A federal class action essentially asking whether Uber drivers should be classified as employees instead of contractors was dealt a major blow when a federal appeals court put the brakes on the closely watched lawsuit. The Tuesday move (PDF) by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals will set aside a June trial representing as many as 240,000 current and former Uber drivers in California that was scheduled in San Francisco federal court.
Uber had appealed a federal judge’s decision last year certifying the class, saying the ruling paved the way for a “runaway class action.” The ride-hailing company, based in San Francisco, said riders agreed to arbitration clauses as a condition of employment.
