Long Hauling: Treble Damages RICO claim. Desert Cabs.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:32:40 AM
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A disgruntled driver has filed an action in the US District Court alleging forced long hauling, improver driver sanctions, negligent maintenance, etc. by Desert Cabs.
Serota v. Desert Cab, Inc. et.al., 2:11-cv-01969-LRH-RJJ
Serota v. Desert Cab, Inc. et.al., 2:11-cv-01969-LRH-RJJ
December 27th, 2011 at 5:43:05 AM
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Interesting. I think I should sue my employer also - they often make me do stuff I don't want to do.
I thought, that's why they call it "work" (if it was all fun, they'd just call it that), but turns out, it's racketeering!
I thought, that's why they call it "work" (if it was all fun, they'd just call it that), but turns out, it's racketeering!
"When two people always agree one of them is unnecessary"
December 27th, 2011 at 10:17:09 AM
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It might be racketeering if they ask you do do stuff that is ILLEGAL, rather than just stuff you don't want to do.
December 27th, 2011 at 11:53:20 AM
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I dunno about that actually. In my book "racketeering", and "ask you" do not usually go in the same sentence ;)
Thing about employers is - you can always quit, if you don't like what you have to do there. Unless, of course, you are in a socialist country ... then you can also sue :)
To me, it sounds more like racketeering what the employees do to their employers nowadays. "We will do this and that, but not that and this, and you have to pay us so much, and give us these benefits, or we'll sue you and you'll go bankrupt". Now, this is racketeering.
Thing about employers is - you can always quit, if you don't like what you have to do there. Unless, of course, you are in a socialist country ... then you can also sue :)
To me, it sounds more like racketeering what the employees do to their employers nowadays. "We will do this and that, but not that and this, and you have to pay us so much, and give us these benefits, or we'll sue you and you'll go bankrupt". Now, this is racketeering.
"When two people always agree one of them is unnecessary"
December 27th, 2011 at 11:16:30 PM
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There has been considerable interest in the civil action amongst the cab companies, cab drivers and cab union officials. I imagine the major hotels don't much care what the final result will be. Many hotels do deal with arriving guests whose first comment relates to the taxi fare. Disputes are often arbitrated by doormen but supposedly on Taxi Authority personnel, not Metro, are to respond to fare disputes unaccompanied by violence.
I don't think its a major issue but its not good business to have hotel guests arriving totally pissed off and then try to tell them to relax and go lose your money like there is no tomorrow.
I don't think its a major issue but its not good business to have hotel guests arriving totally pissed off and then try to tell them to relax and go lose your money like there is no tomorrow.
January 1st, 2012 at 8:21:38 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffA disgruntled driver has filed an action in the US District Court alleging forced long hauling, improver driver sanctions, negligent maintenance, etc. by Desert Cabs.
Serota v. Desert Cab, Inc. et.al., 2:11-cv-01969-LRH-RJJ
The best answer to that is more cab medallions.
I will say taxi drivers do get screwed over a lot of times. I remember for the 2004 (maybe 2008?) Democrat National Convention they were foing to try to fix the price of a ride lower than conventional rate when they presented some kind of coupon or voucher. Naturally the driver was expected to eat the difference. I don't know what the outcome was but some drivers were going to say "screw this" and park for the week, which they had all right to do.
I did courrior work for a short time, hauling items insteaed of people, and it is a hard life. You hope for a good haul, sitting in a lineup waiting for your turn to work.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
January 1st, 2012 at 8:35:11 AM
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Yeah, after waiting to get to the head of a line at some hotel's taxi stand, some cabbies don't want to take a short haul to the adjacent hotel but often a doorman will tell him come right back to the head of the line.
I think the problem is Vegas has no Driver-Owned medalions.
I think the problem is Vegas has no Driver-Owned medalions.
January 1st, 2012 at 9:01:00 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffYeah, after waiting to get to the head of a line at some hotel's taxi stand, some cabbies don't want to take a short haul to the adjacent hotel but often a doorman will tell him come right back to the head of the line.
