The Virginia Supreme Court convened on January 1, 2025, to deliberate on the case of Amazon Logistics, Inc. versus the Virginia Employment Commission, focusing on the classification of delivery drivers as independent contractors versus employees. The discussions highlighted the complexities surrounding the legal interpretations of employment status under Virginia law.

During the proceedings, representatives from both Amazon and the Virginia Employment Commission presented their arguments regarding the classification of drivers who contract with Amazon for delivery services. The commission contended that Amazon had previously raised arguments about the classification of these drivers for the first time in this court, which led to confusion regarding the legal framework being applied.

Amazon's legal team maintained that their appeal was specifically about the case of an individual driver, Mr. Diggs, and argued that the commission had incorrectly invoked a particular section of the law (section 625) during the hearings. They emphasized that throughout the process, they had consistently operated under a different section (60.2-500) and that their arguments were not limited to Mr. Diggs but extended to all drivers involved in the delivery program.

The court questioned the implications of Amazon's arguments, particularly whether a ruling in favor of the commission would affect all delivery drivers or just the individual case at hand. Amazon's representatives acknowledged that a different outcome could have broader implications for the classification of all flex drivers, depending on how the commission's findings were interpreted.

The discussions underscored the ongoing debate over gig economy employment classifications and the potential impact of the court's decision on similar cases in the future. The Virginia Supreme Court's ruling will be pivotal in determining the legal status of delivery drivers in Virginia and could set a precedent for how independent contractors are treated under state law.