On June 26, 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the
arbitration clause in Uber's standard form driver contracts,
which requires disputes to be resolved through mediation and
arbitration in the Netherlands, was unconscionable and thus
invalid. As a result, Ontario's Uber drivers may now bring
claims against the technology giant in a court in Ontario.
Background
David Heller is a driver for UberEats. To become a driver for
UberEats, he had to accept, without negotiation, the terms of
Uber's standard form services agreement. A clause within this
agreement states that Uber drivers must resolve any disputes they
have with Uber through an arbitration process in the Netherlands
that would cost the Uber driver US$14,500 in up-front
administrative and filing fees. This does not include legal fees,
travel expenses or other costs of participation.