I think the problem is Vegas has no Driver-Owned medalions.
I think even in NYC most drivers have to rent the medallion because investors own them. Saw one immigrant from somewhere bought two for around $100K when he first could, dude put everything he had and then some on the line to do it. He was smiling in the article because the price went to $250K+. It is a problem of limited supply and if you drive the cab you probably don't have the cash for the medallion but when you have the cash you have better employment opps.
Not sure if it is a local term, but in Pittsburgh they have a thing called "jitneys." Completely unlicensed, unmarked car services, usually in black neighborhoods where people need a less expensive ride and the cabs don't want to go to anyways due to short hauls and long trip to get to the fare from downtown. Wouldn't work in Vegas, but solves the medallion problem.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
January 1st, 2012 at 9:17:06 AM
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Jitneys are common. Often a motel will have an airport pickup van but not want to pay the fees and do the paperwork, so you call the motel and they tell you to look for a white van with no markings.
Some taxi drivers in NYC would not go to black areas and often white women would be asked to flag down a cab for a black couple that was lurking out of sight. This lead to non-medalion "taxis" in the ghetto areas and often taxi drivers who did drive in a black neighborhood were viewed as trespassers. Of course these unlicensed cabs had no background checks or insurance or stuff like that.
The Mexican Limousine Service can be the cheapest way to travel. An old car crams people in and drives from one farm workers center to another for a flat rate.
Many cab drivers think a flat rate is the solution rather than a mileage rate. So anywhere on the Strip would be a flat fee. Some people used to call cab drivers directly in Vegas rather than cab companies if they were staying at some cheap off-strip motel that lacked a cab stand.
Some taxi drivers in NYC would not go to black areas and often white women would be asked to flag down a cab for a black couple that was lurking out of sight. This lead to non-medalion "taxis" in the ghetto areas and often taxi drivers who did drive in a black neighborhood were viewed as trespassers. Of course these unlicensed cabs had no background checks or insurance or stuff like that.
The Mexican Limousine Service can be the cheapest way to travel. An old car crams people in and drives from one farm workers center to another for a flat rate.
Many cab drivers think a flat rate is the solution rather than a mileage rate. So anywhere on the Strip would be a flat fee. Some people used to call cab drivers directly in Vegas rather than cab companies if they were staying at some cheap off-strip motel that lacked a cab stand.
January 1st, 2012 at 11:05:01 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffSome taxi drivers in NYC would not go to black areas
I owned a small cab co in the 80's. The problem
is not getting robbed in black areas, its not getting
paid. They have a tendency to run out on the fare.
Not all of them by any means, but enough. Even
the black drivers didn't like their own areas at night.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 1st, 2012 at 11:32:50 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffJitneys are common. Often a motel will have an airport pickup van but not want to pay the fees and do the paperwork, so you call the motel and they tell you to look for a white van with no markings.
Is the term common or local. IOW, if I said "jitney" in Nevada would they know what I meant or would they look at me like someone in a Vegas Safeway asking where the Helman's Mayo was?
Quote:Many cab drivers think a flat rate is the solution rather than a mileage rate. So anywhere on the Strip would be a flat fee. Some people used to call cab drivers directly in Vegas rather than cab companies if they were staying at some cheap off-strip motel that lacked a cab stand.
Pittsburgh uses that for airport-to-downtown. Very good for when traffic is heavy. Would work in LV, though maybe a zone fee, say if you went north or south of TI, which sems to be the de facto dividing line anyways.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
January 12th, 2012 at 5:30:06 AM
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The term Jitney is known throughout the travel world, often is the only reliable transportation in the Caribbean or the Philippines.
The problem is often that on a Friday night or Saturday night, taxicab drivers want to drive four young men to a strip club and receive bonus money rather than drive to some off strip motel to provide routine taxicab service even if that call might be generous tippers. Its the same way with waiting at a cab stand until one gets to the head of the line and then finding out that next fare is a short trip. A zone fare would not solve the problem of premium destinations but it would solve the problem of undesirable short trips.
