Slate News What Next - She Led the Trial Against Uber - and Won
Feb 11, 2026
Sarah London, an attorney leading multidistrict litigation against Uber, speaks about the $8.5M jury verdict for a rider who was raped. She outlines systemic failures in Uber’s reporting and risk-scoring, the hidden safety data riders never see, and why this legal win could force industry-wide reforms. Practical fixes and precedent-setting impacts are highlighted in short, clear takes.
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Jury Holds Uber Responsible
- A jury found Uber liable as the driver's principal, forcing the company to pay $8.5 million to a rape victim.
- Sarah London calls the verdict historic and a potential bellwether for broader reform.
Frequency Of Complaints And Data Black Box
- Uber receives a complaint about sexual assault or misconduct roughly every eight minutes, according to reporting.
- Sarah London says many reports never reach the public because Uber controls what data it shares and investigates selectively.
Hidden Risk Score Predicts Assaults
- Uber developed a machine-learning “rape score” that rates ride risk from 0 to 1 and predicted assaults successfully.
- Passengers are never shown that risk score or prior complaint history about drivers.