Summary: Shannon Liss-Riordan is leading a class-action lawsuit against Uber and other sharing economy businesses.
One of the most talked about class-action lawsuits in recent history is the fight against transportation innovator, Uber. The suit against Uber alleges it misclassifies its drivers, and if the plaintiffs win, it could change the way the on-demand economy drives forward in the future, meaning Uber may have to cover employee expenses such as insurance, gas reimbursement or payroll taxes. This could cause a huge loss of profits for the tech company.
The suit is led by Shannon Liss-Riordan. Recently, The Los Angeles Times profiled this attorney who has fought and won for workers against companies like FedEx, American Airlines and Starbucks.
But who is Liss-Riordan?
1. Liss-Riordan is not a member of the California bar…but plans to be.
In addition to suing Uber, Liss-Riordan has been busy filing lawsuits against similar tech companies such as Lyft, DoorDash and Washio. She was so often seen in the San Francisco courthouse that a rival lawyer challenged whether or not she should be allowed to work there because she isn’t a member of the California State Bar. Instead of backing down, Liss-Riordan responded by registering to take the test in February, and once she’s in, she plans to open an office in San Francisco, The Los Angeles Times reports.
2. Liss-Riordan changed the strip club industry.
It was a common industry practice for strip clubs to classify their dancers as independent contractors, but Liss-Riordan won a lawsuit against a Massachusetts club that classified its dancers as such but expected them to share their tips with bouncers and managers. She won the case, and The Los Angeles Times reports her lawsuit triggered a wave of similar suits, altering the industry in the state.
3. Liss-Riordan works for free.
Liss-Riordan doesn’t charge any up front fees. Like most class-action attorneys, she only gets paid if her clients do, and in some cases, it can take years to win.
4. Liss-Riordan has an impressive background.
Business Insider reports that Liss-Riordan graduated from Harvard Law School before she got a position at a Boston labor union, where she specialized in wage and hour disputes. Eventually, she formed her own Boston-based firm, Lichten & Liss-Riordan, in 2009. Her website describes her as “one of the nation’s top plaintiffs’ class-action employment lawyers.”
Source: Business Insider
Source: The Los Angeles Times
Photo courtesy of Lichten & Liss-Riordan