UBER DRIVERS

Read here about an important lawsuit brought by Uber drivers to recover reimbursement for expenses and other wages owed due to misclassification

uber taxi & limo drivers

Our firm brought the original case against Uber in 2013 for misclassifying drivers as independent contractors and not reimbursing them for their expenses, like for gas and for owning or leasing their vehicle, and not paying drivers' tips.  We have litigated against Uber for 7 years (as well as many other gig economy companies, including Lyft, GrubHub, DoorDash, Postmates, and Amazon) and, along the way, have made most of the law in this area in California and Massachusetts.  (Click here to read more about our firm, which has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top firms in the country representing workers in wage and hour class actions.  Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, lead counsel for the drivers, has been nicknamed "Sledgehammer Shannon" by her clients and "Uber's Worst Nightmare".)  After obtaining significant victories (and after an appellate court reversed an early victory we got invalidating Uber's arbitration agreement), we reached a settlement with Uber.

We have now brought new cases against Uber in California and Massachusetts, which pick up where the last left off, and through which we are continuing to challenge Uber's refusal to recognize its drivers as employees, entitled to all the rights and protections of employees.  However, because Uber's arbitration agreement has so far been enforced, we are also representing thousands of drivers in individual arbitration claims.  In order to be included in our ongoing arbitrations, email us at uberlawsuit@llrlaw.com to obtain a form to sign up with us.

LATEST NEWS:

We have reached a $20 million settlement on behalf of drivers who are not bound by Uber’s arbitration clause who have worked in California or Massachusetts.  If you last drove for Uber before July 2013, or if you opted out of Uber’s arbitration clause and drove before 2019, you are likely a class member.  As of June 2020, this settlement is now final, and we expect payments to be sent to class members (who submitted a claim) this summer. 

All other drivers may pursue their claims only through arbitration.  We are pursuing arbitrations for thousands of Uber drivers.  In order to be included in our ongoing arbitrations, email us at uberlawsuit@llrlaw.com to obtain a form to sign up with us.  If you are signed up with us to pursue an arbitration, please watch your emails for any updates.   

Please note that other firms are copying what we have been doing for years and are soliciting Uber drivers to bring arbitrations.  Our firm, Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C., is the original firm that began this litigation, has been fighting Uber in court (and arbitration) for more than 7 years, and was certified as class counsel by the federal court in the original case. 

If you have any questions, please contact us at uberlawsuit@llrlaw.com or by phone at (855) 590-2600.

OTHER NEWS:

As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic began, we filed emergency motions in March 2020 against Uber in California and Massachusetts, seeking to require Uber to provide state-mandated sick pay for its drivers.  In California, we were able to negotiate a financial assistance program for certain drivers affected by COVID-19 that does not require any documentation and will not require drivers to be taken off the app for more than 3 days (unless they have symptoms after that).  Uber drivers in California who drove a required amount in the months before the pandemic can receive $360 if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or believe they or someone they live with has been exposed to COVID-19, or have pre-existing conditions, or are at least 60 years old.  Read here  about how to access this program, and please contact us at questions@llrlaw.com if you have any issues obtaining the $360 if you believe you qualify.  

In September 2019, the California legislature passed A.B. 5, a law that strengthens the test in California for workers challenging their misclassification as independent contractors.  A.B. 5 went into effect on January 1, 2020.  The law codifies the Dynamex ruling issued on April 30, 2018, by the California Supreme Court.  In this landmark ruling, the Court adopted the ABC test that is used in Massachusetts.  Under this test, the burden is on Uber to prove that drivers do not perform services within Uber’s usual course of business.  In other words, if Uber cannot prove that it is not a transportation company, then its drivers would be employees under California law. 

Our firm developed the caselaw behind the strong ABC test in Massachusetts over the last 15 years and made it known to the California Supreme Court in the Dynamex case.  We obtained the first ruling in California applying Dynamex, where the court agreed that our clients had been misclassified as independent contractors.  We obtained a significant ruling at the Ninth Circuit recognizing the strength of the ABC test in California (a case that is now pending at the California Supreme Court, regarding whether Dynamex is retroactive). 

Despite the fact that we believe Dynamex and A.B. 5 make clear that Uber drivers are employees under California law, Uber is still continuing to vigorously defend itself against these allegations.  It is also trying to overturn A.B. 5 in a ballot initiative this year.  We oppose Uber’s attempt to undo the work of the California legislature and California Supreme Court, which have made clear the strong protections they agree workers must have against companies trying to misuse the independent contractor classification.   

