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“Individuals with disabilities should be able to rely on
rideshare services free of discrimination,” said Jesus A. Osete,
acting assistant attorney general, in a statement. “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.”
Lyft firmly rejected the accusations in a statement.
The lawsuit is the latest from the federal government that
targets ride-hailing companies for treatment of would-be riders
with disabilities. The administration filed a similar lawsuit
against Uber last year, which is ongoing. Uber settled a
separate suit in 2022, and Lyft settled a different one in 2020.
The companies stress that their policies and in-app tools
require that drivers provide ADA accommodations and remind them
of the consequences of refusing to do so.
The new lawsuit against Lyft named several examples of people
across the country who hailed a ride on the platform but had one
— or, in some cases, several — drivers refuse to take them to
their destination, including as recently as last month. Those
individuals experienced delays in getting to medical
appointments, cancellation fees and other issues as a result,
the suit said.
Lyft policies require drivers to accommodate riders who travel
with service animals or mobility devices and “drivers who
violate these policies face serious consequences, including
permanent deactivation,” the company said in a statement.
“We’ve cooperated with the DOJ throughout its review and remain
committed to serving every rider, including riders with
disabilities,” the company said.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of California. The DOJ said it is seeking $53 million
for individuals who have been discriminated against and have
submitted complaints to Lyft or the department.
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