by China Labbé
PARIS (Reuters) – France Uber was sentenced Thursday to 800,000 euro fine, half suspended, for commissioning and promoting implementation UberPop , pay offer transportation between individuals suspended for nearly a year.
Two of its leaders, Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, now responsible for Europe, Africa and the Middle -orient and Thibaud Simphal, in charge of the French market, were respectively sentenced to 30,000 euros and 20,000 euros fine, half suspended. They escaped a temporary ban to manage a business requested by prosecutors.
The court found in its judgment, read in part at the hearing, that the three defendants had “incited very many people to start an activity that led to their convictions. “
the court also held that the UberPOP enforcement led to a” sustainable disorganization “of the transport sector, and recalled that its launch, lived as a declaration of war by taxi, was peppered with incidents “of a certain seriousness” on the street.
a spokesman Uber France indicated that the company and its two leaders would appeal immediately
the decision “but has no impact on the activity of Uber in France today. application connects 12,000 professional drivers with their 1 5 million customers, “he added in a statement.
TAXIS SATISFIED
The defendants include convicted of deceptive trade practice, exercise complicity illegal taxi profession and certain offenses linked to personal data retention.
They will have to pay jointly and severally nearly 50,000 euros in damages to 38 plaintiffs, who claimed more than 119 million euros. The court ruled qu’Uber had denied taxis requirements specific to their business.
“I think we are in the presence of a founding decision because the court had at heart to brand the attitude Uber (res) contrary to public policy and economic, “said Jean-Paul Levy, who is including the national taxi Union.
Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty and Thibaud Simphal disputed any liability, arguing that they were employees of the company. An analysis rejected by the court, according to which they represented “validly” the French subsidiary.
“DEBATE CONTINUES”
Uber France multiplies the legal pitfalls in France.
in December, the company was sentenced on appeal to a fine of 150,000 euros for “deceptive trade practices” after presenting UberPOP as carpooling. She appealed in cassation.
Urssaf Ile-de-France, which considers that its drivers should be recognized as employees, has also filed against him a reorganization of social security contributions for the period from January 2012 to June 2013. But Uber denies this procedure.
UberPOP, smartphone application which represented before his suspension, about 20% of the company’s racing in France, always been particularly in the viewfinder of the authorities.
Under their pressure, as well as taxi drivers, Uber was suspended in July 2015. Two months later, the constitutional Council confirmed its ban.
France is the second largest European market for Uber, just behind the UK. She recorded a turnover of around six million euros and a profit of approximately EUR 500,000 in 2014, as stated at the hearing the legal director of Uber in Europe.
in Germany, Thursday, a court upheld the ban in the country of UberPop.
the Higher regional Court (Oberlandesgericht) in Frankfurt rejected the appeal against Uber the judgment at first instance in March 2015, accompanied by heavy fines for violation of local regulations on the transport after a complaint Taxi Deutschland group.
in addition to Germany and France, UberPop is considered illegal in Italy and Spain, and an appeal is underway in Belgium and the Netherlands
the European Commission recalled late May as services related to the so-called economy “sharing” as Uber, should not be banned in the European Union, except as a last resort and that any restrictions of such services should take into account the public interest.
” the debate on transport demand continues between individuals, “said a spokesman Uber France.
(Edited by Yves Clarisse)
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