US: Uber beats Philadelphia taxis’ antitrust appeal

A Third Circuit panel affirmed a win for Uber Technologies on Tuesday, March 27, finding that just because the ride-hailing service may have harmed Philadelphia Taxi Association’s business, the group has not properly alleged Uber acted anti-competitively, reported Reuters.

The broadly worded decision by a unanimous three-judge panel of the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals could help Uber defend against similar claims in New York and other cities where the taxi industry is struggling, claimed Reuters.

Taxicab companies and a trade group, the Philadelphia Taxi Association, claimed that Uber had an unfair advantage by being allowed to enter Philadelphia in October 2014 without having to comply with various local regulations governing taxis.

They said its presence caused a 30% ddrop in taxi ridership and the loss of nearly 1,200 drivers who jumped to Uber, while the value of medallions needed to operate taxis plunged from US$545,000 in 2014 to about US$80,000 two years later.

Circuit Judge Marjorie Rendell nevertheless said the lawsuit was “devoid of allegations of truly anticompetitive conduct” and failed to show any intent to monopolize.

Full Content: Law 360

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