Key Takeaways
- The Justice Department sued Lyft on Monday, alleging drivers denied rides to riders with service animals and wheelchairs.
- The suit seeks $53 million for individuals the department says faced discrimination and filed complaints with Lyft or with the department.
- The suit alleges Lyft violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Lyft says its rules direct drivers to accommodate these riders.
The Justice Department sues Lyft for $53 million in a disability discrimination lawsuit filed Monday, Nov. 9, alleging Lyft drivers denied rides to riders with service animals and stowable wheelchairs.
The Boston Globe reports that the federal government brought a comparable case against Uber last year, and that the case remains in progress. The federal lawsuit against Lyft was filed Monday. Uber reached a settlement in an earlier suit in 2022, and Lyft reached one in another case in 2020.
What the Justice Department alleges against Lyft
The Justice Department accuses Lyft of violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). FOX 9 reports that Title III bars privately owned transportation companies, such as Lyft, from discriminating against people based on disability. The Boston Globe reports that the suit says Lyft knows about a number of discriminatory practices affecting riders who need accommodations, and that Lyft does not prevent or correct them.
The suit alleges those practices include turning away riders who have service animals or use stowable wheelchairs, and keeping riders with mobility limits out of the front seat. A stowable wheelchair is a folding model that can be stored in a vehicle.
Jesus A. Osete, acting assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said: "Individuals with disabilities should be able to rely on rideshare services free of discrimination." In the same statement, he said the department intends to keep the ADA's guarantee that disabled people can take part in public life on equal terms, including on essential transportation.
Lyft's policies and its response to the suit
Lyft says its rules direct drivers to accommodate riders who bring service animals or use mobility devices. In a statement, the company said that "drivers who violate these policies face serious consequences, including permanent deactivation."
Lyft also said: "We've cooperated with the DOJ throughout its review and remain committed to serving every rider, including riders with disabilities." The Boston Globe reports that both companies say their policies and in-app tools require drivers to provide ADA accommodations, and that the tools warn drivers what happens if they refuse.
How the Lyft suit compares with the Uber lawsuit
The Boston Globe calls the Lyft suit the latest federal action targeting ride-hailing companies over the treatment of would-be riders with disabilities. FOX 9 reports that Craig H. Missakian, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, compared the Lyft case with the department's case against Uber, which he described as involving similar discriminatory conduct.
Missakian said: "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." He also said the department will commit everything it needs to set things right.
What the $53 million in the Lyft lawsuit covers
The suit seeks $53 million in damages for people with disabilities whom the department says faced discrimination and filed complaints with Lyft or with the Justice Department, FOX 9 reports. Neither article gives a count of the riders covered by that amount, so the reporting does not show how many people the figure reaches.
People Also Ask
What is the Justice Department suing Lyft for?
The Justice Department sued Lyft for allegedly violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit alleges that Lyft drivers denied rides to riders with service animals or stowable wheelchairs.
How much money is the Justice Department seeking from Lyft?
The Justice Department is seeking $53 million in damages from Lyft. That amount is for people with disabilities who, the department says, faced discrimination and filed complaints with Lyft or with the department.
What has Lyft said about the Justice Department lawsuit?
Lyft said it has worked with the Justice Department throughout its review and still aims to serve every rider, including riders with disabilities. Lyft also said its rules direct drivers to accommodate riders who bring service animals or use mobility devices.
Which court received the Justice Department's lawsuit against Lyft?
The Justice Department's lawsuit against Lyft was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, according to the Boston Globe and FOX 9. Both outlets report the filing was made on Monday.
Sources: Boston Globe, FOX 9.