A California jury has delivered a pivotal ruling in the first U.S. trial over passenger sexual assault claims tied to Uber: the rideshare giant will not be held liable.
The case centered on a woman, identified in court only as Jessica C., who alleged she was attacked by her driver in 2016. After three weeks of testimony in San Francisco Superior Court, jurors decided that while Uber was negligent in its safety measures, that negligence was not the direct cause of her harm.
Her lawsuit, filed in 2021, was chosen as the first “bellwether” trial—essentially a test case—for more than 500 similar claims in California state court. Another 2,500 cases are moving through federal court. The outcome of this trial could shape how the others unfold, whether through settlements or additional litigation.
Jessica C.’s attorneys had asked for damages ranging between $175,000 and $1.2 million per year of her life, with higher amounts for the years closest to the assault. No figure was requested for punitive damages.
Uber, for its part, issued a statement saying it has invested heavily in raising safety standards and will continue doing so. The company has rolled out features such as ride verification, video and audio recording, anomaly detection systems, and partnerships with survivor advocacy groups. It has also established a Safety Advisory Board, once chaired by former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, and pledged millions to combat gender-based violence.
Still, the shadow of Uber’s early years lingers. The company has faced criticism for what some call a culture of unchecked growth, insufficient driver vetting, and an unwillingness to disclose the full scope of reported assaults. While Uber’s most recent safety report highlighted a 44% drop in serious sexual assault reports since 2018, the sheer number of cases continues to fuel criticism that the problem is systemic.
The trial’s conclusion may have spared Uber direct liability in this case, but with thousands of lawsuits still pending and lawmakers now probing its safety protocols, the company’s commitment to passenger protection remains under intense scrutiny.
