Amazon Last-Mile Drivers in California Exempt From Arbitration

Amazon delivery drivers who bring packages to customers’ doorsteps can pursue labor law claims in open court rather than being pushed into arbitration, a California state appeals panel ruled.

Although they don’t cross state lines, these drivers carry goods manufactured outside of the Golden State and therefore qualify as interstate commerce workers exempt under the Federal Arbitration Act, justices in California’s Court of Appeal, Fourth District found Wednesday, upholding a trial judge’s ruling.

“We reject Amazon’s argument that, because a large percentage of its goods had already been received at the local warehouse in California and were ‘at rest’ when ...