ST. LOUIS — The Independent Taxi Drivers Association is “optimistically” awaiting a judge’s imminent appeal ruling in its ongoing battle with the Metro Taxicab Commission over the issuance of taxi permits.
“We’re expecting a ruling any day now, and we feel the law is clearly on our side in this matter,” Eric Vickers, attorney for the Independent Taxi Drivers Association, told the St. Louis Record.
After the two sides entered into a settlement agreement where Independent was to receive 100 taxicab permits, Metro moved in early 2016 to effectively snatch back 24 of those licenses after officials claimed Independent did not satisfy a stipulation of the agreement mandating that they activate all of the permits within a 90-day window.
“It’s one thing to grant 100 permits, but something else altogether to be able to activate them,” Vickers said. “That’s the crux of our grounds for appeal, that Metro never made good on what they promised they would.”
Earlier this summer, an appeals court judge dismissed Independent’s motion for appeal on the grounds the plaintiffs neglected to file a transcript of trial court proceedings as part of their action.
"If an appellant fails to provide this court with a record containing everything necessary to determine all questions presented to this court, the appeal must be dismissed,” the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District said in its ruling.
Still, Vickers remained undeterred in quickly filing his current appeal motion.
“This case should only be looked at in terms of enforcing a settlement agreement," he said. "We want the court to focus on the issue of activation. Right now, Metro is engaged in a restraint of trade where they are completely dominating the industry and keeping others out of the market.”
Vickers took over as Independent’s chief counsel for the appeals process.