Uber faces landmark trial in US over sexual assault claim

Uber will go on trial this week in the US city of Phoenix as it faces a major legal test over claims it failed to protect passengers from sexual assault.

The case has been brought by Oklahoma resident Jaylynn Dean, who says she was raped by an Uber driver in Arizona after booking a ride through the app, reports Reuters.

She sued the company in 2023, a month after the alleged attack, arguing Uber knew about a growing number of sexual assault complaints involving drivers but did not do enough to improve rider safety.

The trial is being closely watched because it is the first 'bellwether' case among more than 3,000 similar lawsuits now consolidated in US federal court.

According to court filings, Dean says she was intoxicated when she ordered the Uber to travel from her boyfriend’s home to her hotel. She alleges the driver asked harassing questions during the journey before stopping the car and raping her.

Uber disputes liability and says it should not be held responsible for criminal acts committed by drivers who use its platform.

The company argues its background checks and safety disclosures are adequate and maintains that drivers are independent contractors, not employees. Uber also says it cannot be responsible for actions that fall outside a driver’s duties.

The company faces more than 500 additional sexual assault cases in California state courts. It won the only trial to reach a jury so far, in September, when jurors found Uber negligent in its safety measures but ruled that negligence did not directly cause the woman’s harm.