Uber ordered to pay $8.5m after jury finds it liable for driver's rape
An Arizona federal jury awarded $8.5m to a woman who said an Uber driver raped her in 2023, finding the company liable under the apparent agency doctrine.
- The jury awarded Jaylynn Dean $8.5m in compensatory damages after two days of deliberation.
- Jurors rejected claims that Uber was negligent and that its safety systems were defective and declined to award punitive damages.
- Uber said it will appeal and argued drivers are independent contractors who undergo background checks and that the assault was unforeseeable.
- The case is one of 20 bellwether trials meant to influence roughly 2,500 similar federal suits against Uber.
- Plaintiffs say the verdict validates survivors and could increase pressure for additional passenger safety reforms.