Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Driver Sexual Assault Verdict

A federal jury in Phoenix found Uber (NASDAQ: UBER) liable on Thursday in a lawsuit brought by a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by a driver, awarding the plaintiff $8.5 million in compensatory damages.

The case was the first to reach trial among more than 3,000 similar lawsuits against Uber that have been consolidated in U.S. federal court. Jurors concluded that the driver acted as an agent of Uber, making the company responsible for his conduct. The panel declined to award punitive damages, despite plaintiffs’ attorneys seeking more than $140 million.

The lawsuit was filed by Jaylynn Dean, an Oklahoma resident, who alleged she was assaulted in Arizona in 2023 after using the Uber app to travel from her boyfriend’s home to a hotel. Dean said she was intoxicated at the time and that the driver asked harassing questions before stopping the vehicle and raping her.

Uber said in a statement that the jury rejected other claims in the case, including allegations that the company was negligent or that its safety systems were defective. The company said it plans to appeal the verdict. An Uber spokesperson said the outcome showed the company acted responsibly and has invested in rider safety. Attorneys for Dean said the verdict supports claims from other survivors who have filed similar lawsuits. Legal observers said the outcome could influence negotiations in the broader litigation. John Carpenter, a personal injury attorney not involved in the case, said the $8.5 million award could serve as a reference point in future cases, while noting that each claim is assessed on its own facts.

During the trial, Dean’s lawyers argued that Uber promoted its service as a safe option for women traveling at night, including those who had been drinking. Uber countered that it should not be held liable for criminal acts committed by drivers using its platform and said the driver involved had no criminal history, nearly 10,000 completed trips, and a high rider rating. 

The case was overseen by Charles Breyer, who is managing the consolidated federal litigation against Uber in San Francisco. Uber is also facing more than 500 related cases in California state court. In the only state case to go to trial so far, a jury ruled in favor of Uber, finding that any negligence by the company was not a substantial factor in causing harm. Rival Lyft (NASDAQ: LYFT) is facing similar sexual assault lawsuits in state and federal courts, though those cases have not been consolidated at the federal level.

About Uber

Uber Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: UBER) was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company operates a global ride-hailing platform that connects riders with drivers through its mobile application. In addition to ride-hailing, Uber offers food delivery and freight services in multiple markets worldwide.

At the time of publishing, Stocks.News holds positions in Uber as mentioned in the article.