NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission $140M Settlement

Matthew Daus, Charles Fraser, Joseph Eckstein, Elizabeth Bonnia, The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission and the CIty of New York

Taxi or for-hire vehicle drivers whose license the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission suspended may qualify to claim $263-$36,000 from a class action settlement.

The City of New York agreed to pay $140,000,000 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it failed to provide constitutionally required hearings to New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission drivers whose licenses it suspended following an arrest.

Who is eligible to file a suspension claim?

Class members must meet all of the following criteria:

They were a taxi or for-hire vehicle driver in New York City.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission suspended their license after they were arrested on a criminal charge.
The suspension occurred between June 28, 2003, and Feb. 18, 2020.

How much is the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission payout?

The amount class members can claim depends on how long their New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission license was suspended and whether they previously requested an individual damages hearing.

The settlement provides a tiered payment structure subject to deductions for attorneys’ fees, expenses and certain legal obligations (such as overdue child support or parking judgments). The final amount may be higher or lower depending on how many people file valid claims.

These are the potential award amounts before deductions:

Suspended for 25 days or fewer: $700
Suspended for 26-31 days: $750
Suspended for 32-60 days: $21,000
Suspended for 61-90 days: $24,000
Suspended for 91-120 days: $27,000
Suspended for 121-210 days: $30,000
Suspended for 211-390 days: $33,000
Suspended for 391 days or more: $36,000
No suspension end date: $17,000

Class members who did not request an individual damages hearing are eligible for only 37.5% of the above amounts.

For class members with multiple suspensions, the suspensions are added together to calculate the total suspension time. However, only those lasting 32 days or more count toward their total suspension days.

Class members who participated in the 2023 bellwether trial and won may choose a $15,000 incentive payment instead of their trial verdict amount.

If, after the first round of payments, more than $250,000 remains in the fund, up to 60% of the leftover amount (capped at $22.5 million) may be redistributed to claimants with a maximum of an additional 35% of the original award per person. The remainder will be returned to the city.

How to claim a taxi driver class action rebate

Class members can file a claim online or download, print and complete the PDF claim form to mail or email to the settlement administrator.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: TLC Driver Suspension Case Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 25226, Santa Ana, CA 92799

Settlement administrator's email address: info@TLCSuspensionClaims.com

Proof and documentation required

To file an online claim, class members must provide the claim login ID and PIN from the settlement notice they received. Those who cannot locate their claim login ID and PIN should contact the settlement administrator with their full name and mailing address.
All class members must submit a City of New York Substitute Form W-9. They do not need to provide documentation of their suspension.

Payout options

The settlement administrator will mail eligible claimants a paper check to the address provided on their claim form. Claimants who move should notify the settlement administrator.

$140 million settlement fund

The $140,000,000 settlement fund covers:

Settlement administration costs: To be determined
Attorneys' fees: Up to $35,000,000
Attorneys' expenses: To be determined
Service awards to class representatives: Up to $15,000 each for seven named plaintiffs and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance ($120,000 total) and up to $15,000 each for the 10 bellwether trial participants if they forgo their verdicts ($150,000 total)
Payments to eligible class members: Remainder after above deductions

Important dates

Exclusion deadline: July 21, 2025
Final fairness hearing: Aug. 13, 2025

When is the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission

settlement payout date?

Payments will be issued after the court grants final approval and all claim forms are processed.

Why did this class action settlement happen?

The class action lawsuit alleged the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission suspended drivers' licenses after arrests without providing constitutionally adequate hearings.

In 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit found the TLC denied drivers due process by not offering the hearings. The parties reached the settlement after years of litigation, a bellwether trial and mediation.