This week, a federal jury determined Uber bears legal responsibility for a 2023 sexual assault case, mandating the rideshare company to pay $8.5 million to a woman who alleged she was raped by one of its drivers during a ride booked through the platform.
The decision, delivered Thursday in Arizona, comes after prolonged scrutiny of Uber’s safety practices, largely due to thousands of incidents of sexual assault reported by . Since Uber classifies its drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, the company has consistently argued it cannot be held responsible for their actions.
Ellyn Hurd, an attorney for plaintiff Jaylynn Dean, explained to The Associated Press that Uber invests billions to create a unified brand experience for riders, which the jury recognized in its decision. She noted the ruling established the driver as an “apparent agent” of Uber, thereby holding the company accountable for the assault.
Hurd expressed pride in her client for confronting such a large corporation, and suggested the verdict could set a precedent for comparable lawsuits.
Uber announced its intention to appeal the decision. The jury also determined that, apart from the apparent agency finding, the company was not negligent nor did it have flawed safety protocols.
Company spokesperson Andrew Hasbun stated that the ruling confirms Uber’s responsible conduct and substantial investment in passenger safety. He also mentioned that the damages awarded were significantly less than what the plaintiff’s legal team had originally sought.
The legal action originates from a November 2023 Uber trip when Dean, then 19 years old, was traveling to her hotel following a celebration of her impending flight attendant training graduation at her boyfriend’s Arizona residence. According to the complaint, mid-journey the driver halted the vehicle, moved to the back seat, and sexually assaulted her.
The driver was neither identified nor included as a defendant in this civil case.
The litigation contended that Uber had been aware for years that its drivers were attacking passengers and failed to adopt necessary safety precautions to prevent such incidents. Filed in December 2023, the complaint characterized the company’s reaction as “slow and inadequate,” endangering customers’ lives and welfare.
Concurrently, Uber, headquartered in San Francisco, reports implementing numerous measures to enhance platform safety, including teaming up with in 2021 to of drivers dismissed from ride-hailing services due to sexual assault allegations and other criminal complaints.
Uber asserts that reported sexual assaults have declined considerably over time. Company data shows 5,981 sexual assault incidents reported on U.S. trips between 2017-2018, dropping to 2,717 between 2021-2022 (the most recent period with available statistics), which Uber states accounts for 0.0001% of all trips nationally.
Nevertheless, advocates emphasize that rideshare firms must establish stronger protective measures for users and assume more explicit accountability in assault cases.
Sarah London, another member of Dean’s legal team, remarked that Thursday’s decision vindicates survivors who risked personal safety to seek justice from Uber, though she acknowledged the fight continues.
Expressing appreciation for her client’s victory, she pointed out that numerous additional cases are pending, and that true justice will be determined by results from continuing lawsuits and the implementation of substantive safety improvements to safeguard future passengers.
The Associated Press generally does not identify individuals who report sexual abuse, except when they provide authorization via legal counsel or make public statements, which Dean has done through her attorneys.