Today, the Justice Department (Department) filed a lawsuit against Lyft Inc., for discriminating against passengers with disabilities, including those who use service animals and mobility devices such as stowable wheelchairs. Lyft provides an important transportation option for millions of people throughout the United States. The lawsuit seeks $53 million for individuals with disabilities who 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.”
“Our purpose in the Department of Justice is often to fight for what’s right on behalf of those who can’t fight for themselves. And there are few areas where the fight is more important than in ensuring equal access to transportation services for all Americans,” said U.S Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “We take these allegations of misconduct seriously and, like our case against Uber for similar discriminatory conduct, we will devote all the resources necessary to make things right. The stakes are high and we owe those with disabilities nothing less.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 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. A service animal is a dog trained to perform a task related to a person’s disability. Under the ADA, emotional support dogs are not service animals because providing emotional support is not a task related to a person’s disability.
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 to force 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 the monetary damages to compensate aggrieved individuals subjected to Lyft’s discrimination, the lawsuit demands that Lyft pay a civil penalty to vindicate the public’s interest in eliminating disability discrimination.
To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt , and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov