Notes and observations as the GoCatch v Uber trial wraps up
One of the biggest court cases for the year, pitting two of the country's most elite legal teams against each other, has wrapped up. Here is what we have learned so far
Fallen Australian transport app GoCatch's marathon five-year lawsuit against global ridehailing giant Uber has almost reached the finish line. Court hearings officially wrapped up on Tuesday, with presiding Supreme Court of Victoria Judge Lisa Nichols now set to review evidence and hand down her judgement in coming weeks.
The Australian company was once backed by a host of investment luminaries including venture capital firm Square Peg, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's son Alex Turnbull and wealthy Lieberman and Kahlbetzer families. It no longer operates in its original form (but a smaller private car service bearing its name still exists).
GoCatch, led by its founder Andrew Campbell, argues Uber intentionally (and illegally) caused its downfall by engaging in corporate espionage and fast-tracking its Australian launch of UberX, operating with unregistered drivers because of the competitive threat it viewed GoCatch to be and its alleged desire to injure the company. Uber argues it was simply a case of market forces at work.
In March, Uber reached a $271.8 million settlement with more than 8,000 taxi drivers who had alleged the company set up in Australia illegally and in doing so, caused them financial harm. The settlement was reached without admission of liability by Uber. Despite the class action settlement, Uber has fought the GoCatch case to its bitter end.
