Uber ordered to pay $8.5M in rape case, setting precedent

Jury verdict opens door for thousands of similar sexual assault lawsuits against the ride-hailing company.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A federal jury in Phoenix has ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a passenger who said one of its drivers raped her in 2023, setting the stage for thousands of similar cases around the country. The lawsuit was brought by Jaylynn Dean, who said her Uber driver raped her during a ride to her hotel. The verdict provides a road map for more than 3,000 pending sexual assault and misconduct lawsuits accusing Uber of systemic safety failures.

Why it matters

The case marks a significant legal defeat for Uber, which has long maintained that it is not liable for the misconduct of drivers on its platform, whom it classifies as independent contractors. The jury's decision could embolden more victims to come forward and open the company up to a flood of similar lawsuits, potentially costing Uber billions in damages.

The details

Jaylynn Dean, then 19, said the Uber driver pulled into a dark parking lot, climbed into the back seat, and raped her during a ride to her hotel in November 2023. Dean reported the incident to the police and Uber, which barred the driver. The driver did not face criminal charges and was not named in the suit. Uber's lawyers argued the driver had no criminal history, had received top ratings, and was aware of the company's rules, but the jury rejected the company's defense that it was not liable for the driver's actions.

  • In November 2023, the alleged rape incident occurred.
  • On February 9, 2026, the federal jury in Phoenix ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million in damages.

The players

Jaylynn Dean

The passenger who sued Uber, alleging that one of its drivers raped her in 2023.

Uber

The ride-hailing company that was found liable by the jury for the alleged rape incident.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I want to make sure it doesn't happen to other women. I'm doing this for other women who thought the same thing I did, that they were making the safe and smart choice -- but that, you know, there are risks of being assaulted.”

— Jaylynn Dean (sunherald.com)

“This verdict affirms that Uber acted responsibly and has invested meaningfully in rider safety. We will continue to put safety at the heart of everything we do.”

— Matt Kallman, Uber spokesperson (sunherald.com)

“Bellwethers give both sides -- and the public -- a chance to see whether the litigation truly has legs.”

— Nora Freeman Engstrom, Stanford Law School professor (sunherald.com)

What’s next

Uber plans to appeal the verdict, stating that the court provided errant instructions to the jury. The case is a bellwether in federal court proceedings that have consolidated thousands of sexual assault lawsuits against Uber, allowing for certain procedural matters to be presented before the same judge while each case is tried individually.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing legal risks Uber faces as it grapples with a pervasive pattern of sexual violence during rides. The verdict could embolden more victims to come forward and open the company up to a flood of similar lawsuits, potentially costing Uber billions in damages and forcing it to overhaul its safety practices.