Uber ban in Germany adds to troubles in Europe
| Berlin
A German court has banned聽Uber聽from offering its ridesharing service nationwide, adding to the company's troubles in Europe.
Frankfurt state court spokesman Arne Hasse said the ruling banning the UberPop service from offering rides with drivers who don't have taxi permits was issued Wednesday. The ruling can be appealed.
The ruling stems from a suit brought against聽Uber聽by a German taxi association, which was heard in Frankfurt because it is one of several German cities where聽Uber聽launched operations.
The court issued an injunction banning聽Uber聽from operating last summer but lifted it a few weeks later, saying that while it considered聽Uber'spractices illegal an emergency injunction wasn't justified.
Uber聽also has hit trouble in the Netherlands, Spain and France, which has effectively banned its service.
It was the second bit of difficult news for Uber this week. 聽Sunday, The Wall Street Journal reported that聽Uber聽Technologies Inc's Chief Financial Officer聽Brent Callinicos聽is stepping down, citing an email from the online taxi service's CEO.
Callinicos, a former Google Inc executive, will be an advisor to聽Uber. No replacement has been named yet, Chief Executive聽Travis Kalanick聽told investors in the email, the Journal said.
"Brent has done a wonderful job here at聽Uber聽but has decided that it is time for his next journey, one where his wife and daughter take the front seat," Kalanick wrote in the email, which was reviewed by the financial daily.聽
Callinicos, who joined聽Uber聽in 2013, served as treasurer and chief accountant at Google.聽
