Cotter v. Lyft, Inc.

60 F. Supp. 3d 1059 (2014)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Ps brought this putative nationwide class action against D under California's wage and hour laws. Ps allege that: (i) California law requires D to treat all drivers throughout the nation as employees rather than independent contractors; and (ii) because D classifies and pays these drivers as independent contractors, it is depriving them of California's minimum wage, along with other rights that California law confers upon employees. The Court issued an order to show cause, questioning whether Ps, who the complaint alleges are California residents who drove for D in California, may bring claims under California's wage and hour laws on behalf of people who drove for D in other states. Ps argue they may bring claims on behalf of a nationwide class under California law unless D demonstrates that another state has a greater interest in applying its own law. Ps contend that because California's laws are more worker-protective than those of other states, D will be unable to show that the other states have a greater interest in applying their own laws.