A federal jury in Phoenix has awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages in the first bellwether trial in the federal multidistrict litigation arising from the sexual assault of an Uber rider. The verdict marks a significant milestone in the nationwide litigation involving thousands of similar cases consolidated in federal court.
Girard Sharp partner Sarah London served as co-lead trial counsel, working alongside the trial team and co-counsel to present the case to the jury. After a nearly four-week trial, the jury found Uber liable for the harm suffered by the plaintiff, concluding that the company bore responsibility for the conduct of its driver.
As the first federal bellwether trial in the MDL, the case provides an important benchmark for the remaining litigation and underscores the role of coordinated trial efforts in addressing systemic safety failures affecting riders nationwide.