Six rideshare drivers, including four board members of the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association (MULDA), are suing the organization’s president, Eid Ali, accusing him of fraud.
In Minneapolis, during the ongoing struggle for better wages, which nearly led to Uber and Lyft exiting the Twin Cities, Ali has been a prominent figure.
The lawsuit alleges that Ali committed consumer fraud by collecting money from drivers for membership fees while the MULDA website continues to seek donations, even though Ali altered the articles of incorporation to state that MULDA has no members.
Tim Maher, the plaintiffs’ attorney, reported that when board members sought documents to investigate the situation, they were informed of their removal from the board. Maher has requested a court injunction to prevent MULDA from dismissing these board members while the lawsuit is ongoing.
In response, Ali and MULDA’s attorney, Stephen Cooper, contend that the funds collected were not for membership dues. “They have no evidence of any wrongdoing,” Cooper stated, explaining that the funds were intended for contributions toward legal support in legislative matters.
The defendants are also seeking to have the case dismissed, pointing to videos where plaintiffs appear to undermine Ali and the MULDA by attempting to recruit members for the SEIU union instead. One plaintiff can be heard in a video saying, “We’ve already defeated Uber and Lyft. Now it’s time to defeat the individuals who are trying to misuse our organization.”
A ruling from the judge is expected soon.
