The Uber group of companies has sumbitted an amended defence that rejects substantial sections of the class action claim lodged by law firm Maurice Blackburn on behalf of a Melbourne taxi driver, Nikos Andrianakis and others in the taxi industry across four states on the basis that it relies on “hypothetical allegations”.

The class action by almost 8,000 taxi drivers cites the alleged cause of action as the tort of conspiracy to injure by unlawful means, causing loss and damage to members of the class action group. It alleges that seven Uber group companies are responsible for introducing UberX services into Australia and then operating them in unlawful competition with Andrianakis and others in the class action group.

The case is due back before Justice Cameron Macauley in the Victorian Supreme Court on November 4.