Uber ordered to pay $8.5m over claim driver raped passenger

Source: BBC Technology

Background

A U.S. federal lawsuit filed in Arizona alleged that Uber driver Jaylynn Dean was raped while she was taking an Uber to her hotel in 2023. Dean claimed Uber was aware of a “wave of sexual assaults” by its drivers but failed to take basic safety actions.

Jury Verdict

• The jury deliberated for two days and found Uber liable under the apparent agency doctrine, holding the company responsible for the driver’s actions while he was working on its behalf.
• Uber was ordered to pay $8.5 million (£6.2 million) in compensatory damages.
• The jury rejected Dean’s claim for $144 million in punitive damages and also rejected additional claims that Uber was negligent or that its safety systems were defective.

Reactions

• Dean’s lead lawyer said the decision “validates the thousands of survivors who have come forward at great personal risk.”
• Attorney Sarah London added that justice will be measured by the outcomes of ongoing litigation and the implementation of meaningful safety reforms.
• Another of Dean’s lawyers, Alexandra Walsh, emphasized that Uber had marketed itself as a safe option for women traveling alone at night, noting, “Women know it’s a dangerous world. We know about the risk of sexual assault. They made us believe that this was a place that was safe from that.”

Legal Context

Dean’s case is one of 20 “bellwether” cases against Uber slated for trial. These cases are expected to set precedent for roughly 2,500 other federal lawsuits in which plaintiffs allege similar safety failures.

Uber’s Response

• Uber announced its intention to appeal the verdict.
• The company argued that drivers are independent contractors who undergo background checks, and that the incident was not foreseeable because the driver had strong passenger ratings and no criminal record.
• A Uber spokesperson said the jury’s decision “affirms that Uber acted responsibly and has invested meaningfully in rider safety,” noting that a prior case involving alleged groping and kissing did not result in liability for Uber.

The ruling could influence the outcome of thousands of other cases against the ride‑share company.