The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) announced that it passed a series of rules that give for-hire drivers for companies such as Uber and Lyft a minimum wage of $17.22 which is expected to raise compensation for 80,000 drivers by as much as $10,000 annually. The Uber and Lyft drivers choose when they will drive for-hire, what customers they will pick up depending on the location of their pick-up and destination and are paid based upon the hours worked.

1. Does the TLC view for-hire drivers for companies such as Uber and Lyft as employees or independent contractors?
2. Explain how you determine whether an Uber driver is an employee or independent contractor.
3. Do these rules apply to the "gig economy" where workers decide to work or not work as they please?
4. Should these drivers be treated as full-or part-time employees with benefits?
5. A Lyft driver is very attracted to a customer and decides to lock the doors of the vehicle and take the customer on a long drive so they can get to know each other better.By the time the long drive comes to an end, the customer is 150 miles away from the customer's requested destination.Is Lyft responsible for its driver?Under what legal theory would you argue Lyft is responsible?