Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Landmark Sexual Assault Lawsuit

A U.S. federal jury has ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million in damages to a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by one of its drivers, marking the first bellwether trial among more than 3,000 similar lawsuits consolidated in federal court. The case, brought by Oklahoma resident Jaylynn Dean, was heard in Phoenix, where jurors found the driver acted as an agent of Uber, making the company legally responsible. While the jury awarded compensatory damages, it declined to grant punitive damages, despite the plaintiff’s legal team seeking over $140 million.

Uber said it plans to appeal the verdict, emphasizing that jurors rejected claims that the company was negligent or that its safety systems were defective. In a statement, the company said the decision shows it has “acted responsibly” and invested significantly in rider safety. Shares of Uber fell in after-hours trading following the verdict, while rival Lyft, which faces similar lawsuits, also saw a dip.

Dean’s attorneys argued that Uber failed to take stronger safety measures despite being aware of sexual assault allegations involving drivers and that it marketed itself as a safe option for women traveling at night. Uber’s defense maintained that the driver had no criminal history, had completed around 10,000 trips with a high rating, and that the company cannot be held liable for unforeseeable criminal acts by independent contractors. Legal analysts say the outcome of this bellwether trial could influence settlement talks and legal strategies in thousands of pending cases nationwide.

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