Uber Sued By United States Over Alleged Disability Discrimination
On Wednesday, the US Justice Department sued transport service Uber over allegations of overcharging people with disabilities. The US Justice Department asked a federal court to order Uber to comply with a federal law protecting those with disabilities from discrimination.
The lawsuit by the Justice Department takes aim against an April 2016 policy by the transport service of charging passengers “wait time” fees. This is a practice that started in several cities and eventually spread nationwide.
The lawsuit claims that Uber’s policy discriminates against people with disabilities, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, by saying that people with a disability, such as those who use wheelchairs or who are visually impaired, require more than two minutes to get into an Uber vehicle.
In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said, “People with disabilities deserve equal access to all areas of community life, including the private transportation services provided by companies like Uber […] This lawsuit seeks to bring Uber into compliance with the mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act while sending a powerful message that Uber cannot penalize passengers with disabilities simply because they need more time to get into a car. Uber and other companies that provide transportation services must ensure equal access for all people, including those with disabilities.”
