Uber has finalized a $271.8 million settlement with the Australian taxi industry following a class action that accused it of illegally disrupting the market between 2014 and 2017. The Victorian Supreme Court approved the deal, which benefits over 8,700 industry participants, leaving about $152 million for distribution after legal fees and funding commissions. This marks the fifth-largest class action payout in Australia.
The case, filed in 2019 by Maurice Blackburn lawyers, alleged Uber intentionally operated illegally to harm the taxi industry. Uber denied the claims and admitted no liability but settled just before the trial. The average payout for members is estimated at over $17,000 but varies per individual case.
Uber has faced additional costs in Australia, including fines and legal expenses, and awaits a verdict in a separate lawsuit involving taxi-hailing app GoCatch. This highlights the significant financial and reputational cost of Uber’s early illegal operations in the country.
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