Lyft Pushes Limits of Liability Shield in Florida Appeals Court

Lyft told a panel of Florida judges Tuesday that the company could make false claims to riders—even going so far as guaranteeing their safety—and still not be held liable when drivers assault passengers.

The judges on the Fourth District Court of Appeal questioned the company on the limits to the state’s 2020 law regulating “transportation network companies, which models limits to plaintiff claims similar to rental car companies.

The issue of first impression in the state is whether the statute can be stretched to eliminate all claims that arise from ridesharing apps.

“That’s the tradeoff,” said James E. Gillenwater, a ...