November 15, 2017 – New York Law Journal Quotes Todd Higgins’ Second Circuit Oral Argument in Lawsuit on Behalf of NYC Taxi Medallion Industry
November 15, 2017
New York Law Journal quoted Crosby & Higgins managing partner Todd Higgins’ recent oral argument before a panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Mr. Higgins argued on behalf of the NYC taxi medallion industry, appealing the district court’s ruling that taxi medallion holders are not subject to disparate treatment as a result of the rise of for-hire transportation companies such as Uber and Lyft, despite the fact that such companies are not subject to the same regulations imposed upon medallion holders. According to Mr. Higgins, “[t]he questions of the disparate treatment have been catastrophic,” causing the value of taxi medallions to plummet from more than $1M to $130,000 over the past few years. Much of the argument focused on the difference between a “hail” vs. a “prearrangement.” Mr. Higgins argued that the difference traditionally has been the “concept of time” and that there is effectively no difference between a prospective passenger hailing a cab from the street and hailing an Uber from their phone. The panel’s ruling on the appeal is expected in the coming months.
To read the New York Law Journal article, entitled “Taxi Medallion Owners Say Unequal Treatment is Boosting Uber, Lyft,” please click here.
To listen to the oral argument, please click here.