If an Uber or Lyft driver subjected you to unwanted sexual contact during a ride, news about thousands of lawsuits may leave you with more questions than answers. Are these class actions? Have the cases settled? Does the court activity mean you have a claim?
Uber and Lyft now face separate federal multidistrict litigation proceedings, often called MDLs. This update explains where those cases stand, what recent court activity means, and what information may be useful if you want a lawyer to review what happened.
You do not need to share graphic details to begin that conversation. What happened was not your fault.
Last updated August 24, 2026. Court schedules and case counts can change.
Where Do the Uber and Lyft Lawsuits Stand?
The Uber and Lyft proceedings are separate. Each has its own judge, schedule, and group of individual cases.
- Uber MDL No. 3084: This proceeding is before Judge Charles R. Breyer in the Northern District of California. Bellwether trials and case-specific discovery are underway.
- Lyft MDL No. 3171: This proceeding is before Judge Rita F. Lin in the Northern District of California. It is in early discovery and motion practice.
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's August 2026 report lists 4,397 pending actions in the Uber MDL and 72 in the Lyft MDL as of August 3, 2026.
Those numbers count federal court actions. They are not counts of proven assaults, approved claims, settlements, or clients of James Rolshouse Law Firm PLLC.
What Is an MDL, and Is It a Class Action?
An MDL brings federal lawsuits with shared factual questions before one judge for coordinated pretrial work. That work can include exchanging documents, taking testimony, deciding motions, and preparing selected cases for trial.
An MDL is not a class action. The cases do not become one lawsuit, and the court does not decide every survivor's case at once. Each case still depends on its own facts, injuries, applicable law, and filing deadline. The Northern District of California's MDL guide provides a plain overview of the process.
What Is Happening in the Uber MDL?
The federal panel created Uber MDL No. 3084 on October 4, 2023. Its transfer order describes allegations involving driver screening, training, safety measures, and Uber's response to reports of sexual assault.
Those are the plaintiffs' allegations. Creating the MDL did not decide whether Uber is liable in any particular case.
The First Uber Bellwether Judgment
The first Uber bellwether trial began in January 2026. A bellwether is a selected test case that can help the parties understand how juries may view issues that also appear in other lawsuits.
On February 6, 2026, the court entered an $8.5 million judgment for the plaintiff. It was a jury judgment, not a settlement. A later court filing and order states that Uber intended to appeal and that enforcement of the judgment would be stayed during the appeal.
One result does not set the value of every case. It does not guarantee payment to other survivors or create an average settlement amount.
What Is Happening in the Lyft MDL?
The federal panel created Lyft MDL No. 3171 on February 5, 2026. The Lyft transfer order describes allegations involving driver background checks, training and supervision, responses to complaints, and app safety features.
The Lyft proceeding is much newer than the Uber MDL. It has not reached a bellwether trial.
Have the Uber or Lyft Lawsuits Settled?
The official court materials reviewed for this update do not announce a global settlement in either MDL. The $8.5 million Uber judgment discussed above was the result of one bellwether trial, not a settlement fund or payment schedule for other cases.
Be cautious with websites that advertise an "average payout" or promise a particular settlement amount. The court records do not support treating one verdict as a price tag for every case.
What Ride Information Should You Save?
You may not have every document, especially if the ride happened years ago. Start with what is available:
- Ride details: Save the approximate date, pickup point, destination, and platform.
- Account information: Note the name, email address, or phone number connected to the booking.
- Trip records: Keep app history, emailed receipts, screenshots, or payment information.
- Existing communications: Preserve messages with Uber, Lyft, the person who booked the ride, or anyone you told afterward.
- Other existing materials: Keep reports, medical paperwork, therapy records, or notes already in your possession.
If someone else ordered the ride, the receipt may be in that person's account. Save their name and whatever trip details you remember. Do not worry about putting events into perfect legal language.
How Long Do You Have to File?
There is no single nationwide filing deadline for these cases. The statute of limitations—the legal deadline for bringing a claim—may depend on the ride date, the state law that applies, and other personal facts.
Does Contacting Rolshouse Put You in the MDL?
No. Contacting James Rolshouse Law Firm PLLC or completing an assessment is not a court filing and does not automatically place you in either MDL.
An initial review can start with the platform, approximate ride date and location, whether there was unwanted sexual contact, and any available trip information. You do not need to describe the assault in graphic detail.
If you experienced unwanted sexual contact by an Uber or Lyft driver during a ride, complete the confidential Uber/Lyft assessment. James Rolshouse Law Firm PLLC can review the information, explain whether the matter fits the firm's current case review, and discuss possible next steps.