SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) — Uber and Lyft drivers are suing the city of Seattle's Department of Finance and Administrative Services, as well as the agency's director, over a new city new ordinance that regulates how the for-hire drivers can operate in the city.
Dan Clark, Tami Dunlap, Ali Hassam, Jennifer Immel, Gary Kunze, Elisabeth Lowe, Dale Montz, Abdi Motan, Fredrick Rice, Michael Riebs and Firew Teshome filed a complaint on March 10, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against the defendants, alleging that they implemented an ordinance that deprives the drivers of their freedom of speech, among other rights.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs suffered damages due to the implementation of the ordinance. The plaintiffs hold the city of Seattle's Department of Finance and Administrative Services and Fred Podesta, the agency's director, responsible because the defendants allegedly enforced an ordinance requiring the drivers to have what's known as an exclusive driver representative to authorize work contracts.
The plaintiffs argue in the complaint that the ordinance is invalid and unconstitutional as well. They seek to enjoin the defendant and ask for nominal and compensatory damages, all legal fees and any other relief as the court deems just. They are represented by David Dewhirst and James Abernathy of Freedom Foundation in Olympia, Wash.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington Case number 2:17-cv-00382-RSL