In a recently concluded class action lawsuit, rideshare service, Uber has agreed to pay $178 million to Australian taxi drivers. The settlement, which comes on the heels of what the plaintiff law firm Maurice Blackburn characterizes as a fierce resistance from the platform, signals a significant payout for aggrieved taxi operators in the country.
The lawsuit was levied on allegations that Uber conducted operations in the country unlawfully, effectively side-lining local taxi operators from their regular clientele. Australia’s existing taxi fleets, which were the primary initiators of the action, were subsequently bolstered by a group of disgruntled hire car drivers who joined the class action.
The plaintiff law firm Maurice Blackburn described Uber’s approach to the litigation as battling “tooth and nail”, indicating the substantial effort and resources deployed by Uber to contest the action. The payout represents a marked victory for the Australian taxi industry, which has been severely impacted over the years by the burgeoning popularity of rideshare services.
For the complete details of the litigation and its implication for both Uber and the Australian taxi industry, visit the original article on law.com’s international edition.