Lyft Defends Its Driver Arbitration Pacts Before First Circuit

Lyft Inc. drivers shouldn’t be excused from arbitration agreements they signed, and they don’t pose a public harm as independent contractors who aren’t guaranteed sick leave, the ride hailing giant’s attorney told a U.S. appeals court panel.

The company is at war with drivers who contend they should be exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act, which includes a carve out for transportation workers engaged in interstate commerce. This would allow the drives to move forward in court with claims they were misclassified as contractors and are owed employee benefits.

Lyft and the drivers on Tuesday each asked the Boston-based U.S....