US: Appeals Court hands Uber class-action victory

Uber Technologies won a legal victory on Tuesday, September 25, as a federal appeals court decided decided drivers seeking to be classified as employees rather than independent contractors must arbitrate their claims individually, and not pursue class-action lawsuits.

In a 3-0 decision, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco reversed a lower court judge’s denial of Uber’s motion to compel arbitration in three lawsuits.

It also overturned the class certification in one of the lawsuits of thousands of California drivers who had driven for the San Francisco-based ride-hailing company since August 2009.

In Tuesday’s decision, Circuit Judge Richard Clifton said arbitration was necessary in light of the epic ruling, as well a 9th Circuit ruling from 2016 in another case against Uber.

Shannon Liss-Riordan, a lawyer for the drivers, said the overturning of the class action was expected. She may ask an 11-judge appeals court panel to revisit the case, but said thousands of drivers are pursuing individual arbitrations in the meantime.

Full Content: Los Angeles Times

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