Uber has successfully overturned claims worth approximately £340m brought by thousands of London black cab drivers and two defunct private hire firms. According to BBC News, a High Court judge ruled that the cases had been filed too late and dismissed them without examining whether the underlying allegations held merit.
The claimants had alleged that Uber provided Transport for London (TfL) with misleading information when obtaining its operating licence in 2012. Approximately 13,000 drivers sought nearly £200m in damages, while Kabbie and Iride, two private hire companies that have since ceased operations, pursued a separate claim valued at around £140m. According to The Next Web, individual driver claims were reportedly worth up to £25,000 each.
The lawsuits were filed in 2024, and Uber contended they fell outside the six-year statutory limit for bringing such claims. Mr Justice Birt, in a written ruling, determined that the claimants could have discovered the alleged deception before 2018. The judge's decision meant the court did not need to assess the truth of the allegations themselves.
Why did the court dismiss the case?
The ruling hinged on a limitation period rather than the substance of the claims. City A.M. reported that the claimants argued they could not reasonably have discovered the alleged deception until Uber's June 2018 licensing appeal, but Uber pointed to TfL's 2017 licence-renewal refusal and earlier legal investigations of a potential claim as evidence that discovery should have occurred sooner. A preliminary trial on the limitation issue had been ordered in a separate 2025 High Court ruling, using 20 sample claimants selected by both sides.
Uber, which denied all allegations, expressed satisfaction that the court had dismissed the cases at the earliest procedural stage. The company stated it was pleased with the outcome.
What happens next for the claimants?
RGL Management, which represented the claimants throughout the litigation, announced it was very disappointed with the judgment and was considering its options with its legal team. However, the ruling leaves the underlying allegations untested; the claims can proceed only if the claimants succeed in an appeal. No appeal date has been reported as of now.
What is Uber's broader position in London?
Since obtaining its licence, Uber has captured a significant portion of the trade that was once dominated by traditional black cabs. The company continues to expand its operations in the capital, including launching robotaxi services with safety drivers on board. Separately, Uber faces another substantial legal challenge next week when it contests HM Revenue and Customs in a tax dispute valued at more than £1bn.
Key Facts:
- The High Court dismissed £340m in claims brought by 13,000 black cab drivers and two private hire firms on limitation grounds, without examining the allegations
- Individual driver claims were valued at up to £25,000, with the total drivers' claim worth approximately £199m and the private firms' claim approximately £141m
- The judge ruled claimants could have discovered the alleged deception before 2018, placing the lawsuits outside the six-year filing window
- RGL Management is considering an appeal, though the underlying allegations remain untested by the court
- Uber faces a separate £1bn tax dispute with HM Revenue and Customs scheduled for the following week