In the meantime, the courts have so far required most drivers to pursue individual arbitrations if they want to recover any damages for the wage law violations we have alleged.  So in addition to the cases we are continuing to litigate in court, we are also pursuing thousands of individual arbitrations for drivers.  For this reason, IF YOU ARE AN UBER DRIVER IN CALIFORNIA OR MASSACHUSETTS WHO DID NOT OPT OUT OF EVERY VERSION OF UBER’S ARBITRATION CLAUSE, PLEASE CONTACT US, if you have not already, to sign up to bring an arbitration claim.  Email us at uberlawsuit@llrlaw.com to obtain a form to sign up with us if you want to be included.

Uber has been arguing that drivers are independent contractors, and not employees, because they can set their own hours, and Uber makes much of the fact that drivers like setting their own schedules.  We don’t disagree that drivers like to be able to work whenever they want!  The fact that drivers set their own schedules does not make them independent contractors.  We are not challenging Uber's system of providing flexibility for its drivers!  Courts have agreed that, even if Uber drivers are declared to be employees, that would not require Uber to take away their flexibility.  Our argument is simply that, under the law, when drivers are working for Uber, they are Uber's employees and must receive the wage protections that employees receive. 

If you have any questions, please call (855) 590-2600, or email us at uberlawsuit@llrlaw.com.

Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan and Lichten & Liss-Riordan have represented thousands of employees who have been misclassified as independent contractors, all around the country.  We have brought and won many ground-breaking cases and are nationally recognized for our successful and ethical representation of workers in many industries.

uber taxi & limo drivers

In order to join our contact list of drivers interested in the case who want to receive updates, please email us at uberlawsuit@llrlaw.com and tell us your name, email address, and location where you have driven for Uber.

The attorneys representing the drivers are:

Shannon Liss-Riordan
Adelaide Pagano
Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C.
729 Boylston Street, Suite 2000
Boston, MA 02116
www.llrlaw.com
Tel: (855) 590-2600
uberlawsuit@llrlaw.com

Uber cannot legally retaliate against you for cooperating with the lawsuit.

News Articles:

California high court: ‘ABC test’ for gig workers is retroactive, in blow to Uber, Lyft
San Francisco Chronicle | January 2021

Uber Sued for Using ‘Biased’ Rider Ratings to Fire Drivers
Bloomberg | October 2020

Uber, Lyft likely violated California labor law, appeals court finds
NBC News | October 2020

Op-ed: Elizabeth Warren and lawyer who sued Uber say gig economy companies deny workers their rights
CNBC | August 2020

4 Takeaways From Uber, Lyft's Worker Classification Loss
Law360 | August 2020

Gig Economy Feels Bite of California Law After Uber, Lyft Loss
Bloomberg Law | August 2020

Massachusetts sues Uber, Lyft over alleged worker misclassification
NBC news | July 2020

Judge to Uber: Find short-term benefits for drivers 
San Francisco Chronicle | April 2020

Uber Misclassification Risks Spreading COVID-19, Drivers Say
Law360 | April 2020

Protecting Gig Workers
Livestream with U.S. Senator Ed Markey and Shannon Liss-Riordan

Facebook | March 2020

Los Conductores De Uber Y Lyft En California Presentan Demandas Para Que Sean Clasificados Como Empleados
Timis | March 2020

Lyft, Uber drivers seek sick leave during pandemic, or else: ‘I’m not stopping, fever or no fever’
San Francisco Chronicle | March 2020

Coronavirus bill includes sick leave, but not for gig workers
The Boston Globe | March 2020

Rideshare drivers sue Uber, Lyft to classify them as employees, citing coronavirus
The Hill | March 2020

Driver Asks Court To Block Uber 'Contractor' Classification
Law360 | September 2019

Uber Hit With Misclassification Suit Invoking Dynamex Bill
Law360 | September 2019

SF Uber and Lyft drivers take to the streets, block Market Street traffic for better wages
SF Examiner | May 2019

It's not just the gig economy that could end employment as we know it. It's all companies.
NBC News | May 2019

Uber to pay $20 million to some California, Massachusetts drivers in gig-work case
San Francisco Chronicle | March 2019

Uber Strikes $20M Deal In Driver Misclassification Suit
Law360 | March 2019

Uber scores a big win in legal fight to keep drivers as independent contractors
The Verge | September 2018

California Ruling a ‘Seismic Shift’ for Gig Economy Workers
Associated Press | May 2018

Gig Economy Business Model Dealt a Blow in California Ruling
The New York Times | April 2018

Mass Uber Drivers Can Proceed In Misclassification Row
Law360 | March 2018

NLRB to Argue Against Uber in Key Labor Fight in Ninth Circuit
The Recorder | August 2017

