2023-10-13 07:18:29
2,480 taxi drivers are on trial this Friday in Paris against Uber, whom they accuse of unfair competition. The drivers are demanding some 455 million euros in total damages from the American giant.
The hearing before the commercial court is due to begin at 2:00 p.m. 2,480 taxi drivers are on trial Friday in Paris against Uber, whom they accuse of unfair competition and from whom they claim some 455 million euros in damages. total. This is a new legal round in the standoff between them and the American giant. These taxis, representing 8% of the profession according to the plaintiffs and supported by nine professional associations and unions, had sued Uber France and Uber BV, two subsidiaries of the American platform, in February 2021.
Since its arrival in France in 2011, Uber has been the target of numerous legal proceedings. This unfair competition action, of scale in terms of the number of plaintiffs and the total amount of compensation claimed, was launched in the wake of a decision by the Court of Cassation. The Court recognized the existence of a relationship of subordination between the Uber platform and one of its former drivers.
In its judgment delivered on March 4, 2020, the highest court of the judiciary ruled that the driver’s independent status was “Fakef” and that he should be considered as an employee.
“By refusing to apply French labor law and tax law, Uber is therefore in a position of unfair competition“, estimate the representatives of taxi drivers.
At the hearing Friday, “we intend to demonstrate that Uber has put in place a system where the illicit has been established as an operating principle, a system where violation of the law is used as a means of trampling on the market, to the detriment of competition.” says one of the taxi lawyers, Cédric Dubucq. In addition to the economic damage, estimated at more than 9,300 euros on average per driver and per year of practice according to Me Dubucq, the taxis are seeking damages for moral damage. For Uber, the unfair competition action brought by taxis is “unfounded” but also “anachronistic”.
“Today, there are more than 35,000 VTC and taxi drivers who use our application to generate income. This action goes against the interest of an entire sector and of drivers who wish to remain independent just like the thousands of ‘artisan taxis of France’underlines an Uber spokesperson.
In a separate case, the platform was ordered on October 4 by the Paris Court of Appeal to compensate 149 taxi drivers due to unfair competition linked to the activity of its former UberPop application.
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