The Supreme Court of California on Thursday, Nov. 29, denied the final appeal of FedEx Ground Package System Inc. to overturn the state trial court’s decision finding the company’s drivers to be employees and not independent contractors.
In August, the California Court of Appeals also denied the appeal in the landmark Estrada vs. FedEx Ground Package System Inc. case, and determined that the FedEx Ground drivers were entitled to reimbursement for about $6 million in additional expenses, bringing the total damages to about $11 million for 200 drivers.
“The California Supreme Court decision may be only one line, but it speaks volumes about the dedication of these incredibly courageous drivers who have never given up hope and have never lost faith in the American legal system,” said Lynn Rossman Faris, attorney for the plaintiffs.
When the Appeals Court ruled, it commented that, “FedEx’s control over every exquisite detail of the drivers’ performance, including the color of their socks and the style of their hair, supports the trial court’s conclusion that the drivers are employees.”
