The claimants in the suit brought by law firm Mishcon de Reya alleged that Uber’s action was a result of its attempt to obtain a licence to operate in the UK capital.
About 11,000 London black cab drivers have filed a £250 million lawsuit against a ride-hailing giant, Uber, for allegedly deliberately misleading Transport for London (TfL) about how its app worked.
The claimants in the suit brought by law firm Mishcon de Reya alleged that Uber’s action was a result of its attempt to obtain a licence to operate in the UK capital.
BBC reports that litigation management firm, RGL Management, said that the claim of the black cab drivers is worth at least £250 million, with cabbies potentially getting £25,000 each.
An Uber spokesperson was quoted as saying, “These old claims are completely unfounded,” adding that “Uber operates lawfully in London, is fully licensed by TfL, and is proud to serve millions of passengers and drivers across the capital.”
It was reported that the claimants’ action focuses on Uber’s operations in London between May 2012 and March 2018, as they also allege that Uber intends to “unlawfully… take business from existing black cab drivers.”
Garry White, who has been a black cab driver for 36 years said that “Uber seems to believe it is above the law and cabbies across London have suffered loss of earnings because of it,” adding that “It is time they were held to account.”
The case has been set to be filed in the High Court on Thursday.
It was reported that over the years, Uber has faced several challenges in London and other cities around the world.
It was gathered that TfL refused to renew the company’s licence in 2017, saying that it showed “a lack of corporate responsibility” with “public safety and security implications”.
Uber’s chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, is said to have apologised for past mistakes and said the firm would dispute the decision, and successfully appealed after renewal of the licence was again denied two years later.
But in 2022, a two-and-a-half-year licence to operate in London was granted to the firm, which is due to expire at the end of September this year.
Meanwhile, Uber has also been the focus of demonstrations organised by London’s black cab drivers.
A law firm for taxi operators and drivers revealed that Uber earlier this year reportedly agreed to pay A$271.8m ($177.7m; £141.7m) to settle a lawsuit in Australia.
A class action filed on behalf of more than 8,000 taxi and hire car owners and drivers alleged that they lost income when Uber “aggressively” moved into the country.
Uber in December 2023 won a lawsuit brought against it by 2,500 taxi drivers in France, where a Paris commercial court ruled that the firm had not committed acts of unfair competition.