Updated March 3, 2026.
Pacifica Law Group filed a pair of amicus briefs in March 2025 in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on behalf of our client, the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA). The briefs supported the City of Seattle (the City) in lawsuits brought by Uber and Instacart challenging a City ordinance that protects the rights of app-based workers.
Update: In a victory for app-based workers and the City of Seattle, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Uber and Instacart’s challenge on March 4, 2026.
The ordinance, which the Seattle City Council first passed in 2023, and which went into effect on January 1, 2025, protects against unwarranted deactivations of app-based workers and requires notification of the company’s deactivation policy. The app-based companies challenged the ordinance on First Amendment grounds, arguing that it constitutes compelled speech.
A nonprofit professional organization, IMLA serves and advocates for government lawyers throughout the U.S. Their briefs contend that adopting Uber and Instacart’s First Amendment arguments will hinder municipalities from regulating unfair employment practices that negatively impact the health, safety, and welfare of citizens.
Pacifica attorneys Jessica Skelton and Scott Ferron represented IMLA pro bono in submitting the briefs.
The app companies first sued the City in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington late last year to try to stop the ordinance from taking effect. The District Court denied their motion for preliminary injunction, and the app-based companies appealed.
