---
title: "Ottawa to appeal court ruling in $215 million taxi lawsuit"
description: "A judge ruled the city was negligent when Uber arrived in 2012. City lawyers now have 30 days to appeal to Ontario's Court of Appeal."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/ottawa-taxi-lawsuit-appeal-2026-10-28"
last_updated: "2026-10-29T02:45:36.200Z"
---

Ottawa is appealing a court ruling that found the city negligent when Uber arrived, as CTV News Ottawa reported on October 27, 2026. The appeal covers a class-action lawsuit filed in 2016 by 768 taxi plate holders seeking $215 million in damages.

## What the court decided

On October 27, Ontario Superior Court Justice Marc Smith ruled that the 768 licence plate holders can pursue their claims as a group. CTV News Ottawa reported Smith concluded that requiring each person to make their own case would deny them access to justice.

The lawsuit dates to 2016, when Metro Taxi Ltd., Coventry Connections president and CEO Marc Andre Way, and taxi plate holder Iskhak Mail filed the class action. In May 2024, an Ontario Superior Court judge had already ruled the city was negligent in enforcing its Taxi Bylaw when Uber began operating in Ottawa around 2012.

## The city's response

City Solicitor Stuart Huxley wrote a memo to council on October 27 saying he had instructed external lawyers to appeal two findings: that the city was negligent, and that aggregate damages are the right approach. CTV News Ottawa quoted Huxley: "These findings raise significant legal issues that warrant appellate review."

Huxley said the appeal goes to the Court of Appeal for Ontario. The parties have 30 days from October 27 to file. CTV News Ottawa reported the appeal is expected to be heard in 2027.

## What comes next

The damages phase of the class action will only take place if the Court of Appeal agrees with the lower court. If the appeal succeeds, the case ends there. If it fails, the court will then determine how much, if anything, the city owes the 768 plate holders.

The court rejected two other parts of the original claim: that the city violated taxi drivers' Charter rights, and that the bylaw imposed an unlawful tax. The city is appealing only the findings that went against it.

Ottawa residents with questions about the city's legal matters can find city council news at [/on/ottawa-2026/news](/on/ottawa-2026/news).

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