South Carolina Biotech CEO Sues Uber After Brutal Assault by Illegal Immigrant Driver (video)
- Victor Nwoko
- Aug 22
- 3 min read
A South Carolina biotech executive has filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging gross negligence after a violent parking lot attack by one of its drivers left him hospitalized and permanently scarred.
Bryan Kobel, 45, CEO of TC BioPharm, was assaulted in April outside a downtown Charleston restaurant by Uber driver Vadim Uliumdzhiev, 42, a Russian national living illegally in the U.S. According to the lawsuit, Uliumdzhiev, who was using a fake license, headbutted and punched Kobel, knocking him unconscious and sending his 17-pound goldendoodle service dog crashing to the pavement.
Kobel had just finished dinner at Maison on King Street with his girlfriend when he requested an Uber. Upon arrival, the driver refused to allow the licensed service dog in the vehicle. When Kobel attempted to cancel the ride, Uliumdzhiev allegedly launched a sudden attack.
Surveillance footage shows the driver storming out of his Audi SUV, confronting Kobel, and delivering a headbutt followed by a powerful punch. Witnesses called 911 as the bleeding CEO lay on the ground. “He’s bleeding very badly in the back of the head,” one bystander told emergency dispatchers.
Kobel was rushed to the hospital with a concussion and a severe head wound requiring seven staples. In the weeks following, he suffered memory loss, blurred vision, and difficulty speaking. “It was about 60 days before I could have some semblance of a normal life,” Kobel said. “You wonder if you’ll ever be whole again.”
Shockingly, while Kobel was receiving emergency care, his attacker reportedly picked up another Uber passenger just two minutes after fleeing the scene. Authorities later confirmed Uliumdzhiev had no valid driver’s license and had registered on the platform using fraudulent documents.
Following the incident, Kobel said Uber suspended and then deactivated his account despite him providing hospital records, police reports, and surveillance evidence. “Uber let a wolf into the hen house,” he said. “They allowed a man who was in the country illegally, with a fake license, to snake his way through their background check and violently assault a passenger.”
The lawsuit, filed against Uber and its subsidiary Raiser, accuses the rideshare company of failing to properly vet drivers, enforce safety standards, or act responsibly after the attack. Kobel’s attorney, Kenneth Berger, said, “Riders rely on Uber to know who is behind the wheel. Instead, a man using a fake ID was allowed to assault a passenger and flee. Uber must answer for how this happened.”
Uliumdzhiev was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and battery. After posting a $10,000 bond, he was transferred to a federal ICE detention facility in Georgia when officials discovered his unlawful immigration status. He remains in ICE custody, with a pending criminal case in Charleston County Circuit Court. His next court appearance is scheduled for mid-October.
Uber released a brief statement condemning the assault, saying, “There is no place for violence on the Uber platform. Uber is deeply committed to safety and complies with all applicable laws and regulations.” However, the company has not explained how the driver passed its background check with fraudulent documents.
“This is about more than just me,” Kobel said. “They need to change how they screen and monitor drivers before someone else gets hurt — or worse.”
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