In a recent decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, ruled that private arbitration agreements between Uber and two former drivers in California and Massachusetts were valid and enforceable. The former drivers, who were seeking protections for themselves and on behalf of a proposed class of drivers from Uber's policies via a lawsuit in the federal courts, are now forced to return to arbitration, where they must seek individual redress. This strikes a heavy blow against Uber drivers in similar circumstances, who seek to be classified as employees rather than as independent contractors.