Uber ordered to pay $5,000 in second sexual assault federal trial

A federal jury in North Carolina on Monday said Uber should pay $5,000 to a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted by a driver she booked through the app, as the company continues to face thousands of similar claims across the United States, Reuters reported.

The verdict, delivered by a jury in Raleigh, followed a trial that began April 14. It comes on the heels of another recent case in Arizona, where a separate jury awarded $8.5 million to a woman who said an Uber driver raped her when she was 19.

While the monetary award in the North Carolina case is relatively small, it may carry broader implications. The case is one of several so called bellwether trials, which are designed to test how juries respond to evidence and legal arguments in a larger pool of more than 3,300 consolidated federal lawsuits. These outcomes can influence how remaining cases are valued and whether they move toward a global settlement.

The plaintiff, who is not identified in court filings, alleged that after arriving at her destination in Raleigh just before 2 a.m. in March 2019, her Uber driver grabbed her inner thigh and asked if he could “keep it with him,” prompting her to flee the vehicle.

Uber argued during the trial that it operates as a technology platform rather than a transportation provider, and therefore should not be treated as a common carrier under North Carolina law. The company also maintained that even if such a duty applied, it should not be held liable for the actions of independent contractors.

In addition, Uber contended that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate harm resulting from the incident, pointing to a medical history that included mental health and substance abuse issues predating the alleged assault.

An Uber spokesperson said the jury’s award represents a small fraction of the damages sought and “should further bring these cases back to reality.”

“That said, we believe the jury was once again incorrectly instructed on the question of liability and have strong grounds for appeal on that important point,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Lawyers for the plaintiff took a different view, describing the verdict as a sign that Uber cannot avoid responsibility for the conduct of its drivers. They also criticized the company for focusing on the plaintiff’s personal history during the proceedings.

Beyond the federal litigation, Uber is also facing more than 500 similar cases in California state court. In one of those cases that went to trial, a jury found that the company failed to implement adequate safety measures, but concluded that its negligence was not a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.

As additional bellwether trials move forward, each verdict continues to shape how courts and juries approach questions of liability, duty of care, and corporate responsibility in rideshare sexual assault cases.