Uber sued by DOJ for alleged discrimination against disabled riders

The Department of Justice has initiated a lawsuit against Uber, accusing the ride-hailing company of discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The legal filing, submitted to a federal court in San Francisco, asserts that Uber is failing to provide full and equal access to its services for disabled riders. According to the complaint, the DOJ claims that Uber and its drivers frequently refuse to accommodate customers with disabilities, including those accompanied by service animals or those who utilize stowable wheelchairs. The lawsuit further alleges that the company imposes unjustified charges, such as cleaning fees related to service animals and cancellation fees for riders whom they have improperly denied service. Additionally, the complaint highlights instances where drivers have reportedly insulted or demeaned disabled passengers and posed inappropriate questions to them. In response to these allegations, Uber expressed strong disagreement, emphasizing its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy regarding service denials. The company stated that its Community Guidelines explicitly prohibit discrimination and noted recent initiatives aimed at enhancing the experience for riders with service animals, including educational resources for drivers. However, the DOJ contends that Uber has failed to make reasonable adjustments to its policies to prevent discrimination against disabled individuals. As part of the lawsuit, the federal government is pursuing a jury trial, seeking injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This landmark legislation was enacted on July 26, 1990, under President George H.W. Bush. Presently, data from the CDC indicates that more than 61 million adults in the U.S., or roughly one in four, report living with a disability.