Johnson & Bell shareholder Edward Hearn and associate Kyle Farris recently won a motion for summary judgment in an Indiana case on behalf of a national food delivery company. This matter involved the ongoing legal issues surrounding the “independent contractor” status of food delivery drivers. The court found that their client had “developed an online marketplace using web-based technology that connects independent contractors, restaurants, and/or businesses or other customers.” It was also proven that their client “did not employ or hire” the co-defendant in the matter. Both findings resulted in the summary judgment verdict, an extremely favorable outcome for our client.
This case was similar to another matter Kyle and Ed handled successfully with the same client late last year. That matter, reported in a previous newsletter, focused on the independent contractor status of the client’s employees. Kyle also managed yet another similar case, for the same client, which is currently in the appeals process. Johnson & Bell’s client has pointed to the strategy developed by their team in Indiana as a model for how these cases should be litigated nationwide.