In a significant legal development, Uber has agreed to a substantial settlement of A$271.8 million ($178.3 million; £140 million) in response to a class action lawsuit in Australia, brought forward by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers on behalf of over 8,000 taxi and hire car operators and drivers. This lawsuit was rooted in claims of income loss by these operators and drivers due to Uber’s “aggressive” expansion into the Australian market.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers highlighted Uber’s persistent resistance throughout the legal proceedings, stating, “Uber fought tooth and nail at every point along the way.”
In contrast, Uber, in a move to address these legacy issues, stated, “Since 2018, Uber has made significant contributions to various state-level taxi compensation schemes, and with today’s proposed settlement, we put these legacy issues firmly in our past.”
Although Uber has acknowledged the proposed settlement, the company has refrained from disclosing specific details pending the finalization of the agreement and its presentation to the court. The lawsuit, initiated in 2019 in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia, represents a noteworthy success in a series of legal challenges Uber faces, with similar cases in Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia against government entities not achieving the desired outcomes.
Maurice Blackburn’s principal lawyer, Michael Donelly, expressed satisfaction with the settlement, emphasizing that the plaintiffs sought tangible results rather than excuses. He stated, “What our group members asked for was not another set of excuses—but an outcome—and today we have delivered it for them.”
The settlement is yet subject to court approval, which will assess whether the proposed terms serve the best interests of the group members involved in the lawsuit.
Uber, founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, has grown into a global ride-hailing giant operating in approximately 70 countries and over 10,000 cities. Despite its success, the company has often been at odds with traditional taxi services, facing protests in various cities worldwide. In a recent related development, Uber emerged victorious in a lawsuit filed by 2,500 taxi drivers in France, with the Paris commercial court ruling in favour of the company against claims of unfair competition, where the taxi drivers sought €455 million ($495.4 million; £389 million).
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