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The federal judge overseeing more than 2,000 sexual abuse lawsuits against Uber has selected six cases to proceed as the first wave of bellwether trials (also referred to as test cases). The litigation accuses the rideshare giant of failing to protect passengers from predatory drivers. The first trial is set to begin on December 8, 2025.
The lawsuits, centralized under multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of California, claim that Uber did not implement adequate safety measures to screen drivers or prevent sexual violence. Though the company introduced “Safe Ride Fees” in 2014, plaintiffs argue those funds were not used to meaningfully improve rider safety. Core allegations include Uber’s failure to install in-car cameras, allow passengers to select drivers by gender, or mandate driver training on sexual assault prevention.
U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer ordered this first bellwether trial wave after a detailed selection process involving both plaintiffs and defendants. In December 2024, both sides nominated 10 cases each from a broader group of 20, which underwent case-specific discovery. On May 1, 2025, Judge Breyer selected six cases—four proposed by plaintiffs and two by Uber’s legal team.
The selected lawsuits reflect a range of alleged assaults, from verbal harassment to sexual penetration. Plaintiffs hail from California, Arizona, Texas, and Illinois. While most survivors have chosen to file anonymously, one of the bellwether plaintiffs, Jaylynn Dean of Arizona, publicly filed her lawsuit, alleging rape by an Uber driver in December 2023.
Among the other selected cases are allegations of groping and sexual battery. The court has directed that fact discovery on these six lawsuits be substantially completed by July 16, with expert reports due by August 8 and all Trial Wave 1 discovery to close by September 22.
Although the outcomes of these bellwether cases will not be binding for other plaintiffs, they are expected to influence settlement negotiations significantly. If the first trial is resolved before December 8, another case from the same wave will take its place. Lawyers nationwide are watching closely, as the verdicts may shape how future claims against Uber are resolved or litigated.
To learn more about your rights and options if you’ve experienced sexual assault in an Uber, visit our comprehensive Uber Driver Sexual Assault Lawsuit Guide.
