New York – A jury has ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a woman who said she was raped by one of the company’s drivers, a verdict that could influence thousands of similar lawsuits pending against the rideshare giant.
Jaylynn Dean sued Uber in 2023, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by her driver during a November 2021 ride. In her lawsuit, Dean argued that Uber failed to take adequate steps to prevent such attacks, despite promoting its service as providing “safe rides,” according to court records.
On Thursday, a federal jury in Arizona found Uber liable on the grounds that the driver was acting as an “apparent agent” of the company at the time of the assault. The jury did not find Uber liable for negligence or design defects, nor did it award punitive damages. Dean received $8.5 million — far less than the $144 million sought by her attorneys.
Rachel Abrams, a partner at the law firm Peiffer Wolf and one of Dean’s attorneys, called the verdict “a sign of what’s to come.”
Uber has long fought claims that it should be held responsible for sexual assaults committed by drivers using its platform.
Dean’s lawsuit was the first “bellwether” trial among roughly 3,000 similar cases consolidated in federal court. Such trials are designed to test legal arguments and assess potential outcomes, helping both sides gauge settlement strategies, said Alexandra Lahav, a law professor at Cornell University. A separate bellwether trial in California state court recently produced a different result, with a jury finding Uber not liable.
Although bellwether verdicts do not directly determine the outcomes of other cases, they often serve as indicators for future litigation. If other juries reach conclusions similar to Dean’s case, Uber could ultimately face tens of billions of dollars in damages.
“Because of Jaylynn’s bravery, a corporation valued at more than $150 billion globally will now be held accountable for the lifelong harm it caused her,” Abrams said in a statement to CNN. “We won’t rest until Uber implements the safety measures necessary to protect users on its platform.”
Uber said it plans to appeal the verdict.
“The jury rejected claims that Uber was negligent and that our safety systems were defective,” an Uber spokesperson said. “They awarded far less than what was sought and declined punitive damages entirely. This verdict affirms that Uber acted responsibly and has invested meaningfully in rider safety.”
CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson said the ruling could signal a turning point.
“If you’re Uber, this is deeply concerning in terms of future liability,” Jackson said. He added that an unsuccessful appeal could embolden plaintiffs’ attorneys in other cases, strengthening their negotiating position.
Beyond the federal litigation, about 500 additional lawsuits against Uber have been consolidated in California state court. In September, a California jury found Uber not liable in the first of those cases to go to trial.
“With two bellwether trials producing different outcomes, it suggests we’re likely to see more cases go before juries before either side moves toward a broad settlement,” Lahav said.
History of rideshare sexual assault claims
A 2018 CNN investigation identified at least 103 Uber drivers in the United States who had been accused of sexually assaulting or abusing passengers over a four-year period. In 2019, Uber released its first safety report, disclosing 5,981 reports of sexual assault in 2017 and 2018.
The company’s most recent safety report, covering 2021 and 2022, documented 2,717 reports of sexual assault and misconduct. Uber has said that more than 99.9% of trips are completed without any reported safety incidents.
In response to ongoing concerns, Uber has introduced several safety features, including ride-sharing with trusted contacts, annual background checks for drivers, in-app audio recording, and the option for women riders to request female drivers.
Despite those measures, scrutiny has continued. In September, US House lawmakers sent Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi a letter requesting a briefing on the company’s efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assaults by drivers. Uber said it welcomed the opportunity to discuss its safety policies and partnerships.
Uber’s competitor Lyft has also faced lawsuits related to alleged sexual assault by drivers and has promoted its own safety initiatives.
Sarah London, a partner at Girard Sharp and another attorney representing Dean, said the verdict marked progress but not closure.
“This decision validates the thousands of survivors who have come forward at great personal risk to demand accountability,” London said. “But thousands of cases remain, and justice will ultimately be measured by whether meaningful safety reforms are put in place to protect passengers going forward.”
