After a night out with a friend, Emily Normandin-Parker called an Uber but never made it home.
The 23-year-old UCLA graduate was hit and killed by another car on the freeway after her Uber driver pulled over on California 73 and ordered her and her friend to get out of the vehicle.
Judge Richard Stone ordered Uber to pay $40 million to Normandin-Parker’s parents, concluding that the company is responsible for its driver’s conduct, according to a news release from Panish, Shea, Ravipudi, the law firm representing the couple. The amount was determined after a five-day arbitration process and hearing.
Carol Normandin told The Times that the legal victory felt “hollow” as Uber had not accepted responsibility in her daughter’s death.
In August 2023, according to the release, Normandin-Parker’s friend, Luna Moore, got sick in the Uber and the driver, Vu Tran, stopped at a freeway gore point, the triangular area by the freeway’s off-ramp. Tran demanded payment for a cleaning fee and allegedly ordered the women out of the vehicle.
Normandin-Parker was intoxicated and was killed by a driver on the freeway, according to the release.
“He chose to pull over there and demand money and kick them out of the car,” Normandin told “Good Morning America.” “They argue, Emily gets hit while they’re arguing.”
The news outlet reported that, according to the arbitration award, Tran drove near Normandin-Parker’s body before taking the next exit. He didn’t render aid or call 911 but called Uber to seek a cleaning fee, according to the law firm’s release.
“No family should have to suffer the loss of a child, and our thoughts continue to be with the Normandin-Parker family,” an Uber spokesperson said in a statement. “While we respect the arbitration process, we believe the arbitrator was wrong in holding Uber legally responsible for the tragic events of that night.”
Judge Stone wrote in the arbitration that Tran stopped at an “unsafe and illegal” gore point and could have used the MacArthur Boulevard exit ramp and stopped at a safe place instead.
“Tran showed far more worry for his new car than he did for his passengers,” Stone wrote in the arbitration.
Tran is no longer a driver with Uber, according to the statement. He reportedly had completed nearly 6,000 trips with a 4.96 rating and didn’t have previous incidents involving unsafe freeway stops or rider injury.
But, according to the release, Uber also received multiple complaints about Tran’s “reckless behavior” after one customer said that he provided “the least safe” ride he had experienced. Uber told customers it was reviewing Tran’s account, but evidence at the arbitration showed that the company didn’t review Tran’s incidents.
Stone also ruled that Uber has a duty to protect its passengers and is accountable for harm caused by drivers. He rejected Uber’s claim that Proposition 22, which granted Uber an exemption from California employment law to continue treating workers as independent contractors, prevents Uber from being held liable.
The award provides $20 million each to Normandin and her husband, Ken Parker, for the death of their daughter.
“It’s hard to describe the reaction because it’s a terrible thing that happened,” Parker told The Times. “My reaction was relief … a hollow sense of victory. It’s important that the judge did what he did because there have been additional deaths since Emily, and unless Uber changes the way it does business, there will be more.”
“It doesn’t bring Emily back,” Normandin said. “We didn’t want money. We just wanted Uber to do what it says it’s going to do, which is bring her back home safely.”
The couple created the Emily Normandin-Parker Foundation to honor their daughter’s memory and advocate for stronger rider safety protections. Her family intends to use the money to fund the foundation.

Toys R Us is launching its biggest U.S. expansion in years, with 120 new standalone stores set to open in time for the holiday shopping season.
The retailer announced Thursday that it will open the new standalone stores across the U.S. this holiday season through a partnership with Go! Retail Group, bringing its total number of standalone U.S. stores to 160.
The rollout marks a major step in the brand’s yearslong effort to rebuild its brick-and-mortar presence since its 2017 bankruptcy and the closure of its U.S. stores the following year.
The company did not provide a full list of the new locations, their opening dates or store sizes in its announcement. It also did not specify whether all 120 stores will remain open after the holiday season.
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The new stores will stock toys, collectibles and gifts tied to major brands and entertainment properties, including LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Pokémon and “KPop Demon Hunters,” the company said. Select locations will also feature candy shops, cafés and Creator Studios, where influencers and toy companies can create content and host product launches.
“This is a major moment for Toys ‘R’ Us as we significantly expand our presence across the United States,” Jamie Uitdenhowen, executive vice president of Toys R Us at parent company WHP Global, said in a statement.
