Uber found liable in rape by driver

A federal jury in Phoenix ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to Jaylynn Dean, who alleged that one of its drivers raped her during a ride in November 2023 from her boyfriend’s apartment in Tempe, Arizona, to her hotel.

Dean, then 19 and recently moved to Arizona to train as a flight attendant, testified that she was intoxicated after celebrating passing her test when she ordered the Uber. She described dozing in and out of consciousness as the driver pulled into a dark parking lot, climbed into the back seat, and assaulted her. She reported the incident to police and Uber, which deactivated the driver. No criminal charges were filed against him and he was not named in the suit.

On the witness stand, Dean stated:

“I want to make sure it doesn’t happen to other women. 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.”

The jury rejected Uber’s argument that it bears no liability because drivers are independent contractors. Evidence included internal documents showing the company flagged the ride as higher risk for a serious safety incident shortly before pickup but did not warn Dean, with an executive calling warnings “impractical.”

Lawyers for Dean presented records indicating Uber resisted safety features like in-car cameras to avoid slowing growth.

Uber plans to appeal, citing erroneous jury instructions. Uber maintains that 99.9 percent of U.S. trips occur without incident and positions itself as an industry safety leader.

The case serves as a bellwether in consolidated federal proceedings involving over 3,000 similar sexual assault lawsuits against Uber. While not binding on others, the verdict provides a test of key arguments.