Oklahoma resident Jaylin Dean alleged that in 2023, during an Uber ride in Arizona, the driver raped her while driving her from her boyfriend's house to a hotel. Uber was aware of a spate of sexual assaults by its drivers but failed to take basic steps to keep passengers safe, Dean said.
The court found that the defendant was a driver for Uber and the company was responsible for his actions. The court ordered the woman to pay $8.5 million in compensation, but refused to collect punitive damages. Dean's lawyers demanded more than $140 million.
Uber officials said the court rejected other claims, including the company's negligence and defective safety systems, and plan to appeal the decision.
The media notes that Dean’s lawsuit was the first among more than 3 thousand such cases being considered in US federal court.