Uitdenhowen said the company is attempting to reach shoppers through several formats, including standalone stores, Toys R Us shops inside Macy’s, airport locations and Navy Exchanges.
Go! Retail Group CEO Gideon Schlessinger said the companies expect the 160 standalone stores to bring the Toys R Us shopping experience to millions of customers during the holidays.
The announcement accelerates a yearslong effort to revive a retailer that was once a fixture of American childhood.
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Toys R Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2017 after years of declining sales and under the weight of $5 billion in debt. The company shuttered its remaining U.S. stores in 2018 before reemerging under new parent company Tru Kids Brands the following year.
The retailer attempted an initial brick-and-mortar return in late 2019 with smaller-format stores in Paramus, New Jersey, and Houston, Texas. Both locations closed in January 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHP Global acquired a controlling stake in Toys R Us in March 2021 and opened a 20,000-square-foot flagship at the American Dream complex in New Jersey later that year.
The comeback gained more ground in 2022 when hundreds of Toys R Us shops opened inside Macy’s stores nationwide. Macy’s said at the time that its first-quarter toy sales were 15 times higher than during the comparable period before the partnership.
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WHP Global then partnered with Go! Retail Group in 2023 to roll out more U.S. flagship stores under an expansion strategy dubbed “air, land and sea.” The effort pushed the brand beyond traditional malls and included its first airport store at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Toys R Us is now expanding that travel footprint in Florida. One shop-in-shop opened at Orlando International Airport in August through a partnership with WHSmith North America, and another is scheduled to open in summer 2027.
The company also operates locations through the Navy Exchange Service Command, which serves members of the military and their families.
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Toys R Us said its global business generates more than $2 billion in annual retail sales through more than 1,680 stores and e-commerce operations in 37 countries.

Americans celebrating National Cheeseburger Day Friday can score free and discounted burgers at major restaurant chains, including McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Five Guys and others.
Most of the deals are available through restaurant loyalty programs or mobile apps, and several require a minimum purchase.
McDonald’s
Members of the MyMcDonald’s Rewards program can get a free Double Cheeseburger on Friday with a minimum $1 purchase through the McDonald’s app.
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“Since burgers are kind of our thing, we’d love for fans to come in and grab their favorite McDonald’s drink, snack or meal and add a Double Cheeseburger to celebrate the holiday with us,” a spokesperson for McDonald’s told FOX Business.
“And for fans who are looking for burger deals outside of the holiday, they can check out the McDonald’s App for deals every week.”
Burger King
Burger King is celebrating the holiday with a week of Royal Perks offers. On National Cheeseburger Day, loyalty members can receive a free Bacon Cheeseburger with a $3 minimum purchase through the Burger King app, according to USA Today.
The promotion is part of a weeklong lineup that also includes a free four-piece Chicken Nuggets with a $3 purchase on Sept. 19 and a free Original Chicken Sandwich with a $3 purchase on Sept. 20.
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Buffalo Wild Wings
At participating locations, Buffalo Wild Wings customers can get a free cheeseburger with the purchase of another regularly priced cheeseburger, “Today” reported.
The one-time offer can’t be combined with other discounts and excludes lunch combos and kids’ menu burgers, according to the chain.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s Rewards members can add a Dave’s Single Cheeseburger for $1.99 with any purchase through the chain’s app or website at participating U.S. locations, USA Today reported.
Red Robin
Red Robin is giving away 400 digital gift cards to celebrate the holiday. Customers can enter by commenting on the restaurant’s Sept. 18 post on Instagram or Facebook, as noted on its website.
Ticker Security Last Change Change % MCD MCDONALD’S CORP. 248.48 -0.08 -0.03% QSR RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. 73.29 -1.66 -2.21% RRGB RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS INC. 7.27 -0.04 -0.55% SHAK SHAKE SHACK 55.87 -0.78 -1.38% WEN THE WENDY’S CO. 6.99 -0.04 -0.57%
Five Guys
Five Guys is offering a buy one, get one free burger of equal or lesser value through Friday, according to USA Today.
Customers must order online or through the Five Guys app and use the promo code “BOGOBURGER” at checkout. The offer is not valid for in-store purchases.
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Carl’s Jr.
Carl’s Jr. Rewards members can get any burger for half price with the purchase of any Hand-Scooped Ice-Cream Shake on Friday through the chain’s app, according to USA Today.
“It’s national cheeseburger day and I love cheeseburgers and shakes,” the chain said in an Instagram post. “Go take advantage of my generosity.”
