~ From Susan Jones Knape, President A Case for Women
At A Case for Women, we have been working with survivors of Uber and Lyft sexual assault since 2019. As of spring 2026, we have helped over 4,000 women join lawsuits against Uber and Lyft. Their stories inspire me and everyone who works at A Case for Women every day.
On February 5, 2026, a federal jury ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a 19-year-old woman who alleged she was raped by her Uber driver during a November 2023 ride. As reported by the New York Times, the jury rejected Uber’s long-standing defense that it cannot be held responsible for the conduct of its drivers. This verdict didn’t happen by chance — it happened because one woman chose to speak up.
We are proud of this survivor for speaking up courageously. While Jaylynn made the choice to reveal her identity and testify in court, that is unusual. Many survivors pursue lawsuits as Jane Does, with their identity protected throughout the process, and the vast majority never even leave their homes to pursue lawsuits, much less testify in court. All survivors heal differently and the choice to be public or private is an individual one.
What Happened.
Jaylynn had just passed her flight attendant training exam and was celebrating in Tempe, Arizona. She chose to take an Uber back to her hotel rather than drive. During that ride, her driver pulled into a dark parking lot, entered the back seat, and raped her. She reported the assault to both police and Uber. The driver was removed from the platform, but faced no criminal charges.
What unfolded at trial was damning. Uber’s own internal safety algorithm had flagged her ride with a risk score of 0.81 out of 1.0 — indicating elevated danger — yet the company never alerted her. Prior passenger complaints about the driver had been ignored. Background checks were outsourced and could clear a driver in as little as 36 hours, with no fingerprinting or FBI records check. Internal communications revealed that executives were more focused on suppressing negative media coverage than fixing the problem. (Read more on the NYT website.)
The Verdict and What It Means.
The jury found Uber liable under the doctrine of apparent agency, concluding that Uber’s representations and platform design could lead a reasonable rider to believe the driver was acting on Uber’s behalf, and that the rider relied on that belief. The verdict challenges Uber’s long-standing position that it bears no responsibility for drivers labeled as independent contractors.
As the New York Times covered, this was the first federal bellwether trial in a multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3084) consolidating more than 3,300 similar lawsuits from survivors across 30 states.
None of these cases could exist without survivors who were willing to come forward. Every woman who has pursued legal action helped build the case that Uber had a systemic problem, not just isolated incidents.
Why This Sets a Precedent.
For over a decade, Uber has hidden behind the “we’re just a tech platform” defense. That defense has now been rejected in federal court.
This kind of sweeping, systemic change can only happen when survivors speak up, file lawsuits, and force accountability in a courtroom. Every voice adds weight. Every case adds pressure. That is how companies are forced to change for the better.
Does This Mean My Case Will Be Worth $8.5 Million?
The short answer is no. Only a few cases are tried as “bellwethers.” However, this large verdict does have implications for your potential case: Since this was a “test” case, it increases the likelihood that future verdicts and settlements will have substantial monetary values.
You Are Not Alone — And Your Voice Matters.
If you or someone you love has been sexually assaulted by an Uber driver, coming forward is one of the most powerful things you can do, for yourself and for every woman who rides after you.
We are working not just to get compensation for survivors, but more importantly, to push rideshare companies to make common sense changes that will better protect women, things like deeper background checks, fingerprinting, and videos in all cars.
We will value your story, protect your privacy, and help you understand what is possible.
