Handy Fails to Force Arbitrating Worker Reimbursement Case (1)

Handy Technologies Inc. lost its bid to compel arbitrating restitution claims in a lawsuit Los Angeles and San Francisco district attorneys filed alleging the gig employer misclassified workers as independent contractors, a state judge ruled Monday.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo rejected Handy’s arguments that the cities should be compelled to arbitrate individual reimbursement claims pursued on behalf of the workers who agreed to arbitrate their disputes. That was the only form of relief for which Handy sought to force arbitration.

The DAs claim the handymen and cleaners are employees and are forced to pay for their own ...