Uber wins bid to throw out £200m black cab claims

The group action focused on Uber's operations in London between May 2012 and March 2018

Uber has won its bid to throw out claims worth about £340m brought by thousands of London black cab drivers and two former private hire firms.

The claimants alleged the ride-hailing company gave Transport for London (TfL) misleading information when it first got a licence to operate in the capital in 2012.

But a High Court judge ruled the cases had been brought too late and dismissed them without considering whether the allegations were true.

Uber, which denied the claims, said it was pleased the court had thrown them out at the earliest opportunity.

About 13,000 drivers were seeking nearly £200m in damages, Reuters reported, while a claim on behalf of Kabbie and Iride, two private hire firms that have since closed, sought about £140m.

The lawsuits were filed in 2024, and Uber argued they fell outside the six-year limit for bringing such claims.

In a written ruling, Mr Justice Birt said the claimants could have discovered the alleged deception before 2018.

RGL Management, which ran the cases for the claimants, said it was very disappointed and was considering its options with the legal team.

Since gaining its licence, Uber has taken much of the trade once dominated by black cabs.

The company faces a separate case next week, when it challenges HM Revenue and Customs in a tax dispute worth more than £1bn.

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