A U.S. District Judge has ordered the selection of 20 Uber driver sexual assault lawsuits for early bellwether trials

The rideshare service currently faces more than 1,400 lawsuits filed in U.S. District Courts nationwide by passengers who say they were sexually harassed, assaulted, or raped by Uber drivers while trying to use the service. Hundreds more are currently pending at the state level in California, where Uber is headquartered.

Each of the lawsuits raise alarmingly similar allegations, indicating that plaintiffs were sexually assaulted by Uber drivers, and seek to hold the rideshare company accountable for failing to take appropriate safety precautions that could have prevented sexual predators from targeting passengers on a regular basis.