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A federal jury in Phoenix has ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million after finding the company liable in a lawsuit brought by a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver, Reuters reported today.
The verdict marks the first bellwether trial outcome among more than 3,000 similar sexual assault lawsuits consolidated in federal court and could shape how future claims are evaluated.
The jury concluded that the driver acted as an agent of Uber, making the company legally responsible for his conduct. Jurors awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages but declined to impose punitive damages. Attorneys for the plaintiff had sought more than $140 million. Following the verdict, Uber shares dipped in after-hours trading, while shares of Lyft also fell.
Uber responded by emphasizing that the jury rejected other claims, including allegations that the company was negligent or that its safety systems were defective. In a statement, a company spokesperson said, “This verdict affirms that Uber acted responsibly and has invested meaningfully in rider safety,” and confirmed that the company plans to appeal the decision.
A plaintiff’s attorney 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.” The case is being closely watched because bellwether trials are designed to test legal theories and provide guidance on the potential value of large groups of related claims.
Legal analysts note that if the verdict is upheld on appeal, it may influence negotiations and trial strategies in other Uber sexual assault cases. While each claim depends on its own facts, the $8.5 million award could serve as a reference point for evaluating damages in similar lawsuits.
The plaintiff, an Oklahoma resident, filed suit in 2023, about one month after the alleged assault occurred in Arizona. Her lawsuit claimed that Uber knew of a pattern of sexual assaults by drivers and failed to take basic steps to better protect riders, allegations that have followed the company for years and drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators.
During closing arguments, a plaintiff’s attorney argued that Uber marketed itself as a safe option for women traveling at night, particularly those who had been drinking. “Women know it’s a dangerous world. We know about the risk of sexual assault,” the attorney said. “They made us believe that this was a place that was safe from that.”
Uber has consistently argued that it should not be held responsible for criminal acts committed by drivers using its platform. The company maintains that drivers are independent contractors and that even if they were classified differently, Uber cannot be liable for conduct that falls outside the scope of a driver’s duties. During trial, Uber’s counsel stressed that the driver had no prior criminal history, had completed thousands of trips, and held a near perfect rating, arguing that the alleged assault was not foreseeable.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff had been drinking when she requested a ride from her boyfriend’s home to a hotel. She alleged that the driver asked harassing questions during the trip, stopped the vehicle and sexually assaulted her. Uber disputes liability for the incident.
The case was overseen by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer of the Northern District of California. Breyer, who normally sits on the bench in San Francisco, which is home to Uber headquarters, is managing the multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving Uber sexual assault claims. In addition to the federal cases, Uber faces hundreds of similar lawsuits in California state court. In one prior state trial, a jury found Uber negligent in its safety measures but concluded that the negligence was not a substantial factor in causing harm.
Industry observers say the verdict highlights growing pressure on rideshare companies to strengthen background checks and safety protocols. Analysts suggest that while the broader financial impact remains uncertain, the decision underscores the risks facing convenience based platforms that rely on close interaction between customers and drivers.
Learn About the Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuits and Request a Free Case Review
Survivors deserve clear information and real options. To learn more about the Uber sexual assault litigation and understand how these cases are unfolding nationwide, visit our Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuits resource page. If you are ready to explore your legal options, you can request a free case review by filling out the confidential, secure form below.
