Verdict Signals More Trouble Ahead for Uber
Newser • • business
Key Points:
- A federal jury in Charlotte, NC, found Uber liable for a 2019 sexual battery incident involving rider Brianna Mensing, marking Uber's second consecutive loss in federal lawsuits over rider safety.
- Mensing testified that her driver inappropriately touched her during a late-night ride, while Uber challenged her credibility citing her past drug addiction and the delay in reporting the incident.
- The case was part of bellwether trials designed to assess jury reactions in over 3,000 consolidated sexual assault and harassment lawsuits against Uber.
- Mensing was awarded $5,000, significantly less than a previous $8.5 million verdict in a similar Phoenix case, but Uber plans to appeal both decisions, emphasizing the jury found battery but not sexual assault.
- Uber had previously been found not liable in California state court, but these federal verdicts signal ongoing legal risks for the company regarding driver misconduct claims.
