By Daniel Wiessner
April 13 (Reuters) – After a key setback within the first trial of its sort earlier than a federal jury, Uber is anticipated to return to court docket on Tuesday to face a second girl’s claims that she was sexually assaulted by a driver she booked by way of the app.
The jury trial in Charlotte, North Carolina federal court docket, which is anticipated to final about three weeks, will assist decide whether or not a current $8.5 million verdict https://www.reuters.com/authorized/authorities/uber-ordered-pay-85-million-key-trial-over-driver-sex-assault-claims-2026-02-05/ in Arizona was a fluke or an indication of actual hassle for Uber because it faces greater than 3,300 related lawsuits which have been consolidated in federal court docket.
Each circumstances are so-called “bellwethers,” or check circumstances for that litigation, and the verdicts may assist decide the worth of the remaining lawsuits for any potential settlement or decision of the circumstances en masse.
The nameless plaintiff claims that upon arriving at her vacation spot in Raleigh, North Carolina, simply earlier than 2 a.m. in March 2019, her Uber driver grabbed her interior thigh and requested if he may “maintain it with him,” prompting her to flee from the automobile.
Uber, which has confronted quite a few security controversies, has not denied that the incident befell, however claims in court docket filings that it’s a software program firm and never a “frequent service” comparable to a taxi service that has a authorized responsibility to guard passengers below North Carolina legislation. Even when the plaintiff proves in any other case, Uber argues, the corporate isn’t accountable for the actions of an impartial contractor.
The query of whether or not drivers are Uber’s staff or contractors, which has a spread of authorized implications, has dogged the corporate https://www.reuters.com/authorized/litigation/fearing-endless-loop-mistrials-judge-tosses-uber-driver-classification-case-2024-07-30/ for many of its existence within the U.S. and overseas https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/uber-talks-with-french-social-security-agency-after-driver-status-dispute-2026-02-02/. A deluge of lawsuits and scrutiny by policymakers has not yielded a consensus.
The North Carolina trial will probably be presided over by U.S. District Decide Charles Breyer, who usually sits in San Francisco and is overseeing the mass litigation towards Uber.
In an announcement Friday, an Uber spokesperson stated the incident within the North Carolina trial was by no means reported to the corporate or to legislation enforcement and solely got here to mild when the plaintiff filed a lawsuit.
“Sexual assault is a horrific crime that we take extremely severely. We stay centered on investing within the know-how, insurance policies, and partnerships that strengthen security, assist stop hurt, and help survivors,” the spokesperson stated.
