Uber is taking Seattle to court. The Seattle Times reported Uber is suing to block a law that would regulate when it can deactivate a driver.

The lawsuit claims that the city is infringing on the company’s rights by limiting its ability to manage drivers based on performance and safety concerns.

“Uber believes that ensuring consumers receive reliable, efficient and, above all, safe deliveries is more important than allowing couriers with consistently low consumer ratings — a sign of serious performance and/or safety issues — to keep disappointing consumers. The city does not,” the suit read.

The Seattle City Council passed the law in 2023, with strong support from then-council member Theresa Mosqueda.

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“To deactivate a driver or to cut someone off to have their ability to have an income with no warning and no recourse is just wrong,” she said at the time.

The law, set to take effect on New Year’s Day, aims to provide more transparency and fairness in the deactivation process. It requires companies like Uber to establish a “reasonable” policy for deactivations, give drivers advance notice and conduct fair investigations.

Uber argues that the law will hinder its ability to quickly address issues related to driver performance and safety, potentially leading to poorer service for customers. The company also contends that the law violates its constitutional rights by forcing it to associate with problematic drivers and disclose confidential business information.

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The law is part of a broader effort by Seattle lawmakers and labor advocates to protect gig workers, who often lack the ability to unionize. It includes provisions to prevent deactivations based on insufficient driving hours, low customer ratings, or declined ride offers, except in extreme cases.

Additionally, companies must provide drivers with records justifying their deactivation and allow them to contest the decision. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, who signed the bill into law, emphasized the importance of protecting app-based workers from sudden deactivations that could threaten their livelihoods. However, Uber maintains that its existing policies are sufficient to ensure safety and reliability for consumers.

Contributing: Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio

Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email him here. 

SEATTLE, WA – The man who is wanted for the murder of a Seattle Metro bus driver was arrested a year ago for the murder of his roommate, but released due to a lack of evidence, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Seattle Police say 53-year-old Richard Sitzlack murdered 59-year-old Shawn Yim early Wednesday morning.

Yim, a King County Metro driver, only had two passengers on the bus when he was killed: the accused murderer and a witness, who FOX 13 Seattle spoke to on Thursday morning. 

Seattle Police released a photo of the accused killer more than 30 hours after the murder.

However, police tell FOX 13 Seattle someone reportedly saw Sitzlack downtown around 8 p.m. Wednesday. That is about five miles from where the attack happened in the University District, and 15 hours after the attack.

Seattle police would not provide any more details on the sighting of Sitzlack.

“We are seeking the public’s help in finding this person,” said Detective Eric Muñoz with SPD. “The Metro coach drivers all have his photograph, every police officer in the city has his photograph and information.”

A year ago, Sitizlack was behind bars for a similar incident.

Officials from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office said Sitzlack was arrested for murder in connection with the death of his roommate. 

However, no charges were filed, and Sitzlack was released.

“Both police and prosecutors looked at the admissible evidence and thought we can’t disprove the claim of self-defense,” said Casey McNerthney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

According to the prosecutor’s office, Sitzlack claimed his roommate tried to kill him with a machete. He fought back and stabbed his roommate to death, then called the police, according to the report. 

“If King County prosecutors had the evidence to charge him with murder, we would have charged him with murder,” said McNerthney.

The transit union is offering a $10k reward to the person who helps find the murderer. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle Police Department’s Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. 

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The Seattle Seahawks’ running back situation took a positive step forward Thursday.

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After sitting out of practice the day prior, Seattle’s top two options in the backfield were back on the field. Kenneth Walker III (calf) was a full participant and Zach Charbonnet (oblique) was limited.

Walker has missed the past two games with the calf injury and logged his first full practice since Nov. 29. Charbonnet rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns in the two games Walker missed.

With Walker and Charbonnet both out, Seattle was down to third-string running back Kenny McIntosh and fourth-stringer George Holani on Wednesday.

Seattle received another good sign for its run game, too, as starting center Olu Oluwatimi (knee) was a limited participant after missing practice the day before. The second-year offensive lineman exited Sunday’s loss to Green Bay Packers with the injury and did not return.

A couple other players trended in the right direction Thursday outside of the handful of players who sat out of the previous day’s practice for normal rest. Tight end Noah Fant (knee) was a full participant following a limited session to start the week, and cornerback Tre Brown (hamstring) logged a limited practice for the first time since being a late add to the Seahawks’ injury report before their game against the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, linebacker Ernest Jones IV (knee) was a limited participant for the second straight day.

One Seahawk did, however, take a step back. Outside linebacker Trevis Gipson (ankle) was held out of practice after being limited on Wednesday.

Here are the full injury reports from Thursday’s practices for both the Seahawks and Vikings.

Seattle Seahawks

Did not practice

TE Brady Russell (foot)

DE Lenoard Williams (foot/rest)

LB Trevis Gipson (ankle)

T Abraham Lucas (knee/rest)

NT Johnathan Hankins (illness/rest)

Limited

RB Zach Charbonnet (oblique)

C Olu Oluwatimi (Knee)

CB Tre Brown (hamstring)

LB Ernest Jones IV (knee)

Full

RB Kenneth Walker III (calf)

WR DK Metcalf (shoulder)

G Laken Tomlinson (rest)

WR Tyler Lockett (rest)

NT Jarran Reed (rest)

TE Noah Fant (knee)

TE AJ Barner (shoulder)

QB Geno Smith (knee)

S K’Von Wallace (ankle)

Minnesota Vikings

Did not practice

CB Fabian Moreau (hip)

DL Jalen Redmond (concussion)

S Harrison Smith (foot)

Limited

OLB Patrick Jones II (knee)

T Brian O’Neill (knee)

DL Harrison Phillips (knee)

Full

CB Stephon Gilmore (hamsrting)

TE Josh Oliver (wrist)

FB C.J. Ham (ankle)

T David Quisenberry (oblique)

OLB Dallas Turner (knee)

More on the Seattle Seahawks

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• Seahawks CB Riq Woolen’s inconsistent play ‘hard to explain’
• Breaking down Seahawks’ NFC West title and playoff odds

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