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Uber Technologies

Docs Reveal How Much Uber Owed Drivers If They Were Deemed Employees

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Reuters
Reuters
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Reuters
Reuters
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May 9, 2016, 4:49 PM ET
Ride Share Companies
LOS ANGELES, CA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 - Uber and Lyft cars are restricted to drop off only at LAX. Despite promises by Mayor Eric Garcetti in April that pick ups would be allowed by Summer, drivers are still waiting for the go-ahead. Uber driver Behzad said not being allowed to pick up a fare after dropping off at LAX is "a waste of time and money." He thinks the policy change at the airport won't change his overall outlook on the company. "The guy in San Francisco makes all the money," said Behzad. "With those people you cannot win." (Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)Photograph by Robert Gauthier — LA Times via Getty Images

Drivers who worked for ride-hailing service Uber in California and Massachusetts over the past seven years would have been entitled to an estimated $730 million in expense reimbursements had they been employees rather than contractors, according to court documents made public on Monday.

The figure was calculated by attorneys for drivers in a class action against the company, based on a standard rate for mileage reimbursement set by the U.S. government, and on data provided by Uber. Uber disputes the idea that drivers would ever be entitled to that reimbursement rate.

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Uber and smaller rival Lyft are attempting to settle legal actions by drivers who contend they should be classified as employees and therefore entitled to reimbursement for expenses, including gasoline and vehicle maintenance. Drivers currently pay those costs themselves.

The proposed settlement would pay drivers up to $100 million.

According to attorneys for the drivers, the total value of driver claims in the Uber case is $852 million, which includes a tips claim. Uber calculates the total value of plaintiff claims at $429 million.

Uber attempted to keep those figures secret, but a San Francisco federal judge ordered them unsealed last week.

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