Travis Kalanick is no longer Uber’s CEO, but drivers still want him on the hook in lawsuit
LA Times | June 2017

Calif. Judge Pauses Five Uber Suits As 9th Circ. Ponders
Law360 | November 2016

In stinging decision for Uber drivers, appeals court says they must go to arbitration
LA Times | September 2016

U.S. judge rejects Uber's driver expenses settlement
Reuters | August 2016

Uber’s Worst Nightmare
San Francisco Magazine | May 2016

Following $100 Million Settlement, Tipping Uber Drivers is Now on the Menu
Newsweek | April 2016

Uber Agrees to Pay $100 Million to Drivers in Historic Class Action Settlement
Mother Jones | April 2016

Meet the attorney suing Uber, Lyft, GrubHub and a dozen California tech firms
LA Times | January 2016

Uber's Least Favorite Lawyer Strikes Again
The Recorder | January 2016

Uber sued by drivers excluded from class-action lawsuit
LA Times | January 2016

Year in Preview: What the Uber Lawsuit Means for Workers in the Sharing Economy
SF Weekly | December 2015

Meet Sledgehammer Shannon, the Lawyer Who Is Uber’s Worst Nightmare
Mother Jones | December 2015

That Little Lawsuit Against Uber Just Got Bigger
Vice News | December 2015

The biggest legal threat to Uber’s business just got a whole lot bigger
Quartz | December 2015

Uber Drivers Suit Granted Class-Action Status
The Wall Street Journal | September 2015

A Federal Judge Just Shredded Uber's Arguments Against a Major Class-Action Lawsuit
Slate | September 2015

California Court Gets One Step Closer to Deciding Uber's Fate
Time | August 2015

California labor regulators blast a big hole in Uber's 'sharing economy' dodge
Los Angeles Times | June 2015

Uber driver was employee, not contractor, California commission says
The Wall Street Journal | June 2015

Case against Uber seeks to reclassify drivers as employees, not contractors (Audio Interview)
SiriusXM News | May 2015

How one woman could destroy Uber's business model - and take the entire on demand economy down with it
New York Magazine | April 2015

What strippers can teach Uber
Medium | April 2015

Uber, Lyft cases could help clarify drivers' legal status
Wall Street Journal | March 2015

Legal battle over employment rights for on-demand services like uber (Audio Interview)
WBUR | April 2015

Uber, Lyft lawsuits could spell trouble for the on-demand economy
Time | March 2015

The lawsuits that could change Lyft and Uber forever (Video)
Bloomberg News | March 2015

What’s at stake if Uber and Lyft’s labor models go to trial
The Wall Street Journal | March 2015

Juries to decide landmark cases against Uber and Lyft
Forbes | March 2015

The hidden costs of being an Uber driver
Washington Post | February 2015

Some Uber, Lyft drivers want employee status (Video)
CNBC | February 2015

Attorney suing Uber, Lyft in independent contractor case won similar fights for FedEx drivers, strippers (Video)
San Francisco Business Times | February 2015

Judges skeptical of Uber-Lyft claims in labor cases
The Wall Street Journal | February 2015

Before Uber revolutionizes labor, it's going to have to explain these embarrassing emails
The Verge | January 2015

Internal Uber e-mails reflect company's brash reputation
SF Gate | January 2015

Suits seek to force Lyft and Uber to treat drivers as employees
Buzzfeed | January 2015

The inconvenient truth about ride-sharing
Boston Globe | December 2014

Video: Uber anger: lawsuit claims drivers treated unfairly
WGBH | November 2014

Audio: Shannon Liss-Riordan - Unfair treatment of Uber Drivers
WRKO | July 2014

New lawsuit claims Uber exploits drivers
Boston Globe | June 2014

Judge to Uber: Let drivers join class-action lawsuit
SF Gate | June 2014

This Boston lawyer could be Uber's nemesis as it eyes expansion
Xconomy | May 2014

Judge orders Uber to change ADR clause
The Recorder | May 2014

Drivers accuse car app Uber of dictating terms, skimming tips
Aljazeera America | April 2014

Judge greenlights class-action lawsuit against Uber, drivers say they're being stiffed
SF Weekly | December 2013

Uber drivers' suit over tips clears hurdle
San Francisco Chronicle | December 2013

Cabbies duped by Uber given second chance
Courthouse News Service | December 2013

Uber's Other Legal Mess: Drivers Sue Over Missing Tips
Businessweek | August 2013

Lawsuit Alleges Uber Unfairly Withholds Tips From Drivers
SF Bay Guardian | August 2013

Uber Sued Again Over Tip-Skimming Claims, Case Could Go National
Xconomy | August 2013