Uber wins bid to have £340m claims by London black cab drivers dismissed

Uber has won its bid to have claims against it thrown out, the BBC reported. Reuters attributed the outcome to Uber, reporting that the company said it had won its bid.

The claims were brought by thousands of London black cab drivers and two former private hire companies. They were valued at around £340m in total.

The ruling

According to the BBC, a High Court judge, Mr Justice Birt, ruled that the cases had been brought too late. The BBC reported that he dismissed them without considering whether the allegations were true.

In a written ruling, the judge said the claimants could have discovered the alleged deception before 2018, according to the BBC. The BBC reported that the lawsuits were filed in 2024.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include the text of the ruling or give its exact date.

The claims

Reuters described the cases as two linked lawsuits and gave their total value as about $453m.

About 13,000 drivers were seeking nearly £200m in damages, according to the BBC, which attributed that figure to Reuters. The BBC reported that a separate claim on behalf of Kabbie and Iride sought about £140m. Both private hire firms have since closed.

According to the BBC, RGL Management ran the cases for the claimants.

What is disputed

The claimants and Uber disagree on the substance of the allegations. According to the BBC, the court did not rule on whether the allegations were true. The reports do not describe what specific information the claimants say was misleading.

What each side says

The claimants alleged that Uber gave Transport for London (TfL) misleading information when it first obtained a licence to operate in London in 2012, according to the BBC.

Uber denied the claims, the BBC reported. Uber also argued that they fell outside the six-year limit for bringing such claims. After the ruling, Uber said it was pleased the court had thrown the claims out at the earliest opportunity, according to the BBC. Reuters reported that Uber said it had won its bid to throw out the two linked lawsuits.

RGL Management said it was very disappointed with the ruling and was considering its options with the legal team, according to the BBC. The reports do not say whether the claimants intend to appeal or whether an appeal is possible.

The reports do not include any response from TfL.

Other legal matters

The BBC also reported that Uber faces a separate case, scheduled for the week after its report. In that case, Uber is challenging HM Revenue and Customs in a tax dispute worth more than £1bn.

Analysis

The dismissal turned on timing, not on the merits, according to the BBC. This means the claimants' allegations about Uber's 2012 licence application were not tested in court. Uber's denial was not tested either. Several paths remain open. The claimants could seek to challenge the ruling, if that is possible. They could also decide not to pursue the matter further. RGL Management has said only that it is considering its options. The outcome may be read by other claimants as a reminder of how strictly time limits can apply. Uber's separate tax dispute with HM Revenue and Customs, worth more than £1bn according to the BBC, is a different case, due to be heard the following week.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.