Trending Now - Uber Held Responsible for Driver's Sexual Assault on Passenger

WHO:

CBS News - The plaintiff in the North Carolina case is identified as Brianna Mensing.

ABC News Tech - A jury in North Carolina found Uber liable for the actions of a driver.

Techmeme - The driver involved in the case is not named, but the incident involved a passenger.

WHAT:

CBS News - The jury awarded Brianna Mensing $5,000 in damages for the incident.

CBS News - The jury found that battery had occurred, but not sexual assault, during the trial.

CBS News - The jury awarded the plaintiff $5,000 in damages in the North Carolina case.

CBS News - The North Carolina case is described as a "bellwether case" in a broader group of sexual assault lawsuits against Uber.

CBS News - Uber stated that the jury's award represents a "tiny fraction of previous demands."

CBS News - Uber claims it has strong grounds for appeal, asserting that the jury was incorrectly instructed on the question of liability.

CBS News - The federal jury in Charlotte awarded the plaintiff $5,000 in damages.

CBS News - The jury found that battery had occurred, but not sexual assault.

CBS News - In February 2026, a federal jury in Arizona ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a woman who said one of its drivers raped her during a trip using the platform.

CBS News - Last year, a California jury found Uber not liable for the alleged assault of a rider.

ABC News Tech - The jury found Uber liable for the behavior of a driver who grabbed a passenger's inner thigh.

Techmeme - This ruling is part of a series of trials, with Uber facing over 3,000 pending lawsuits. This is Uber's second consecutive defeat in these trials.

WHERE:

ABC News Tech - The trial took place in North Carolina.

WHEN:

Techmeme - The incident for which Uber was found liable occurred in 2019.

WHY:

CBS News - Ellyn Hurd stated, "This was a case that they thought going in that they were going to win," referring to Uber's selection of the North Carolina case as a test case.

CBS News - Ellyn Hurd stated that Uber selected the North Carolina case as a test case, believing they would win.

CBS News - Hurd emphasized that the jury believed the plaintiff and that Uber lost the case they chose to try.

CBS News - Ellyn Hurd, one of the plaintiff's lawyers, stated that the verdict bodes well for other plaintiffs, noting that Uber selected the North Carolina case as a test case for the broader group of pending lawsuits.

ABC News Tech - The jury's decision indicates a finding of liability on Uber's part for the driver's actions.

HOW:

CBS News - The jury heard testimony from the driver, Brianna Mensing, and friends of Mensing who corroborated her story during the trial.

CBS News - U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer ruled that Uber is a "common carrier" under North Carolina law, making it liable for the driver's actions.

CBS News - U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer ruled that Uber was a "common carrier" under North Carolina law, making it liable for the driver's actions.

Techmeme - The jury's ruling was made in a federal court as part of ongoing litigation against Uber.

(UPDATED April 21, 2026 23:11 UTC)

In a significant ruling, a jury awarded Brianna Mensing $5,000 in damages after finding that battery had occurred, though they did not find evidence of sexual assault. The trial included testimony from Mensing, the driver involved, as well as friends who supported her account of the incident. Ellyn Hurd noted that Uber had initially viewed this North Carolina case as a test case, believing they would emerge victorious.

(UPDATED April 21, 2026 13:22 UTC)

In a significant ruling, a jury awarded the plaintiff $5,000 in a North Carolina case that is being viewed as a bellwether for a series of sexual assault lawsuits against Uber. Uber has stated that this award is just a tiny fraction of previous demands and claims it has strong grounds for appeal, arguing that the jury was misinstructed on liability. U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer determined that Uber qualifies as a "common carrier" under North Carolina law, which holds the company responsible for the actions of its drivers.

(UPDATED April 21, 2026 11:19 UTC)

A federal jury in Charlotte has awarded a plaintiff $5,000 in damages after finding that battery occurred, although they did not find evidence of sexual assault. This verdict is seen as a positive sign for other plaintiffs, especially since Uber had chosen this North Carolina case as a test for a larger group of pending lawsuits. U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer determined that Uber qualifies as a "common carrier" under North Carolina law, which holds the company responsible for the actions of its drivers.

(UPDATED April 21, 2026 07:23 UTC)

A jury in North Carolina has found Uber liable for the actions of a driver who inappropriately grabbed a passenger's inner thigh during an incident that occurred in 2019. This ruling marks Uber's second consecutive defeat in a series of trials, with the company currently facing over 3,000 pending lawsuits. The decision was reached in federal court and underscores the ongoing legal challenges the ride-sharing giant is confronting.