Slater and Gordon Investigate Class Action Against Uber Over Safety

Law firm Slater and Gordon is investigating a potential class action against Uber Technologies Inc. on behalf of women in Australia who experienced sexual assault, harassment, or misconduct while using the ride-share service. The probe focuses on whether the company's systems and policies adequately protect female passengers and if Uber responded appropriately to reports of driver misconduct.

Slater and Gordon is currently inviting affected women to register their interest to determine if systemic issues exist that would warrant a formal class action for compensation. The investigation follows reports from The New York Times regarding litigation in the United States, which indicated that over 400,000 Uber trips resulted in reports of sexual assault and misconduct between 2017 and 2022.

Uber has denied liability, stating that safety is a core value and that it has invested billions of dollars to protect users. A company spokeswoman noted that unfair-deactivation laws make it difficult to remove problematic drivers swiftly. This legal pressure follows specific cases, such as that of Taylor Mostacci, whose assailant was reactivated on the platform after an initial suspension. Cindy Bors of Slater and Gordon has disputed Uber's historical argument that it is merely a technology platform matching independent contractors, asserting that the company still controls who has access to the platform.