A federal jury in Phoenix has ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million after finding the company liable in a lawsuit brought by Jaylynn Dean, who says she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver when she was 19. The verdict is the first bellwether trial among more than 3,000 related cases consolidated in federal court to test legal theories and guide possible settlements.
Jurors concluded the driver acted as an agent of Uber and awarded Dean $8.5 million in compensatory damages, but they declined to impose punitive damages. Dean had sought more than $140 million. Uber said it will appeal and noted the jury rejected her additional claims that the company was negligent or that its safety systems were defective.
The ruling had a modest market effect: Uber shares fell about 1.5% in after-hours trading, while rival Lyft’s stock slipped roughly 1.8%. An Uber spokesperson said the outcome underscores the company’s investments in rider safety and that it will continue to contest the verdict. Dean’s attorneys said the decision validates allegations from thousands of survivors who contend Uber prioritized growth over passenger safety.
Dean, an Oklahoma resident, sued Uber in 2023, roughly a month after the alleged 2023 Arizona assault. According to her complaint, she was intoxicated when she booked a ride from her boyfriend’s home to a hotel; the complaint says the driver asked harassing questions, then stopped the car and raped her.
Uber defended itself at trial by arguing that drivers are independent contractors and that the company should not be held responsible for criminal acts outside the scope of a driver’s duties. Uber attorney Kim Bueno emphasized that the driver in question had no prior criminal record, had completed about 10,000 trips and carried an almost perfect rating, arguing the assault was unforeseeable to the company.
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who oversees the consolidated litigation, presided over the Phoenix trial. Uber also faces more than 500 related cases in California state court. In the only state-court trial to date, a jury in September found Uber negligent but not substantially responsible for a woman’s injuries. Industry observers, including Morningstar analyst Mark Giarelli, said the federal verdict could prompt ride-hailing companies to strengthen background checks and other safety measures.
