Uber avoids £340M lawsuit after judge rules London cabbies missed deadline

Uber has successfully avoided a £340 million lawsuit brought by thousands of London black cab drivers after a High Court judge ruled that the plaintiffs missed the legal deadline to file their claims. The decision effectively ends two major legal actions involving approximately 13,000 drivers and former private hire companies Kabbee and Iride.

The claimants accused the ride-hailing giant of deliberately misleading Transport for London (TfL) to obtain its operating license. However, Mr Justice Simon Birt dismissed the cases on Monday, stating they were filed too late under the statutory six-year time limit for such actions.

Legal Timeline and Allegations

The claims were submitted in May and June 2024, but the judge determined they exceeded the allowable timeframe. The drivers sought nearly £200 million in compensation for lost earnings, while Kabbee and Iride pursued an additional £140 million. The court did not reach a decision on whether Uber had actually committed misconduct or fraud.

According to the judgment reviewed by The Register, three individual cabbies had filed separate claims against Uber in September 2017. Litigation funder Harbour approached law firm Mishcon de Reya regarding a larger action in December 2017. By February 2018, the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association was informing members about the planned legal action, which the judge cited as evidence that the claimants had sufficient information to sue earlier.

Historical Context of Dispute

The dispute traces back to Uber’s entry into the London market in 2012. The claimants argued that the company deceived regulators about the functionality of its booking system, allowing it to operate when it should not have been permitted. This allegation echoes a 2018 licensing appeal where Uber admitted to providing false information to TfL and the High Court regarding how its app accepted bookings.

In that 2018 case, a magistrate granted Uber a new 15-month license without finding dishonesty. The recent judgment also revisits Greyball, Uber’s software for identifying suspected regulators, and Ripley, a tool used to remotely lock computers during regulatory visits.

What should you do?

Security and technology professionals should monitor regulatory compliance updates for ride-hailing and gig-economy platforms. Organizations relying on these services should review their vendor risk assessments to ensure they understand the legal and operational stability of their partners.

What to do and how to stay safe: Uber

• Review vendor contracts to ensure clauses address regulatory compliance failures and potential service disruptions.
• Monitor official announcements from transport regulators like TfL for changes in operating licenses or enforcement actions.
• Assess the legal stability of key service providers by tracking ongoing litigation that could impact their operational continuity.
• Ensure internal data governance policies account for third-party tools that may interact with regulatory or law enforcement entities.

Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

Why was the lawsuit dismissed?

The High Court judge ruled that the claimants filed their lawsuit too late, missing the six-year statutory time limit for bringing such claims.

How much money were the claimants seeking?

The drivers sought nearly £200 million in compensation for lost earnings, while companies Kabbee and Iride sought an additional £140 million.

Did the judge rule that Uber committed fraud?

No, the court did not reach a decision on whether Uber had done anything wrong or committed fraud, as the case was dismissed on procedural grounds.