Federal jury orders Uber to pay damages following North Carolina assault trial
Uber stated it plans to appeal the decision based on liability instructions
A federal jury in North Carolina has ordered Uber to pay $5,000 in damages to a woman who testified that a driver assaulted her during a 2019 journey.
The plaintiff, Brianna Mensing, alleged that the driver touched her inappropriately during the ride. This civil verdict, reached on Monday, marks the second consecutive legal defeat for the rideshare giant in recent months regarding driver conduct.
In February, a separate jury in Arizona found the company liable in a different case, awarding $8.5 million to a woman who reported being raped by a driver.
Both proceedings are classified as bellwether trials, serving as critical "test runs" for more than 3,000 pending lawsuits across various jurisdictions involving similar allegations.
These results help both legal teams gauge how future juries might perceive evidence, influencing whether they proceed to trial or seek settlements.
During the week-long trial, Uber's legal representatives highlighted Mensing’s personal history in an attempt to suggest her memory was unreliable.
Despite these strategies, the jury found in favour of the plaintiff. Her solicitor, William Smith, remarked that the verdict was a significant victory, noting that the jury believed the victim despite attempts to discredit her character.
Uber has confirmed its intention to appeal the decision, arguing that the jury received incorrect instructions regarding liability.
In a statement, the company noted that the $5,000 award represented a "tiny fraction" of previous demands, suggesting the outcome brings such cases "back to reality." The company continues to face extensive litigation over its safety protocols and driver vetting.