Latest Sharing Economy Headlines
All the headlines from our Sharing Economy Topic Page, ordered by recency.
James River Accuses 52 South Carolina Residents of Faking Uber Accidents
Mar 9 2020 // Some South Carolina residents deliberately caused hit-and-run accidents while in Uber rides as part of an insurance scam, a car insurance company says in a lawsuit. The lawsuit from James River Insurance says 52 people...
French Court Deals Blow to Uber by Giving Drivers Employee Status
Mar 5 2020 // France’s top court has recognized the right of an Uber driver to be considered an employee, a ruling that could upend the U.S. firm’s business model and potentially require it to pay more taxes and benefits...
Many Vehicles, Many Uses, Many Questions
Feb 26 2020 // This week’s blog post comes to us from friend of the Academy, Joseph S. Harrington. Joe is a prolific writer, observer, and commentator on the insurance industry. This post is based on his recent Academy webinar by...
James River Accuses 52 South Carolina Residents of Faking Uber Accidents
Feb 24 2020 // Some South Carolina residents deliberately caused hit-and-run accidents while in Uber rides as part of an insurance scam, a car insurance company says in a lawsuit. The lawsuit from James River Insurance says 52 people...
The State of Autonomous Driving: Shuttles vs. Moonshots in Big Stakes Race
Feb 19 2020 // May Mobility Inc.’s boxy white-and-green self-driving shuttle pulls up to a damp corner in downtown Detroit. Its big doors swing out revealing a safety driver and six seats that face each other. It’s more...
Judge Stalls Uber’s Challenge to Controversial California Job Law
Feb 12 2020 // A federal judge has refused to exempt rideshare company Uber and on-demand meal delivery service Postmates from a broad new California labor law while she considers their lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee in Los...
Gaining a Risk Manager Seat at Technology’s Table: Interview with RIMS Leader Langone
Feb 11 2020 // The culture at technology startups like Uber, Airbnb and PayPal is all about risk-taking. They start by offering a unique, untested or reimagined product or service or by disrupting an industry’s established...
Uber, Postmates Lose Bid to Block California Gig Worker Law… for Now
Feb 10 2020 // A U.S. judge on Monday rejected a request by Uber Technologies Inc. and courier services provider Postmates Inc. to block a California labor law from taking effect, saying the bill’s public benefits outweighed the...
On-Demand Firms Seek to Protect ‘New’ Economy, Wealth From ‘Frankenstein’
Feb 7 2020 // Uber Technologies Inc. wants to smother what the company calls California’s “Frankenstein” gig-worker protection law before state officials turn it loose. Uber and Postmates Inc. are scheduled Friday to...
Uber Wins Ruling That Drivers Are Not Employees in Brazil, Its 2d Biggest Market
Feb 6 2020 // A Brazilian higher court for labor ruled on Wednesday that there was no employment relationship between Uber and its drivers, siding with the ride-hailing company against a Sao Paulo driver. The federal judge in Brasilia...
Rhode Island Judge Says Jury Should Decide if Uber Can Be Liable for Crash
Jan 29 2020 // A jury should determine whether Uber ought to be held responsible for a passenger’s injuries, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled. A U.S. District Court judge concluded Jan. 16 that jurors should determine whether...
Oklahoma State Representative’s Bill Would Regulate Peer-to-Peer Car Rentals
Jan 27 2020 // A state representative in Oklahoma has filed a bill that would set regulatory standards for the nascent peer-to-peer rental car industry. Rep. Lonnie Sims (R-Jenks) says House Bill 3655 supports both the growth and the...
South Carolina Homeowner Claims in Suit Airbnb Guest Threw Party, Trashed Home
Jan 27 2020 // The owner of an island home off South Carolina’s coast is suing Airbnb, claiming it only reimbursed him for a “fraction” of the damages that a guest who threw a big party did to his home. In a federal...
Uber Goes to Washington. Autonomous Cars with Humans to Collect Data in D.C.
Jan 24 2020 // Uber Technologies Inc. will put self-driving vehicles on Washington, D.C. roads Friday with human drivers in control, the ride share company said on Thursday, as it seeks to collect data for future deployment of fully...
Uber in London Failed to Flag Assault Complaints, Monitor Drivers’ Insurance Status
Jan 24 2020 // London’s main transportation regulator has released a scathing document detailing why it moved to ban Uber Technologies Inc. from operating in the city. The regulator lists several safety concerns, including the...
Lyft Hopes New Expert Council Improves Safety for Riders, Drivers
Jan 23 2020 // Lyft Inc is putting together a council of experts to advise the ride-hailing company on its safety initiatives for riders and drivers, it said in a blog post on Tuesday. The Safety Advisory Council will include...
Airbnb Stresses Safety, Accountability in Governance Changes
Jan 21 2020 // Airbnb Inc. is laying the groundwork for a public market debut later this year, announcing a new corporate governance strategy that values safety, sustainability, diversity and accountability. The home-share startup has...
Southern California Uber Driver Accused of Raping Passenger
Jan 15 2020 // An Uber driver was arrested on suspicion of raping a woman who said she fell asleep in his car after a night of drinking and woke up to him assaulting her, authorities said. The suspect, Alonso Calle, had contacted police...
Oregon Woman Sues Uber for $1M, Alleging Sex Assault by Driver
Jan 10 2020 // A Hillsboro, Ore. woman is seeking more than $1 million from the ride-hailing company Uber, alleging she was sexually assaulted by one of the company’s drivers in 2018. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the woman...
Uber Halts Upfront Ride Pricing in Response to New California Worker Law
Jan 9 2020 // Uber Technologies Inc. on Wednesday informed its California customers that it would switch to providing estimates as opposed to fixed prices for its rides in response to a new law that makes it harder to qualify its...
