First bellwether trial in Uber passenger sexual assault MDL-3084: an Arizona federal jury awarded plaintiff Jaylynn Dean $8.5 million, finding her driver was an 'apparent agent' of Uber, while rejecting negligence and defective-safety-system claims (plaintiffs had sought $144M); Uber said it would appeal.

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1. Jul 20, 2026

   Rideshare Sexual Assault (Uber/Lyft)

   Uber MDL bellwether in Charlotte, NC: federal jury found the driver committed battery (not sexual assault) for grabbing a passenger's inner thigh and awarded $5,000; Judge Charles Breyer had ruled Uber qualifies as a 'common carrier' under North Carolina law with heightened liability for driver misconduct — Uber vowed to appeal.

   Uber MDL bellwether in Charlotte, NC: federal jury found the driver committed battery (not sexual assault) for grabbing a passenger's inner thigh and awarded $5,000; Judge Charles Breyer had ruled Uber qualifies as a 'common carrier' under North Carolina law with heightened liability for driver misconduct — Uber vowed to appeal. (Fortune also reports an intervening California bellwether where Uber was found not liable.)

   Source: fortune.com