Second Jury Finds Uber Responsible for Sexual Assault by a Driver
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- A federal jury in North Carolina found Uber liable for a 2019 sexual assault by a driver, marking the company's second consecutive loss in trials involving over 3,000 pending sexual assault lawsuits.
- The plaintiff, Brianna Mensing, testified that her Uber driver inappropriately touched her during a late-night ride, while Uber argued the claims lacked credibility and were linked to her drug addiction.
- These cases are part of bellwether trials designed to test legal arguments in consolidated lawsuits, with previous cases resulting in significant verdicts against Uber.
- Uber’s spokesman highlighted the relatively small $5,000 award in this case compared to previous demands and indicated plans to appeal both recent verdicts.
- The company continues to face national scrutiny over sexual violence during rides, although it maintains that 99.9 percent of its U.S. trips occur without incident and promotes itself as a safe transportation option.
