NewsWatch
Keeping a critical eye on Uber,
Lyft and other transportation
network companies
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New York City Uber drivers sue over employment status
A group representing 5,000 Uber drivers in New York City filed a lawsuit on accusing the ride-share company of depriving drivers of various employment protections by misclassifying them as independent contractors. The proposed class action lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance on behalf of 10 drivers is the latest to claim Uber drivers should be considered employees entitled to minimum wage, overtime pay and reimbursements for expenses.
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Uber deal takes hits in contentious hearing
A federal judge had tough questions about the fairness of allowing plaintiffs attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan to negotiate away a host of other lawsuits pending against Uber Technologies Inc. in reaching an $84 million settlement. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen of the Northern District of California kicked off a contentious, nearly four-hour hearing on preliminary approval of the Uber peace pact echoing criticisms from other attorneys that Liss-Riordan had cut off their claims and discounted them as worthless in the settlement.
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Uber driver, 32, 'strangled University of Delaware student in his dorm parking lot'
University of Delaware Police have charged a 32-year-old New Castle, Delaware, man in connection with an assault of a 19-year-old male student. Uber driver, Yolande Mcallister, has been charged with third degree assault, strangulation and disorderly conduct and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institute. The attack occurred shortly after the victim had been dropped off at his hall of residence in the parking lot of the George Read Residence Hall on the University's Newark campus.
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Blind woman sues Uber, says she and her guide dog were refused service
An Arlington woman is suing ride-hailing giant Uber after she says at least two drivers refused to transport her and her service dog. In the 29-page suit, Tiffany Jolliff, who is blind, said the company violated the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Virginians With Disabilities Act in refusing to transport her on at least three occasions. In one instance last June, an UberX driver refused to pick up Jolliff once the driver realized that she was traveling with her service dog, a yellow Lab named Railey.
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Uber, Lyft legislation focuses on insurance
As the state Legislature session winds down, the fight to allow ride-hailing companies to operate in New York is focused on setting insurance terms for drivers. Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes, said he thinks the Legislature is close to agreement on the insurance issue but not broader regulation of services like Uber and Lyft. "I think that is going to happen with the insurance piece," he said. "Higher thresholds will be put on ride sharing."
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Uber, Lyft join forces in opposing FBI database's privacy exemption
The FBI has proposed keeping its database of fingerprints, iris scans and photographs exempt from privacy laws, prompting companies like Lyft and Uber to join advocacy groups in saying they are "deeply concerned" about the proposed change. The bureau wants to shield its massive biometric database, called the Next Generation Identification, from Privacy Act rules that require a person to be notified if they are in a government system, as well as rules that let people ensure that the information the government is holding about them is accurate.
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Inside Uber's auto-lease machine, where almost anyone can get a car
In its relentless pursuit for growth, Uber needs new drivers, and many of those drivers need cars. To help them get started, Uber has been offering short-term leases since July through a wholly owned Delaware-based subsidiary called Xchange Leasing, LLC. It partners with auto dealerships, advertises to drivers, manages risk, and even pays repo men to chase down cars whose drivers aren't making their payments.
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Uber's subprime leases put drivers on road, but leave some shackled
In its relentless pursuit of growth, Uber needs new drivers, and many of those drivers need cars. To help them get started, Uber began offering short-term leases since July through a wholly owned Delaware-based subsidiary called Xchange Leasing. It partners with auto dealerships, advertises to drivers, manages risk and even pays repo men to chase down cars whose drivers aren't making their payments.
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Lyft driver says her lupus led to her losing her job after customers didn't recognize her
Frustration for a woman suffering from lupus as she learns that her disease cost her, her job. She drives for a ride-sharing service -- but customers complained she wasn't the same person as the photo in her company profile. It turns out that her disease was to blame for all the confusion.
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Uber denies access to Harvard startup that compared ride-hailing prices
Uber moved to revoke a price-comparison app's access to Uber's open software, sparking criticism that Uber was acting in contrast to its supposed ideals supporting competition. "They are absolutely a champion of competition when it's them against taxi companies or them against regulators," said Amber James, a co-founder of the startup, called Urbanhail. "However, in its own ride-hailing niche of the transportation market, Uber's stance is ironically absolutely anti-competitive."
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Uber's Saudi cash prepares company for competition but draws fire
Eyebrows rose last week when Uber announced that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund would invest $3.5 billion in the fast-growing ride service and take a seat on Uber's board. While some critics slammed Uber for taking money from a repressive government whose female citizens aren't even allowed to drive, analysts say the deal gives the San Francisco company fuel to expand worldwide without resorting to the public markets
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