but told local media that it is working to resolve the case. The company stated that its support team aims to reunite passengers with their belongings, although it did not specify any progress in the investigation. Linley, meanwhile, expressed his frustration, emphasizing that the belongings were not forgotten, but were inadvertently taken by the vehicle.
Waymo is a self-driving taxi company that operates in locations across the United States. Photo: Waymo
Impact on trust in self-driving taxis
This incident has led Linley to reconsider the use of driverless taxis, an increasingly popular option among San Francisco residents. Although he frequently used Waymo to get around, he now advises other users to keep their belongings in the backseat to avoid similar situations. “They were lost, not by my choice. I didn't lose them, the car took them,” he emphasized.
The situation also highlights the challenges that self-driving ride-hailing services face when handling incidents involving lost items. Despite technological advances, the lack of immediate human interaction in these cases can complicate problem resolution for users. Linley hopes his case will set a precedent for companies to improve their property recovery protocols
