Summary: Anapol Weiss Served as Lead Trial Counsel in Both Plaintiff Bellwether Victories Amid Thousands of Pending Cases.
Anapol Weiss played a leading role in securing two consecutive plaintiff victories in early bellwether trials against Uber, including a recent verdict finding the company liable for a driver’s sexual assault. The decision adds to growing scrutiny over Uber’s safety practices and strengthens claims brought by thousands of survivors whose cases are still pending.
Philadelphia, PA (April 21, 2026) - A federal jury in North Carolina has found Uber Technologies, Inc. liable for a sexual assault committed by one of its drivers, delivering the ride-sharing company its second consecutive defeat in the opening bellwether trials of more than 3,000 pending sexual assault and sexual misconduct lawsuits.
The plaintiff, Brianna Mensing, was represented at trial by William Smith of Anapol Weiss as well as Sejal Brahmbhatt and John Boundas of Williams, Hart, & Boundas, who together secured the verdict.
Mensing testified that in March 2019, when she was 23 years old, her Uber driver grabbed her upper, inner thigh at the end of a late-night ride and told her he “wanted to keep it with him.” Mensing was able to escape the car and run inside, but she spent the night fearful the driver would come back and come after her.
While testifying about the assault, she shared her fear that she would not be believed, a concern shared by many survivors whose cases are still ahead of them. After the weeklong trial, the jury found Uber liable and awarded Ms. Mensing $5,000 in damages. The amount is significant because it represents the damages the jury found for just the first day following the traumatic assault.
The outcome mirrors the first bellwether trial earlier this year, also a plaintiff win with a verdict of $8.5 million. This second finding for the plaintiff reinforces a growing pattern as Uber faces mounting scrutiny over safety failures on its platform.
“This verdict is significant not just for our client, but for the thousands of survivors whose cases are still ahead,” said William Smith, lead trial counsel for the plaintiff in the Mensing case. “Two juries have now heard the evidence and reached the same conclusion: survivors deserve a system that protects them, and companies must answer when their choices put people at risk.”
Bellwether trials are designed to test each side’s arguments before juries and often shape the trajectory of large-scale litigation. This second case was selected by Uber after plaintiffs selected the first. Legal observers have noted that Uber viewed this as one of its strongest cases, making the jury’s decision an important indicator of the risks the company faces as additional trials move forward.
With this verdict, Anapol Weiss has now served as lead trial counsel in both plaintiff bellwether victories, with Alexandra Walsh trying, and winning, the first case earlier this year.
“These back-to-back wins reflect years of work to expose the systemic safety failures that have put riders at risk,” said Walsh. “We will continue to fight for survivors and push for accountability in every case ahead.”
The lawsuits allege that Uber’s platform design and safety practices enabled drivers to commit sexual misconduct, raising broader questions about corporate responsibility in the ride‑hailing industry.
About Anapol Weiss
Anapol Weiss is a nationally recognized personal injury and mass tort firm representing individuals and families harmed by corporate negligence. The firm has been at the forefront of litigation involving online child exploitation and is committed to holding technology companies accountable for children’s safety.
Media Contact:
Nina Negrin
Buchanan Public Relations
nina.negrin@buchananpr.com