Uber Hit With $8.5 Million Verdict in Sexual Assault Lawsuit

By Neil O'Donnell and Connor Graham

Uber continues to face unflagging pressure from authorities seeking to hold the ride-sharing giant accountable for prevalent sexual violence inflicted during rides.

This pressure stems from a recent New York Times article detailing how Uber underreported instances of sexual assault committed by their drivers.¹ Evidently, the company received a report of sexual violence every eight minutes from 2017 to 2022. This is problematic for a company that touts the safety of its services. And it appears Uber sought to prevent this information from going public.

Shareholders and lawmakers are searching for accountability.² The New York State comptroller is pushing for a report detailing Uber’s oversight of passenger safety. The comptroller’s proposal seeks a summary of the company’s overseeing safety standards, safety issue reports, and screening procedures.³ A proposed ballot initiative in California would cement liability to rideshare companies for sexual violence against drivers and passengers. Debbie Dingell, a Representative of Michigan, suggests a congressional hearings to explore potential legislation on the issue.

These events come as Uber is playing defense of cases across the country from passengers alleging sexual harassment or assault. An ongoing docket of particular note occurring in Arizona is Dean v. Uber Technologies, No. 2:2025cv04276. The jury recently reached a $8.5 million verdict, finding that Uber was not negligent with respect to its rider safety standards, but nonetheless liable for the driver’s actions in his capacity as the company’s agent. No punitive damages were issued.

¹ Emily Steel, After Felons Are Cleared by Uber, Passengers Accuse Them of Rape , New York Times, Dec. 22, 2025.

² Emily Steel, Uber Faces Growing Pressure Over Its Sexual Assault Record , New York Times, Jan. 22, 2026.

³ Alexander MacDougall, State Comptroller Demands Uber Release Report on Sexual Misconduct Incidents in Shareholder Proposal , Times Union, Jan. 22, 2026. Accessed Jan. 27, 2026.