On June 4th, 2019, I will hold my smartphone with the Uber app displayed on the screen as a taxi queue in the background.
Ollie Curtis | The Future Through Getty Images
The Department of Justice sued Uber According to the submissions, on Thursday, the giant on board claimed that it discriminated against a disabled rider.
“Despite the importance of services to people with disabilities, Uber denies enjoying people with disabilities in several important ways, fully and equally,” reads the complaint filed in federal court in San Francisco.
The DOJ argued that Uber and its drivers “regularly refuse to provide services to individuals with disabilities, including those traveling with service animals and individuals using storage wheelchairs.”
The complaint also alleged that the driver “shaming and scorning people with disabilities, or asking inappropriate questions.”
“We have a clear zero-tolerance policy for confirmed denial of service and are essentially opposed to the DOJ’s allegations,” the company said in a statement.
The company said community guidelines prohibit discrimination and earlier this year announced new features to enhance the experience of riders with service animals, including a video in which drivers explain their policies further.
The DOJ accused Uber of refusing to “reasonably change” its policies and practices to avoid discrimination against people with disabilities.
The federal government is seeking ju trials, injunctive relief, and monetary damages, and is seeking civil fines from Uber for violating the Disability Persons Act.
The ADA was passed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990 and signed the law. According to the latest CDC data, “more than 61 million US adults, or one in four, report having a disability.”
