Uber’s Ambitious Plan to Transform Lawsuit Landscape in Nevada
For decades, corporate America has harbored a persistent aspiration: to create barriers that make it increasingly difficult for aggrieved customers, employees, and others to initiate lawsuits against companies seeking redress for alleged injuries, mistreatment, and various harms. Now, Uber, the prominent ride-hailing giant often at the center of such legal disputes, is advancing a plan that could potentially bring this dream closer to reality—at least in one state.
The company is actively pursuing a measure to be placed on the ballot in Nevada, which would impose significant restrictions on the amount of money that attorneys could earn when they successfully bring lawsuits on behalf of their clients. If this measure gains approval, it could diminish the financial incentives for plaintiffs’ lawyers to pursue these cases, making it less appealing—and in certain scenarios, financially unfeasible—for them to take on such litigation.
Specifically, Uber’s proposed initiative seeks to limit lawyers to collecting no more than 20 percent of their clients’ jury awards or settlements. This drastic reduction could reshape the legal landscape, particularly for those seeking justice against large corporations.
The initiative is being spearheaded by Nevadans for Fair Recovery, a political action committee established this year with the backing of Uber and its lobbyists. Campaign finance records reveal that Uber has contributed a substantial $5 million to this PAC, making it the sole financial supporter of the initiative. The PAC has framed the measure as a protective measure for individuals, arguing that it shields them from trial lawyers who are portrayed as “getting rich at the expense of plaintiffs and everyone else.” This sentiment is echoed on the PAC’s website, which features a provocative image of someone sliding a $100 bill into a suit pocket.
