PHOENIX, Feb. 5 (GeokHub) — A federal jury in Arizona has ordered ride-hailing company Uber to pay $8.5 million after finding it liable in a lawsuit filed by a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by a driver using the platform, a verdict that could shape the outcome of thousands of similar claims nationwide.
The case is the first trial of its kind among more than 3,000 related lawsuits consolidated in U.S. federal court. Known as a bellwether case, the trial was intended to test legal arguments and help determine how future cases against the company may be resolved.
The plaintiff, Jaylynn Dean, filed the lawsuit in 2023, alleging that Uber failed to take adequate steps to protect riders despite being aware of repeated reports of sexual misconduct involving drivers. Her legal team argued that the company promoted its service as a safe transportation option, particularly for women traveling at night.
During closing arguments, Dean’s attorney said the company’s marketing created a sense of security that did not match the risks faced by riders, especially those who were vulnerable.
Uber disputed the claims, arguing it should not be held responsible for criminal acts committed by individuals who use its platform. The company emphasized that its drivers are independent contractors and said it conducts background checks and maintains safety reporting systems.
Uber’s lawyers told jurors that the driver involved had no prior criminal record, had completed thousands of trips, and held a high rider rating, arguing the incident could not have been reasonably foreseen by the company.
Before the trial, Uber said in a statement that it takes all reports of sexual assault seriously and continues to invest in technology and safety features aimed at preventing harm on its platform.
The case was overseen by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who is managing the broader group of federal lawsuits centralized in California. Uber is also facing hundreds of similar cases in state courts, including California, where one jury previously ruled that while safety measures were lacking, the company was not legally responsible for the harm in that instance.
Uber competitor Lyft is facing comparable lawsuits in both state and federal courts, though those cases have not been consolidated in the same way.
