Litigation specialists ‘pleased’ with legal action sign up numbers worth £25,000 to each taxi driver

Image credit: RGL BULit21

London cab drivers have been busy spreading the news of a group legal action against ride-hailing firm Uber that could be worth in the region of £25,000 per taxi driver.

Joining forces with litigation specialist RGL Management and law firm Mishcon de Reya, the group is aiming to start proceedings by no later than early 2022. According to a RGL Management spokesperson the group are “pleased with the numbers of current and former drivers who continue to register every day”.

The basis of the claim is that Uber operated unlawfully by breaching the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 from June 2012 until March 2018. The group allege that Uber permitted drivers to accept bookings directly when they were not licensed to do so.

A team of drivers are currently busy delivering leaflets and information to cabbies who may be eligible for the future group action. Despite the reduced work levels caused by the continued coronavirus lockdown measures, the team are talking to cabbies on taxi ranks and providing leaflets in key places of interest for cabbies.

A RGL Management spokesperson said: “Despite the hurdles presented by the prevailing lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic generally, RGL and the legal team are pleased with the numbers of current and former drivers who continue to register every day.

“It is important that we encourage as many cabbies as possible join BULit21, as this will increase the level of threat posed against Uber, and help the ongoing discussions with litigation funders who want to fund the claims.”

According to the legal firm, Uber’s failure to adhere to the relevant statutory framework caused loss of earnings to licensed black cab drivers, who continued to operate lawfully and were subject to strict legislative and regulatory rules and requirements throughout.

Any licensed green or yellow badge cab driver operating in the London area between June 2012 and March 2018 is eligible to join the group. RGL calculates up to 30,000 drivers are eligible and that for a full-time driver operating throughout this period, a claim against Uber could be worth in the region of £25,000 or more.

All drivers who believe they may be eligible should visit BULit21 for more information and details of how to register.