Nearly 13,300 London black-cab drivers and a claimant representing two former private-hire businesses have lost a preliminary limitation issue in their conspiracy claims against Uber.
In a judgment handed down on October 19, Mr Justice Birt found that the alleged fraud or concealment could have been discovered more than six years before proceedings began in 2024. The claims were therefore time-barred.
The claimants alleged that Uber misled Transport for London about its booking system and technology, enabling it to obtain a licence and compete with them. Uber denies the allegations.
They relied on section 32 of the Limitation Act 1980 to postpone the ordinary deadline, arguing that crucial information only became available during the June 2018 licensing appeal.
The judge rejected that timing argument. For the preliminary issue, the pleaded allegations were assumed without being proved. The ruling is not a determination that Uber committed fraud, nor a merits-based exoneration.
The parties had agreed that a finding of limitation would require dismissal of the entire claim.
