FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What do I have to do to be a member of the class?
You do not have to do anything to be a member of the class. If you received the class notice, you are in the class as long as you do not opt out. All class members will receive nominal damages ($1).
However, in order to claim actual money damages for the time your license was suspended, you must contact us.
What do I need to do to get money damages?
In order to seek money damages, you need to contact us. We will be in touch with you with more information on hearings that will be held to decide money damages. It is not clear yet whether every TLC taxi, App and FHV driver will have to have a hearing in order to obtain money damages.
Who will decide whether I am entitled to damages?
We do not yet know who will make this decision. We have requested that the judge appoint a special master to oversee the hearings.
What will happen at the hearing?
A judge or special master will determine whether— if you had been afforded a fair hearing earlier— your license would have been suspended. To do that, the judge or special master may consider various factors such as the seriousness of the arrest charge, your record at the time of your arrest, and the circumstances of your alleged crime. The issue is whether you were an actual risk to the public.
Do I need to hire a lawyer?
No. Class Counsel will represent you and all class members at no upfront cost to you. We will be paid based on a contingency, meaning that we will be paid if we recover damages for you. You are free to hire your own lawyer if you choose, at your own cost.
How much damages can I get?
The amount of damages you may recover will depend on how much income you lost during your suspension and possibly other harm that flowed from your suspension. The amount of lost income may be calculated based on the length of your suspension and how much you were earning as a TLC licensed driver at the time of the suspension.
Do all drivers have to have a hearing in order to recover damages?
Under the court's ruling, TLC taxi, App and FHV drivers may obtain damages by appearing at a hearing and showing that they would not have been suspended if there were a fair process in place when they were arrested to determine whether they were a risk to the public. However, depending on the number of drivers who sign up for a hearing, it is possible that not all drivers will have to go through a hearing. Please contact us if you have any questions.