Greg Fisher, a Los Angeles resident, says Uber should pay him unpaid minimum wage, unpaid overtime, and other damages under the law. He's driven for Uber for periods longer than eight hours, according to the lawsuit that was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
For overtime, the Fair Labor Standards Act kicks in after 40 hours of work per week.
Fisher is asking the judge to grant class action status, which would allow others to join him as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
The suit puts more pressure on Uber as it fights similar legal battles over the status of its drivers and how they're treated.
In a previously filed suit, three drivers contend they should be classified as employees rather than independent contractors, entitling them and other California drivers to benefits like reimbursement for expenses.
The federal law cited in the new lawsuit covers minimum wage, overtime pay and other employment standards for U.S. workers classified as employees, not independent contractors.
The California Labor Commission has already issued a decision that could have wide ramifications for Uber and other companies that rely on on-demand workers. In June, the commission ruled that a specific Uber driver was an employee, entitled to reimbursement for driving expenses.
Christopher Hamner, an attorney for the plaintiff, declined to comment on the new suit.
An Uber spokeswoman did not immediately provide a comment.