Empower’s founder and chief executive agreed in court Tuesday to suspend the company’s ride-hailing service in Washington, D.C., within a two-week window, narrowly avoiding possible jail time.
The decision ends a years-long legal dispute over whether Empower must comply with the same regulatory framework that governs rivals such as Uber and Lyft. The CEO’s court concession was framed as a temporary retreat rather than a final surrender.
After the hearing, Empower said it would not cease its broader legal campaign and intends to pursue further challenges to the city’s enforcement actions.
City officials had sought swift compliance, arguing that Empower’s operations flouted local transportation rules. The company counters that its business model differs from traditional app-based services and has pushed back in multiple legal venues.
The court-ordered pause gives regulators immediate relief while leaving open the prospect of additional litigation that could determine Empower’s long-term ability to operate in D.C.