Taxi Drivers Win $178 Million in Lawsuit Against Uber

In a historic ruling, traditional taxi drivers have been awarded $178 million in a lawsuit against ridesharing giant Uber. The case was brought to the Supreme Court of Victoria by the law firm Maurice Blackburn, representing over 8,000 taxi owners and drivers. If approved by the court, this settlement will go down as the fifth largest class-action settlement in Australian legal history.

Holding Uber Accountable

According to Michael Donelly, the lead attorney representing the claimants, the expected compensation is the fifth highest in the history of collective litigation settlements in Australia. He stated, “Today, Maurice Blackburn is proud to announce that we have reached a settlement worth AUD 271.8 million (USD 178 million) in the Uber class-action lawsuit. If approved by the court, this will be the fifth-largest class-action settlement in Australian legal history. There is no longer any doubt – we have made Uber take responsibility. This case has succeeded while many other cases have failed, such as those in Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.”

A Victory for Taxi Drivers

The lawsuit alleges that Uber’s entry into the market in 2012 took away revenue from licensed taxi drivers. Nick Andrianakis, one of the main claimants, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, saying, “This is a victory for taxi drivers, taxi operators, car rental services, and today’s result, I’m really pleased with this because it has not been done before. It has been a 5-year battle, and almost the entire taxi industry has been devastated by Uber’s illegal practices, so this can be seen as a victory for the rest of the world to follow.”

Uber, on the other hand, maintains that they have never intentionally violated any laws and argues that they have been recognized by the government as an integral part of the national transportation system. According to Uber, the company has also made “significant contributions” to programs related to traditional taxis in Australia.

This landmark ruling sends a strong message to the gig economy and highlights the importance of fair competition and the protection of workers’ rights. It serves as a reminder that companies operating in the sharing economy must comply with the same regulations as traditional industries.

For more finance and business news, visit Business Today.