Jury Orders Uber to Pay $8.5 Million in Rape Lawsuit
A Phoenix jury awarded Jaylynn Dean $8.5 million after finding Uber liable under the apparent agency doctrine for an alleged November 2023 sexual assault.
Overview
A federal jury in Phoenix, Arizona, awarded Jaylynn Dean $8.5 million in compensatory damages after finding Uber liable under the apparent agency doctrine for an alleged sexual assault by a driver during a November 2023 ride, court filings show.
The verdict was the first bellwether trial in more than 3,000 similar federal lawsuits consolidated in U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer's San Francisco docket and could shape settlement values and litigation strategy, according to court records.
Andrew Hasbun, an Uber spokesperson, said in a statement that the company will appeal and emphasized the jury rejected claims that Uber was negligent or that its safety systems were defective, while attorney Sarah London for Dean said the verdict 'validates' survivors who sought accountability.
Court filings show the litigation involves more than 3,000 consolidated federal claims and more than 500 related cases in California state court, underscoring the breadth of suits tied to alleged driver misconduct.
Morningstar analyst Mark Giarelli said the ruling increases pressure on rideshare companies to strengthen background checks and vetting procedures, a potential change that could affect industry compliance practices.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this reporting neutrally: they report the jury verdict, plaintiff allegations and Uber’s rebuttal while keeping charged language in attributed quotes. For example, the piece attributes a "wave of sexual assaults" and Walsh's statement to the plaintiff, notes the apparent-agency ruling, and includes Uber's independent-contractor defense.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The apparent agency doctrine holds a company liable for an independent contractor's actions if it creates the appearance of an employment relationship. The jury found Uber liable under this doctrine for the driver's assault on Jaylynn Dean, despite drivers being independent contractors.
In November 2023, Uber driver Hassan Turay allegedly sexually assaulted intoxicated passenger Jaylynn Dean during her ride in Phoenix. Turay admitted on the stand that Dean could not consent.
The federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) includes over 3,700 plaintiffs across 30 states, with more than 500 related cases in California state court.
Uber spokesperson Andrew Hasbun stated the company will appeal, noting the jury rejected claims of negligence or defective safety systems.
Uber's internal Safety Risk Assessed Dispatch (S-RAD) algorithm rated Dean’s trip 0.81 out of 1 for sexual assault risk, indicating elevated danger, especially for women riding alone late at night.
History
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