United States of America

Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5M in Assault Case, Faces 3,000 More

Published FEB 6

Story

Above: Uber signage on a vehicle. Image credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

A federal jury in Phoenix on Friday ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to Jaylynn Dean, who alleged she was sexually assaulted by a driver in November 2023 when she was 19 years old. The jury found Uber liable under the legal theory of apparent agency.
The Wall Street Journal
USA Today
The case was the first bellwether trial in federal multidistrict litigation involving more than 3,000 similar sexual assault lawsuits against Uber that have been consolidated in federal court. Bellwether trials test legal theories and help gauge claim values for settlements.
JD Journal
USA Today
Dean's attorneys sought $24 million in compensatory damages and $120 million in punitive damages, but the jury awarded $8.5 million and declined to award punitive damages. The jury rejected claims that Uber was negligent or that its app was defectively designed.
The New York Times
USA Today
Uber's internal documents showed that the company's Safety Risk Assessed Dispatch algorithm identified Dean's trip as having elevated risk for a serious safety incident before the ride began, but the company didn't warn her. An Uber executive testified that warning passengers would be "impractical."
The New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
Uber spokesperson Andrew Hasbun said the verdict affirms that Uber "acted responsibly and has invested meaningfully in rider safety." Uber argued the driver had no criminal history, completed training and had nearly 10,000 trips with top ratings. The company plans to appeal.
CNBC
USA Today
In September, a California state court jury found that while Uber was negligent with safety measures, that negligence was not a substantial factor in causing harm to a woman who alleged assault in 2016. Uber also faces more than 500 similar cases in California state court.
Engadget
USA Today

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Dean was extremely courageous in bringing this case against Uber and telling her harrowing story to the court. A lack of criminal charges against the driver didn't preclude her from bringing a civil case, especially since Uber is famously unsafe for so many riders. Uber must be held accountable for all of its wrongdoings.

Ian Fisch - Lead Coder on Kingmakers on X

Sebastián Gray on X

Areva Martin, Esq. on X

Narrative B

This was a cash grab that opens the door to more questionable cases. The driver wasn't even named or criminally charged in the suit, yet the plaintiffs think Uber should be held accountable. The inevitable result is higher fares, with regular riders footing the bill.

Nick Sortor on X