Convenience-minded tech companies like Amazon, Uber, Lyft, Doordash, and Instacart have revolutionized the way American consumers eat, shop, and move from point A to point B. These companies and their services are often powered by third party workers they deem independent contractors or gig workers: individuals who collect money from the platforms on a job-by-job basis, either as a primary or secondary form of income.
By classifying workers as independent contractors, corporations can attempt to circumvent liability for any negligent acts of the workers at the expense of the injured public. But last year, in Shaw v. Amazon.com Inc., Yarborough Applegate’s trial team successfully contended that Amazon—a prime example of large corporations using independent contractors and gig workers to meet consumer demand while attempting to shield themselves from the costs and liabilities inherent to the work—was in fact vicariously liable for the acts of one of its purported independent contractors.
Attorney Alex Heaton, a member of the Shaw trial team, unpacks their approach in the July issue of South Carolina Bar’s SC Lawyer magazine. In “The Independent Contractor Conundrum in the Growing Gig Economy,” she takes a closer look at the realities of the gig economy and shares insights on how Yarborough Applegate flipped the independent contractor defense on its head and secured a landmark jury verdict.
INJURED IN A COLLISION WITH AN AMAZON DELIVERY DRIVER?
If you or a loved one has suffered following a collision with an Amazon delivery worker and want to know if you have a case, contact Yarborough Applegate today. The consultation is always free.
Disclaimer: Every case is unique, and prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.
This case marks the first time Amazon has tested with a jury the issue of whether it will be held responsible for injuries caused by one of 285,000 drivers it calls independent contractors.
Alex Heaton shares what has shaped her, what drives her, and what she hopes her lasting legacy will be.
Last month, attorney William Applegate was invited to speak on Yarborough Applegate’s distracted driving lawsuit against Amazon at the Attorney Information Exchange Group’s (AIEG) Spring Seminar in Chicago.
Every year, South Carolina Lawyers Weekly compiles a list of the top million-dollar settlements in the state reported in its newspaper. Since 2011, Yarborough Applegate has appeared on this list every year, always securing at least 3 spots. In 2016, Yarborough Applegate earned 8 of the 18 spots on the list totaling $18.15 million in […]
Yarborough Applegate is excited to welcome its newest attorney, Christopher J. Bryant. Chris comes to us with a strong background as a federal law clerk at the trial and appellate levels, bringing a valuable perspective to the team. Originally from the Midwest, Chris has spent most of this adult life in the Carolinas. Chris received […]
We’re thrilled to share the news of a jury verdict reached last week on behalf of a Summerville veterinarian. Congratulations to another job well done by our attorneys Douglas Jennings and David Lail. Read on for full details. Nearly three years ago, a visibly dead pine tree fell from the lawn of a tenant-occupied property […]