Lyft, Uber to pay legal fees for drivers sued under Texas abortion ban
A sign at an Uber and Lyft pickup location. Photo: Stuart Cahill/MediaNewGroup/Boston Herald
Lyft and Uber will cover all legal fees for drivers sued under a new Texas law that imposed a ban on abortions after six weeks.
Why it matters: The law is one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the U.S., and prohibits the practice after a fetal heartbeat is detected — before many people know they are pregnant, Axios' Oriana Gonzalez writes.
The big picture: Lyft was the first rideshare company to announce that it would cover 100% of legal fees incurred by drivers due to the law. The company will also donate $1 million to Planned Parenthood.
- Uber made an announcement to cover fees for drivers shortly after Lyft's announcement.
- The ban allows anyone to sue a person suspected of helping a woman obtain an abortion.
What they're saying: “Drivers are never responsible for monitoring where their riders go or why. Imagine being a driver and not knowing if you are breaking the law by giving someone a ride,” Lyft said in a release.
- Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tweeted in response to Lyft's announcement that Uber would cover drivers' legal fees in the same way, thanking Lyft CEO Logan Green for taking the initiative.