A federal jury in Phoenix ruled Uber liable for a sexual assault case involving plaintiff Jaylin Dean, awarding her $8.5 million in damages. This lawsuit is the first of over 3,000 consolidated cases against Uber in federal court, known as a bellwether trial, which helps gauge legal theories and settlement values. The jury determined that the driver was an agent of Uber, holding the company responsible for his actions, but did not award punitive damages.
Uber plans to appeal the decision, asserting that the jury dismissed claims of negligence and defective safety systems, and emphasized its commitment to passenger safety. Dean’s lawyer highlighted that the ruling validates the experiences of many survivors seeking accountability from Uber.
Dean’s case, stemming from an alleged assault while intoxicated in Arizona, claims Uber was aware of prior assaults by drivers yet failed to enhance passenger safety. The ruling could set a precedent for future lawsuits against Uber, with experts suggesting that the $8.5 million might serve as a benchmark for similar cases.
Uber maintains that its drivers are independent contractors and that their background checks are adequate. The case was overseen by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who manages similar federal cases against Uber in his courtroom in San Francisco. Rival Lyft also faces comparable lawsuits, but those cases are not coordinated.
Source link
