Uber ordered to pay woman $8.5M in first trial over driver sex assault claims

A federal jury in Phoenix ordered Uber on Thursday to pay $8.5 million after finding it liable in a lawsuit brought by a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by a driver, a verdict that could influence thousands of similar cases against the ride-hailing company.The case, brought by plaintiff Jaylynn Dean, was the first trial – known as a “bellwether” – of more than 3,000 similar lawsuits against Uber that have been consolidated in federal court.Bellwether trials are used to test legal theories and help gauge the value of claims for possible settlements.The jury found that the driver was an agent of Uber, so the company was responsible for his actions.

They awarded Dean $8.5 million in compensatory damages but declined to award punitive damages.Attorneys for Dean had sought more than $140 million in damages.In a statement, an Uber spokesperson noted that the jury rejected Dean’s other claims, that the company was negligent or that its safety systems were defective, adding that the company plans to appeal.

“This verdict affirms that Uber acted responsibly and has invested meaningfully in rider safety,” the spokesperson said.Sarah London, an attorney for Dean, said the verdict “validates the thousands of survivors who have come forward at great personal risk to demand accountability against Uber for its focus on profit over passenger safety.”Uber shares fell 0.5% in extended trading following announcement of the verdict.Dean, an Oklahoma resident, sued Uber in 2023, one month after her alleged assault in Arizona.She said Uber was aware of a wave of sexual assaults committed by its drivers, but had failed to take basic actions to improve the safety of its riders.

Such assertions have long dogged the company, drawing headlines and congressional scrutiny.Alexandra Walsh, an attorney for Dean, said during the trial’s closing arguments that Uber had marketed itself as a safe option for women traveling at night, particularly i...