The problem is often that on a Friday night or Saturday night, taxicab drivers want to drive four young men to a strip club and receive bonus money rather than drive to some off strip motel to provide routine taxicab service even if that call might be generous tippers. Its the same way with waiting at a cab stand until one gets to the head of the line and then finding out that next fare is a short trip. A zone fare would not solve the problem of premium destinations but it would solve the problem of undesirable short trips.
April 8th, 2012 at 4:47:16 AM
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Local 711 (an appropriate number for Vegas) of the United Steel Workers now represents 280 taxicab drivers of Western Cab Company since the employer recognized the Union to avoid a formal election.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:36:35 AM
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The court has given the Plaintiff who is proceeding Pro Se time to amend his initial complaint since he must allege TWO underlying acts in violation of RICO before bringing his action.
It really doesn't look all that good but it sure shook things up a bit.
It really doesn't look all that good but it sure shook things up a bit.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:45:55 AM
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Yeah, one driver in Vegas radioed in a violation when another cabbie refused a Black woman as a passenger. Then after the passenger got to her destination she simply got out and said she never pays cab drivers... so the cabbie again radioed in a complaint but this time they were just laughing at him and didn't respond.Quote: EvenBobThey have a tendency to run out on the fare. Not all of them by any means, but enough.
In Vegas it is legal for a cabbie to keep his doors locked until he is paid.
What Vegas really needs is a driver owned taxi company.
August 9th, 2012 at 11:16:05 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffYeah, one driver in Vegas radioed in a violation when another cabbie refused a Black woman as a passenger. Then after the passenger got to her destination she simply got out and said she never pays cab drivers....
I totally believe that. Often if a passenger looks hinky,
I'll ask for the fare up front. What I mean, of course,
is I want to be paid before we leave instead of when
we arrive. Invariably the passenger would say something
like 'What you want da money up there for? I'm gonna
keep it back here wif me." They always took the words
'up front' literally, it meant in the front seat.
When I insisted, they would say they'll get the money
when we arrived from their auntie/mom/brother whoever.
This is code for they were going to run. Cause once they
get out without paying, to go in and get the money, thats
the last you'll see of them.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 21st, 2012 at 2:48:59 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffThe court has given the Plaintiff who is proceeding Pro Se time to amend his initial complaint since he must allege TWO underlying acts in violation of RICO before bringing his action.
It really doesn't look all that good but it sure shook things up a bit.
It won't be over until the first week of September by which this Pro Se plaintiff must have filed a complaint that will withstand scrutiny.
August 23rd, 2012 at 3:43:01 PM
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Quote: FleaStiffYeah, one driver in Vegas radioed in a violation when another cabbie refused a Black woman as a passenger. Then after the passenger got to her destination she simply got out and said she never pays cab drivers... so the cabbie again radioed in a complaint but this time they were just laughing at him and didn't respond.
In Vegas it is legal for a cabbie to keep his doors locked until he is paid.
What Vegas really needs is a driver owned taxi company.
I Agree 100 percent.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:57:18 PM
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Not likely to happen. Veterans organizations have been trying to get new shields issued for years and years.
September 26th, 2012 at 6:14:48 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffA disgruntled driver has filed an action in the US District Court alleging forced long hauling, improver driver sanctions, negligent maintenance, etc. by Desert Cabs.
Serota v. Desert Cab, Inc. et.al., 2:11-cv-01969-LRH-RJJ
Just for the record: This disgruntled cab driver filed the action Pro-Se. The complaint was technically defective on its face and was properly challenged by the defendant as failing to state a cause of action that was within the jurisdiction of the court. The Judge properly ruled that the complaint had to allege a series of acts rather than one act. The court gave adequate notice and adequate leeway to the plaintiff-driver who was unrepresented by counsel. At the end of the thirty days that had been allowed for the Pro-Se driver to file an amended complaint, no such amended complaint had been filed. Therefore the action is mute and nothing further will be done on it.
However, during this time period the publicity resulted in increased citations for long hauling so perhaps the problem is being addressed but not from the point of view of a racketeering action with treble damages and asset forfeitures.
