London’s High Court has dismissed claims worth around £340 million brought by thousands of black cab drivers and two former private hire companies over Uber’s licensing in the British capital, reports London Daily News Desk.
Uber has won a legal battle to dismiss two linked lawsuits seeking approximately £340 million ($453 million) from the ride-hailing company, brought by thousands of London black cab drivers and two former private hire companies.
The claims, filed in 2024, alleged that Uber provided “misleading and inaccurate information” to Transport for London (TfL) when it first obtained a private hire vehicle operating licence in the capital in 2012.
The lawsuits sought nearly £200 million in damages on behalf of around 13,000 black cab drivers. A separate claim brought on behalf of two now-defunct private hire companies, Kabbie and Iride, sought approximately £140 million.
However, Judge Simon Birt dismissed the claims on Monday, ruling that the claimants could have discovered the alleged deception before 2018. As the lawsuits were filed six years later, the claims fell outside the applicable six-year limitation period, according to the written ruling.
The judge dismissed the cases on limitation grounds without examining the underlying allegations.
Uber had denied the allegations and argued that the lawsuits were brought after the legal deadline for making such claims.
“We are pleased that the court has dismissed all of these claims entirely at the earliest opportunity and the ruling today has put these legacy matters firmly in the past,” an Uber spokesperson said.
The claimants expressed disappointment with the decision. A spokesperson for RGL Management, which handled the lawsuits on behalf of the black cab drivers, said the group was considering its available options with its legal team.
The dispute centres on Uber’s entry into London’s private hire market, where its growth has taken business from traditional black cab drivers. The drivers and former operators alleged that the company’s licensing process involved inaccurate disclosures to the transport regulator.
The dismissal represents a legal victory for Uber, although the ruling did not determine whether the allegations about its original licensing disclosures were true.
The decision also comes ahead of another major legal challenge for the company in Britain. Uber is due to face a dispute with the UK tax authority next week involving more than £1 billion in tax claims.
The separate tax case could have significant financial implications for the company as it continues to face regulatory and legal scrutiny in one of its key markets.Monday’s ruling concludes the two lawsuits at this stage, while the claimants consider whether to pursue further legal options.
