FedEx wins one in court
04-02-2009, 05:00 AM
#1
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 77
FedEx wins one in court
Jury sides with FedEx on drivers, says workers are independent contractors
By Wayne Risher (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A Superior Court jury in Seattle bolstered FedEx's case in the delivery giant's fight to treat FedEx Ground drivers as independent contractors.
The jury ruled late Tuesday that drivers involved in a lawsuit weren't employees and thus weren't entitled to overtime and reimbursement for uniforms.FedEx officials hailed the verdict as supporting a FedEx Ground business model in which routes are bought and sold and drivers contract to operate them to company standards.
"It was certainly validation of our independent contractors and their right to operate their own business, which is what we've always said. They have a right to work for themselves," FedEx spokesman Maury Lane said.
Plaintiffs' lawyer Rebecca Roe said an appeal would be filed on behalf of more than 320 drivers who filed the class-action lawsuit in 2004.
Roe's legal team believes the jury wasn't properly instructed by the trial judge, and that the case may have been more appropriate for a bench or nonjury trial.
By Wayne Risher (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A Superior Court jury in Seattle bolstered FedEx's case in the delivery giant's fight to treat FedEx Ground drivers as independent contractors.
The jury ruled late Tuesday that drivers involved in a lawsuit weren't employees and thus weren't entitled to overtime and reimbursement for uniforms.FedEx officials hailed the verdict as supporting a FedEx Ground business model in which routes are bought and sold and drivers contract to operate them to company standards.
"It was certainly validation of our independent contractors and their right to operate their own business, which is what we've always said. They have a right to work for themselves," FedEx spokesman Maury Lane said.
Plaintiffs' lawyer Rebecca Roe said an appeal would be filed on behalf of more than 320 drivers who filed the class-action lawsuit in 2004.
Roe's legal team believes the jury wasn't properly instructed by the trial judge, and that the case may have been more appropriate for a bench or nonjury trial.
04-02-2009, 08:03 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: MD11 CPT
Posts: 1,077
Originally Posted by cub pilot
FedEx has in the past lost some of the battles on the independent contactor issue but they will win the war. Happy to see them win one...
I'm sure you'll be right behind him then.
04-02-2009, 11:19 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,196
Originally Posted by AerisArmis
Pilots arguing over the status of truck drivers.......priceless
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
