A US federal jury has ordered ride-hailing company Uber to pay $8.5 million (around Rs 77 crore) to a woman who said she was raped by one of its drivers. The verdict could have wide implications for Uber, as thousands of similar cases are pending in courts across the United States.
The case was brought by Jaylynn Dean, who sued Uber in 2023. She alleged that she was raped by her driver during a ride in November. Dean argued that Uber failed to take adequate steps to protect passengers, even while promoting its service as offering safe rides.
On Thursday, a federal jury in Arizona ruled that Uber was legally responsible for the incident because the driver was acting as an “apparent agent” of the company. In simple terms, the jury felt that a passenger would reasonably see the driver as representing Uber during the ride. However, the jury did not find Uber guilty of negligence or defects in its app design and refused to award punitive damages. The compensation awarded was much lower than the $144 million sought by Dean’s lawyers.
In the United States, a jury is a group of ordinary citizens selected from the public. In civil cases like this one, jurors listen to evidence, hear witness testimony and decide whether a company or person is legally responsible. The judge oversees the trial and explains the law, but the jury decides the facts. The system is meant to ensure fairness by allowing community judgment to play a direct role in the justice process.
Legal experts say the case is significant because it is the first bellwether trial among nearly 3,000 similar lawsuits that have been combined in federal court. Bellwether cases act as test cases and help both companies and plaintiffs understand how future trials might play out and whether settlements are likely.
Uber said it plans to appeal the verdict. The company stated that the jury rejected major claims against it and awarded far less than what was demanded. Uber also said it has invested heavily in safety systems and noted that more than 99.9 percent of rides are completed without reported safety incidents.
Lawyers representing survivors argue that the ruling sends a strong signal. If future juries deliver similar verdicts, Uber could face liabilities running into tens of billions of dollars. At the same time, a recent trial in California ended in Uber’s favour, showing that outcomes may differ depending on the case and jurisdiction.
The case has renewed attention on safety concerns in the ride-hailing industry, despite steps taken by companies such as background checks, emergency buttons, ride tracking and options for women riders to choose women drivers.