Slate Daily Feed What Next - She Led the Trial Against Uber - and Won
Feb 11, 2026
Sarah London, co-lead counsel in multidistrict litigation against Uber who represents survivors of assault, discusses the landmark $8.5 million verdict and its wider meaning. She outlines how Uber’s reporting and risk-scoring systems obscure dangers. She explains gaps in warnings, investigation failures, and the reforms lawyers are pushing for.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Jury Found Uber Liable As Agent
- The jury found Uber liable for holding out the driver as its agent, making the company responsible for his actions.
- The verdict awarded $8.5 million and signals potential broader liability across similar cases.
Jalen's Ride Was Flagged High Risk
- Jalen was matched with a driver Uber had identified as high risk but did not warn her.
- Within five minutes, he pulled into a dark place, got into the backseat, and raped her, according to Sarah London.
Uber's Hidden Risk Scoring System
- Uber collects extensive safety data and uses a machine-learning 'risk' score to predict assaults.
- That predictive score and many internal reports are not shared with passengers or the public.