Uber threatens to fire key executive in Waymo dispute

Uber had been standing by Levandowski’s right use his Fifth Amendment protections until last week when Alsup issued another decision requiring the company to return any documents belonging to Waymo by May 31.

Alsup wrote that “in complying with this order, Uber has no excuse under the Fifth Amendment to pull any punches as to Levandowski.”

Uber alluded to Alsup’s stern language in its explaining its change of heart to Levandowski.

“While we have respected your personal liberties, it is our view that the court’s order requires us to make these demands of you,” Uber’s general counsel, Salle Yoo, wrote in the letter.

Levandowski is fighting back by trying to persuade Alsup to revise his order to protect his Fifth Amendment rights.

In a filing, Levandowski’s attorneys argued that it’s unconstitutional for a judge to strong-arm an employer into pressuring a worker to give up his Fifth Amendment rights to remain on the job.

“It is an act by the judicial branch of our federal government compelling an individual to choose between preserving his livelihood and preserving his constitutional rights,” Levandowski’s lawyers wrote.

Waymo’s lawsuit already has handcuffed Levandowski. The case prompted Levandowski to temporarily step aside as Uber’s top self-driving car executive and avoid working on anything related to lidar, an array of sensors that enables autonomous vehicles to navigate the roads.

Alsup has ordered Uber to ensure its work on lidar remains off limits to Levandowski.

Article Appeared @https://www.thestar.com/business/tech_news/2017/05/19/uber-threatens-to-fire-key-executive-in-waymo-dispute.html

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