Uber ordered to turn over sexual assault data reported by passengers

Uber sexual assault cases overview: 

• Who: A California federal judge ordered Uber to hand over safety report data related to sexual assaults and misconduct committed by drivers against its passengers, as part of an ongoing multidistrict litigation. 
• Why: The judge determined the safety reports were relevant to claims Uber has been aware since 2014 that its drivers were committing sexual assault against passengers. 
• Where: The Uber sexual assault MDL is in California federal court.

A federal judge in California has ordered Uber Technologies to hand over safety report data as part of a multidistrict litigation over alleged sexual assaults committed by drivers for the ride-hailing service. 

The judge, while partially granting a bid to compel discovery in the case, said Uber handing over the safety reports is relevant to allegations Uber knew sexual misconduct was being committed against passengers by its drivers. 

“Plaintiffs argue that the documents related to, and the data underlying, the Safety Reports bear on what Uber knew, when it had notice of widespread sexual assault and harassment committed by its drivers against its passengers, and what response the company undertook,” the judge wrote in an order filed earlier this month. 

Uber will not have to provide safety reports involving issues not related to sexual misconduct or assault against its passengers, however, the judge ruled.

Uber users safety reports made via in-app reports, social media mentions, law enforcement

Uber must provide safety reports involving sexual assault or misconduct that occurred between January 2017 and Dec. 31, 2020, according to the judge, who said Uber reviewed more than 800,000 user reports — including ones unrelated to sexual misconduct — during that time. 

The safety reports include in-app reports, social media mentions and ones brought to law enforcement, according to the judge’s order. 

Uber has argued, meanwhile, that its safety reports only analyzed data concerning the five most serious categories of sexual misconduct committed, and that statistics from other categories are unreliable. 

The judge, however, ruled Uber failed to recognize the relevance of the evidence and that, while some reports may be unverified or have “less robust” corroboration, it may affect the strength of the evidence but does not “preclude discovery.” 

“The existence of patterns based on the incidents reported may tend to show whether Uber disregarded the risk of sexual assault and misconduct on a systematic basis in particular circumstances where passengers may be especially vulnerable to victimization,” the judge wrote. 

Uber previously failed in an attempt to get the bulk of claims filed against it dismissed in April, reports Law360. Hundreds of cases were consolidated against Uber into an MDL earlier this year. 

Have you been sexually assaulted by your Uber driver? Let us know in the comments.

The Uber sexual assault MDL is In re: Uber Technologies Inc. Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation, Case No. 3:23-md-03084, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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