Uber has reached a confidential settlement with a Texas woman whose sexual assault lawsuit was scheduled to become the third federal bellwether trial in the ongoing Uber passenger sexual assault litigation.
The settlement was announced on October 2, 2026, less than 48 hours after a jury was selected and just days before opening statements were scheduled to begin on October 5.
The agreement resolves the woman’s individual lawsuit without a jury verdict. The settlement amount and other terms have not been disclosed.
What Happened in the Texas Uber Sexual Assault Case?
The lawsuit involved a woman who alleged that an Uber driver sexually assaulted her during a ride in Tarrant County, Texas, in June 2020.
Her claims focused on Uber’s driver screening and background-check procedures. According to the plaintiff’s court filings, the driver had a pending criminal charge for sexual assault when Uber allowed him onto its platform.
The driver, Victor Huynh Le, was later convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
During jury selection, Uber stipulated that it would not contest that the assault occurred. However, whether Uber was legally responsible for the woman’s injuries remained a separate issue.
The case, Jane Doe QLF 001 v. Uber Technologies, Inc., was scheduled for trial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas before Judge Charles R. Breyer, who oversees the federal Uber litigation.
Why Was This an Important Bellwether Trial?
The Texas lawsuit was selected as the third federal bellwether case in the Uber passenger sexual assault multidistrict litigation, known as MDL No. 3084.
Bellwether trials are individual cases selected to help the parties better understand how juries may evaluate evidence, legal arguments and damages in a larger group of lawsuits.
The first two federal bellwether trials resulted in verdicts for the plaintiffs.
- In February 2026, an Arizona jury awarded $8.5 million to a woman who alleged that an Uber driver sexually assaulted her.
- In April 2026, a North Carolina jury awarded $5,000 to a passenger whose driver grabbed her upper thigh during a ride.
Although both cases resulted in plaintiff verdicts, the large difference in damages shows how individual circumstances can affect the outcome of a lawsuit.
The third trial was expected to examine more questions about Uber’s driver screening practices and its responsibility for passenger safety. Instead, the parties reached a confidential settlement before opening statements began.
What Does the Settlement Mean for Other Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuits?
The confidential settlement resolves one lawsuit. It does not establish that Uber is liable in other cases, and it does not determine what other claims may be worth.
However, the resolution is another development in litigation involving thousands of passengers who have filed lawsuits alleging sexual assault or misconduct by Uber drivers.
Many of these lawsuits raise questions about whether Uber took reasonable steps to protect passengers, including through driver background checks, safety policies and responses to reported misconduct.
The federal cases have been consolidated in the Northern District of California for coordinated pretrial proceedings. In a September 2026 court filing, the parties reported 4,182 active cases in the federal litigation as of September 3. In announcing the settlement, the plaintiffs’ co-lead counsel said approximately 5,000 survivors are seeking justice.
The settlement of the Texas bellwether does not mean that Uber has reached a nationwide settlement or that other claimants will automatically receive compensation.
What Happens Next in the Uber Sexual Assault Litigation?
The federal multidistrict litigation continues.
Attorneys representing passengers and Uber will continue addressing individual claims, evidence, legal issues and potential resolutions. Additional court proceedings may help determine how remaining cases move forward.
The outcome of any individual lawsuit depends on its specific facts, available evidence, applicable law and other circumstances.
For survivors, the Texas settlement represents the resolution of one woman’s case while broader questions about rideshare passenger safety and corporate accountability remain before the courts.
Were You Sexually Assaulted During an Uber Ride?
Sexual assault can leave lasting emotional, physical and financial consequences. Survivors may have questions about their rights, whether a rideshare company can be held responsible and what legal options may be available. Our rideshare sexual assault page explains how these claims work.
Bellwether trials and settlements can provide important information about ongoing litigation, but they do not guarantee compensation or establish liability in another person’s case.
CBW Law is reviewing claims involving sexual assault and misconduct during Uber rides. If you or someone you love experienced sexual assault while using Uber, we encourage you to tell us what happened.
You deserve to be heard. Tell us your story.
Submitting information does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Each potential claim is evaluated individually.
This article is general information about how these cases work. It is not legal advice, it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no two claims are alike. If something here sounds like your situation, the useful next step is a conversation about the facts.
