Justice Department Sues Lyft Over Rides Denied to Passengers With Service Dogs and Wheelchairs, Seeking $53 Million
The Justice Department announced on November 9 that it has filed a lawsuit against Lyft Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing the company of discriminating against passengers with disabilities, including those who use service animals and mobility devices such as stowable wheelchairs. The Department said Lyft provides an important transportation option for millions of people throughout the United States, and that the lawsuit seeks $53 million for individuals with disabilities whom Lyft has discriminated against and who have submitted complaints to Lyft or the Department.
"Individuals with disabilities should be able to rely on rideshare services free of discrimination," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jesus A. Osete of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "We intend to uphold the ADA's promise that people with disabilities are entitled to equal access in every part of public life, including essential transportation services."
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California said the Department's purpose is often to fight for what is right on behalf of those who cannot fight for themselves, and that few areas are more important than ensuring equal access to transportation services for all Americans. He said prosecutors take the allegations seriously and, as in their case against Uber for similar discriminatory conduct, will devote all the resources necessary to make things right.
The lawsuit alleges Lyft violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which prohibits private transportation companies such as Lyft from discriminating based on disability. The ADA requires Lyft to transport individuals with disabilities and their service animals, and to provide rides and assist riders with stowable wheelchairs and mobility devices. The Department noted that a service animal is a dog trained to perform a task related to a person's disability, and that under the ADA emotional support dogs are not service animals because providing emotional support is not such a task.
The Department's civil complaint alleges that Lyft and its drivers routinely refuse service to individuals with disabilities; impose impermissible surcharges by charging fees such as cancellation fees to riders whom Lyft has unlawfully denied service; and refuse to reasonably modify Lyft's policies, practices or procedures where necessary to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities, including by denying individuals with mobility disabilities the option to sit in the front seat when needed.
The lawsuit seeks a court order forcing Lyft to stop discriminating against individuals with disabilities, to modify its policies to comply with the ADA, and to train its staff and drivers on the ADA. In addition to monetary damages for aggrieved individuals, it demands that Lyft pay a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest in eliminating disability discrimination. The Department said possible violations of federal civil rights laws can be reported at civilrights.justice.gov, and that its toll-free ADA Information Line is 800-514-0301.
(Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国司法部本部罗伯特·肯尼迪大楼（资料图）。APK 摄，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, headquarters of the U.S. Department of Justice (file photo). By APK, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
