New York City receives legal victory in challenge to e-hail program
Yellow taxicabs are allowed to accept e-hails, a Manhattan appellate court ruled this week. New York began experimenting with taxi-summoning apps when black livery car companies initiated a lawsuit challenging the experiment as unfair intrusion on their drivers’ right to earn a living and a violation of a myriad of New York laws and regulations.
A lower court granted approval of the program only to be halted by Manhattan Appellate Division Justice Helen Freedman in May. Freedman ruled, at that time, that the e-hailing program be halted until a full panel of judges was able to hear the case.
In allowing the e-hail program to proceed, a panel of Appellate Division, First Department, judges ruled that given the “limited purpose” of and “limited time” within which the e-hail program will operate, the program is allowed by New York law.