Uber Gets Some Claims Cut From Sprawling Sex Assault Litigation

Uber Technologies Inc. persuaded a federal court on Thursday to trim a master complaint encompassing hundreds of lawsuits accusing rideshare drivers of sexually assaulting passengers.

Judge Charles R. Breyer, of the US District Court for the Northern District of California, dismissed fraud and product liability claims under California and Texas law. However, he denied Uber’s effort to dismiss vicarious liability claims under California law.

Breyer is overseeing multidistrict litigation involving more than 200 lawsuits claiming that passengers were sexually assaulted by legitimate and illegitimate Uber drivers. The passengers argue that Uber owed a duty of care to mitigate the assaults ...