Shake Shack
Shake Shack customers can get a $5 single ShackBurger or single Cheeseburger with any purchase by using the code “BURGERDAY” in the Shake Shack app on the company’s website or at in-store kiosks, according to USA Today.
7-Eleven
For National Cheeseburger Day, 7-Eleven is offering a $6 meal deal that includes a 20-ounce Coke or Pepsi and a choice of an Angus Double Cheeseburger, Chicken Sandwich or Philly Cheesesteak, according to USA Today.
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Buffalo Wild Wings, Wendy’s, Burger King, Five Guys, Carl’s Jr., 7-Eleven and Shake Shack could not immediately be reached by FOX Business for comment.

Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) stock rose roughly 5.5% on Thursday, Sept. 17, after Intel warned that the memory shortage could get worse.
The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.1% and 1.7%, respectively.
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Tight supply can protect Micron’s prices and margins
At a Sept. 15 conference, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said that “memory production capacity is very limited and that “the situation will get even worse next year.”
Micron is the largest U.S.-based memory maker and has benefited immensely from the AI data center buildout. The memory crunch has led to incredible pricing power for Micron and its South Korean peers, Samsung and SK Hynix.
The market reacted positively to the CEO of a major chipmaker forecasting that not only will the supply crunch continue, but it will get worse through next year.
Micron stock also got a boost today from a broader rally across the stock market following an easing of bond yields and oil prices.
Micron’s June 2026 results left little room for a slowdown
Micron reported fiscal third-quarter 2026 revenue of $41.46 billion and an incredible 84.6% GAAP gross margin last quarter. The company has forecast revenue of about $50 billion in its current quarter. We’ll see the results on Sept. 30 when it reports again.
The key question is whether expectations have gotten ahead of the incredible numbers.
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The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved Paramount’s petition to allow 49.5% of its equity to be held by foreign entities once the Warner Bros. Discovery deal is complete.
Paramount owns 28 TV stations, and thus must get the FCC‘s approval for foreign ownership over 25%. Its acquisition of WBD is backed by three Gulf state sovereign wealth funds.
In approving the petition, the FCC dispensed with concerns over national security and improper influence, noting that the foreign funds — from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi — will not own voting stock.
“We are persuaded by Paramount’s argument that the Foreign Investors therefore will not be able to wield any influence, let alone control, over decisions involving the Licensees,” the commission’s decision states.
A Paramount spokesperson said Thursday that the company appreciates the FCC’s review of the matter, and noted that the Ellison family and RedBird Capital Partners will own 100% of the voting stock in the combined company.
“At a time when the media industry faces unprecedented competitive pressure from dominant big tech companies, a combined Paramount-WBD will have the scale and resources necessary to compete, invest, innovate, and deliver premium content to audiences worldwide,” the spokesperson said.
The merger is on hold pending the outcome of an antitrust suit filed in July by California and 11 other states. A trial is scheduled to begin next March.
Free Press, a media advocacy organization that has repeatedly raised alarms about the Trump administration, opposed Paramount’s request, arguing that foreign investors may well end up with a majority of the company’s equity.
“Control over for-profit, commercial domestic news media by any government is an extraordinary situation that would surely strike most Americans as unseemly, precisely because of the utility of the news media as a propaganda tool for those governments,” the organization wrote in its opposition.
A handful of Democratic senators also expressed concerns about the issue.
“The FCC has never approved a significant ownership stake of an American broadcaster by a
sovereign wealth fund — that is, an investment entity controlled by a foreign government,” wrote Sen. Maria Cantwell and others in May. “The plain text of the Communications Act prohibits ownership by ‘a foreign government or representative’ without regard to voting rights. And the FCC’s prior approval of foreign ownership of equity in broadcasters has been limited to entities based in allied NATO, Five Eyes, or friendly neighboring countries.”
Anna Gomez, the Democratic FCC commissioner, echoed those concerns in a comment on X on Thursday.
“The FCC just let some of the most repressive governments in the world indirectly control nearly all of a combined Paramount-Warner Bros,” she wrote. “An investment this large in one of America’s biggest media companies doesn’t just buy equity, it secures influence over what gets said and made.”
Though the foreign funds will own 49.5% of the equity when and if the merger goes through, Paramount sought permission for them to own up to 100%, given the potential need for future investment. The commission approved the request, provided that Paramount must obtain further approval if the entities are to own voting shares.