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GoGo Grandparent offers individuals, who  cannot use a smartphone, for financial or physical reasons, the ability to reach Uber or Lyft and obtain a ride.  The company’s founder invented the technology to assist his own grandmother. It quickly grew in popularity and is used by thousands of riders today.

After successfully operating without incident for several years, the company hit a bump in the road when it was contacted by the staff of the California Public Utilities Commission and advised that it must cease operations unless it obtained a permit from the Commission.  GoGo pointed out that it owned no vehicles and did not engage any drivers. All it was doing was assisting those with physical or financial impairments to obtain the services of Uber or Lyft over a touch tone phone. GoGo advised the staff that obtaining a permit would require GoGo to obtain liability insurance it could not afford and clearly did not need. (As the Commission ultimately concluded, the riders GoGo sent to Uber or Lyft were protected by Uber and Lyft’s insurance. )  The Commission staff, nonetheless, continued to assert that GoGo was operating illegally and in February of 2019 the staff issued a citation fining GoGo.

Goodin, MacBride, Squeri & Day, agreed to represent GoGo on a pro bono basis in its appeal of the citation.  The Commission conducted an evidentiary hearing and received two rounds of briefs during the summer of 2019 before issuing its decision in favor of GoGo on February 6, 2020. The decision found that “GoGo Grandparent is not a transportation network company or otherwise a charter-party carrier.”

Both GoGo and the Commission proceeding itself have been the subject  of attention from the media, most notably in a front page story in the San Francisco Chronicle last November.

Goodin, MacBride was pleased to assist GoGo whose client base is largely comprised of individuals who live below the poverty line (and do not own a smartphone) or are seniors (who find a smartphone difficult to operate).  Ten percent of GoGo’s client base are blind. We are honored to help these individuals continue to have access to Uber and Lyft.

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For the ninth year in a row, Goodin, MacBride, Squeri & Day has been honored with multiple listings in The Best Lawyers in America©, a peer-reviewed ranking of attorneys and law firms nationwide produced by U.S. News & World Report. New to the list in 2020 is recognition under the Metropolitan Tier 2 category. Continue reading “New Regional Categories Added to Growing List of Recognition for Goodin MacBride Squeri & Day, LLP by US News & World Report-Best Lawyers in America© for 2020″

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On behalf of the Del Oro Water Company, our regulatory attorneys sought and obtained authority for Del Oro to finance and construct a two mile pipeline from lake Oroville service areas to the north and west of the lake. The matter involved the balancing of ratepayer concerns, advanced by the CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates, as well as the appropriate allocation of funds obtained through the state’s Safe Drinking Water Bond Act.

Decision 08-05-032 May 29, 2008
Before the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California
Application of Del Oro Water Company, Inc. (U-61-W) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Construct and Operate its Regional Intertie Project to Resolve the Long-Term Water Supply Deficit In Its Paradise Pines, Magalia and Lime Saddle Districts and to Recover All Present

and Future Costs in Connection Therewith in Rates.
Application 06-05-023 (Filed May 19, 2006)

Application of Del Oro Water Company, Inc.(U-61-W) for Authority to Borrow Approximately $3,500,000 (and to Issue Evidence of Indebtedness in Connection Herewith) in Order to Make Certain Capital Improvements and for Authority to Recover all Such Costs and Advances by Increases in the Respective Water Rates of Customers in its Paradise Pines, Magalia and Lime Saddle Districts in the vicinity of Magalia and Paradise, Butte County, California.
Application 06-05-024 (Filed May 19, 2006)

Decision Summary
Today, we approve a comprehensive settlement agreement (Settlement Agreement) entered into by the Del Oro Water Company, Inc. (Del Oro) and the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA), the parties to this proceeding.

Our approval of the Settlement Agreement means that Del Oro will receive a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct Phase I of its regional intertie project (Water Project) financed through: 1) a Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) construction loan, and 2) equity financing provided by Del Oro. The Settlement Agreement also provides that Del Oro will file an advice letter which implements rate surcharges to ratepayers to repay the SRF loan, and recover equity financing costs through a general rate case filing. The allocation of the SRF debt service obligation will be fairly allocated to the three Del Oro districts served by the Water Project, which are Lime Saddle, Paradise Pines, and Magalia. Within each of these districts, the SRF debt service obligation will be recovered through monthly service charges and connection fees from previously un-served premises. Ratepayers who have previously paid a connection fee will not be subject to the SRF surcharge; however, all customers will pay their proportionate share of the equity portion of the Water Project funding.