A federal judge in Washington state has ruled that Amazon delivery drivers that had filed a collective action alleging that Amazon misclassified drivers as independent contractors fit the definition of transportation workers who are exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour relied on a recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, which said in New Prime v. Oliveira that transportation workers engaged in interstate commerce, including those classified as independent contractors, are exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act.
The case is Rittmann et al. v. Amazon.com Inc. et al., case number 2:16-cv-01554, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
This blog is intended to provide information to the general public and to practitioners about developments that may impact Oregon class actions.