O'Connor
O'Connor v. Uber Technologies, Inc.
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Chen, J.
ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL
O’Connor, Docket No. 518
Yucesoy, Docket No. 206
I- INTRODUCTION
Plaintiffs brought the instant class action and putative class action against Defendant Uber Technologies, Inc., alleging that Uber miselassifies drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. O’Connor v. Uber Techs., Inc., Case No. 13-cv-3826-EMC, Docket No. 330 (Second Amended Complaint) (SAC) at ¶ 3; Yucesoy v. Uber Techs., Inc., Case No. 15-cv-262-EMC, Docket No. 198 (Fourth Amended Complaint) (FAC) at ¶ 2. Following three years of contentious litigation, the parties entered into a Settlement Agreement shortly before the O’Connor trial was to begin. O’Connor, Docket No. 518; Yucesoy, Docket No. 206.
Plaintiffs’ motions for preliminary approval came on for hearing before the Court on June 2, 2016. The Court has also reviewed the parties’ briefing and supplemental briefing, as well as the many objections challenging the adequacy of the Settlement Agreement. It also invited and considered the comments of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA). While recognizing sizeable settlement sum and policy changes proposed by the…