Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Tim Garrett was quoted in an article on Law360 Employment Authority examining state attorneys general lawsuits against rideshare companies Uber and Lyft regarding worker classifications. The story follows the one-year anniversary of a $328 million settlement reached with both companies in New York.
The article noted that Massachusetts announced a $175 million agreement with the rideshare companies, as well as a suit in California that is moving forward without the state having to arbitrate its claims.
“The AG’s offices are not parties to the arbitration agreements,” said Tim. “That certainly would be and should be a concern for these gig economy employers.”
Tim referenced another potential downside for employers saying “that the benefits and protections drivers have won through attorney general settlements could potentially open up employers to further misclassification claims.”
The full article, “State AGs Continue Wage Actions Year After Uber, Lyft Deals,” was published by Law360 Employment Authority on October 31 and is available online (subscription required).