Please register for this recorded ATA webinar.
Webinar Description:
On September 18, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 5, which largely codifies the 2018 Supreme Court of California Dynamex decision's ABC test, a new test to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee. This bill will affect many transportation businesses and consumers in California and beyond.
AB 5 will become law on January 1, 2020 and will apply to all of California's Labor and Unemployment Insurance Codes. Trucking and transportation (with the exception of some owner-operators providing services in the construction industry and newspaper delivery drivers), as well as gig economy companies, did not receive stand-alone exemptions, making it likely that such businesses will be subject to the ABC test unless they can satisfy the difficult business-to-business exception. Presenters will specifically discuss what motor carriers can expect now that AB 5 has been signed into law. Topics that will be covered include:
- Next steps transportation companies can take given this development in California's law
- Greater insight on how AB 5 stands to impact the transportation industry in the coming weeks, months, and years
There will be Q&A at the end of the webinar.
About the Presenters:
Gregory M. Feary, Partner, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary
Mr. Feary is President of the firm and also serves as a managing partner. He practices primarily in a wide range of areas including transportation laws, independent contractor laws, transportation insurance laws, legislative support and transportation contract matters. He is the Vice Chair of the American Trucking Associations (ATA)/National Accounting & Finance (NAFC) Risk Management & Insurance Advisory Committee and a member of the ATA Insurance Task Force for which he serves as Chairman of the Lawyer's Subcommittee. He also served as ATA's national transportation insurance law counsel throughout the 1990s.
Christopher C. McNatt, Jr., Partner, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson, & Feary
Mr. McNatt focuses on international transportation and customs issues as well as independent contractor and employment matters. He advises domestic and international transportation companies and customs brokers on the full range of business issues from regulatory matters and contracts to cargo liability concerns. Mr. McNatt is also often involved in litigation concerning commercial transactions, cargo claims disputes, personal injury, employment-related matters and independent contractor disputes.
Shannon M. Cohen, Partner, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson, & Feary
Ms. Cohen provides legislative counsel services to the firm's clients. Ms. Cohen monitors forthcoming and active legislation and regulation pertaining to issues affecting motor carrier, with an emphasis on legislation touching on the independent contractor status of owner-operators using her extensive background with and familiarity of owner-operator programs and issues attendant to the design of successful owner-operator model. She regularly assists in drafting and revising legislation and assessing and communicating the impact of such legislation on the trucking industry.
Kelli M. Block, Partner, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary
Ms. Block's practice is devoted to serving clients on a wide variety of legal issues, with a concentration on independent contractor issues directly facing the transportation industry. Ms. Block focuses her practice on the representation of transportation carriers, freight-forwarders, and logistics companies in regulatory compliance, transportation contract review, owner-operator leasing arrangements, insurance disputes, and IRS matters. Ms. Block also counsels clients on insurance program development and alternative risk programs.
**NOTICE: ATA webinars are strictly educational for our members, and are not press events. The information contained in this webinar is not intended for, nor should it be used in, the production, editing or creation of news or analysis pieces. Participants are also forbidden from using them as background for published materials, white papers or other communications. Therefore, the contents of this webinar are strictly embargoed and off the record