A federal jury in Phoenix on Thursday ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a passenger who said she was raped during a 2023 ride, according to the New York Times.
The jury found Uber liable under a legal theory known as “apparent agency,” concluding that the company could be held responsible for the actions of a driver using its platform, even though Uber classifies drivers as independent contractors, the Times reported.
The closely watched case was the first of roughly 3,000 consolidated federal lawsuits accusing Uber drivers of sexual assault or misconduct.
The verdict is not binding on the remaining cases, but legal experts said it provides a critical test of arguments that are likely to be replayed as the litigation moves forward. All of the federal cases are being overseen by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who normally sits in San Francisco and is managing the nationwide proceedings.
The lawsuit was brought by Jaylynn Dean of Oklahoma, who testified that she was raped by her driver in November 2023 while returning to her hotel after a night out. On the witness stand, Dean said she pursued the case to protect other women, the Times reported.
“I want to make sure it doesn’t happen to other women,” Dean testified, according to The Times. “I’m doing this for other women who thought the same thing I did, that they were making the safe and smart choice — but that, you know, there are risks of being assaulted.”
Jurors rejected claims that the company was negligent in its safety practices or that its app was defectively designed, and they declined to award punitive damages.
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Dean’s attorney, Sarah London, called the verdict a “victory” and said it “validates the thousands of survivors who have come forward at great personal risk to demand accountability against Uber for its focus on profit over passenger safety,” according to The Times.
Uber faces additional lawsuits in both federal and state courts, including more than 500 similar cases in California, where the company is headquartered. The Phoenix verdict was expected to be closely scrutinized as those cases proceed.
Full Story: SF Chronicle February 6 2026
