Toward the end of his life, my dad suffered from neuropathy, which caused him to lose feeling in his feet. He also had Multi-System Atrophy, a rare neurodegenerative disorder that causes the loss of coordination and balance. So, at almost 6’5”, it was tricky and took him a little bit of time to get in and out of a car. Plus, we had to finagle his walker, and eventually his wheelchair, into the trunk.
When it’s not your loved one, however, not everyone is as patient when it comes to giving rides to hindered passengers.
Last fall, the Justice Department filed a $125 million lawsuit against Uber, alleging that the ride-sharing company discriminates against passengers with disabilities.
According to court filings, Uber routinely refuses to serve individuals with disabilities, charges cleaning fees because of service animal shedding, and charges cancellation fees to riders who are “unlawfully denied service.” The lawsuit alleges that “Uber denies service to hundreds, and potentially even thousands, of individuals with disabilities who travel with service animals, who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, or whose appearance or involuntary behavior because of their disabilities may offend, annoy, or inconvenience drivers.”
The DOJ alleges the company’s actions violate Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination based on a person’s disability. The ADA requires ride-sharing companies to allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities on rides and assistance to people with stowable wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
Because it is the largest ride-sharing company in the country, the lawsuit asserts that “many individuals with disabilities increasingly rely on Uber’s services to meet their transportation needs, including to travel to work, medical appointments, religious services, and other important places.” By Uber refusing to reasonably modify its policies “to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities” or train drivers in ADA compliance, the DOJ claims “individuals with disabilities have experienced significant delays, missed appointments, and have been left stranded in inclement weather.”
The lawsuit is seeking a court order to stop Uber from discriminating against customers with disabilities and force the company to modify its policies to comply with the ADA and train its staff and drivers on the law. It also seeks monetary damages from Uber for riders who have been affected and a civil penalty “to vindicate the public’s interest in eliminating disability discrimination.”
“For too long, blind riders have suffered repeated ride denials by Uber because they are traveling with a service dog,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in a news release. “This lawsuit seeks to end this persistent discrimination and allow riders with disabilities to use Uber. We will enforce the ADA’s guarantee that people with disabilities have equal opportunity and full participation in all aspects of American society, including transportation.”
In response to the lawsuit, Uber issued a statement indicating that each of their drivers must acknowledge and agree to the service animal policy and “all applicable accessibility laws.” Drivers who violate these policies face “decisive action,” including “permanent account deactivation,” the company maintained. Uber also invests in technology, training and dedicated reporting channels, including a 24/7 service animal denial hotline, to “ensure riders can quickly alert us so we can investigate and address issues.”
“Riders who use guide dogs or other assistive devices deserve a safe, respectful, and welcoming experience on Uber – full stop,” the company said. “We have a clear zero-tolerance policy for confirmed service denials, and we fundamentally disagree with the DOJ’s allegations.”
After getting sued for $125 million, apparently multiple Uber executives have acquired emotional support animals.
Reg Wydeven is a partner with the Appleton-based law firm of McCarty Law LLP. He can be reached at pcbusiness@postcrescent.com.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: U.S. Justice Department sues Uber over discrimination issues | Wydeven
Reporting by Reg Wydeven, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Reg Wydeven, Appleton Post-Crescent | USA TODAY Network
