A federal jury in Phoenix is now deep into a negligence trial that could reshape how courts handle sexual assault claims against Uber and other rideshare giants. At the center of the case is Tempe resident Jaylynn Dean, who says Uber’s safety systems failed her when a driver raped her in the back of a car after she hailed a ride to her hotel in November 2023. The verdict could set the tone for dozens of similar claims already consolidated in federal court and help define when a rideshare company can be held civilly liable for attacks by drivers it labels as independent contractors.
According to Arizona’s Family, Dean’s federal complaint alleges an Uber driver raped her while she was intoxicated after ordering a ride back to her Tempe hotel. Her legal team argues the company relied on “fast and shallow background checks,” failed to require video cameras in vehicles, and improperly marketed the service to women as a safe way to get home, including after drinking, the complaint says. Dean is asking jurors to find Uber negligent for allowing a driver with alleged risk factors to access riders through the app.
Court records identify the case as Dean v. Uber Technologies, No. 2:2025cv04276, and show jury selection and trial proceedings underway in early January 2026, according to docket entries on Justia. Minute entries filed on Jan. 8 and Jan. 15 reflect multiple trial days, confirming that the lawsuit has moved out of the pretrial phase and squarely into the hands of a jury…