The US Department of Justice sued Uber on Thursday over disability discrimination… again. The lawsuit claims the company and its drivers “routinely refuse to serve individuals with disabilities.” It specifically calls out its handling of passengers with service animals or stowable wheelchairs. The suit was filed in federal court in Northern California.
“Despite the importance of its services to people with disabilities, Uber denies people with disabilities full and equal enjoyment of its services in several critical ways,” the lawsuit reads. It also accuses Uber’s drivers of insulting and demeaning people with disabilities and asking them inappropriate questions.
In a statement sent to Engadget, Uber contested the government’s claims. “Riders who use guide dogs or other assistive devices deserve a safe, respectful, and welcoming experience on Uber — full stop,” the company wrote. “We have a clear zero-tolerance policy for confirmed service denials, and we fundamentally disagree with the DOJ’s allegations.”
Uber said all drivers must acknowledge and agree to its service animal policy before they can begin driving. “When we confirm a violation, we take decisive action, including permanent account deactivation,” the company wrote. Uber noted that its community guidelines prohibit discrimination. It also added that it sent a service animal education video to all US drivers last year, explaining their vital role.
Earlier this year, Uber added a feature that lets passengers alert drivers that they’ll be traveling with service animals. The DOJ’s complaint says the company introduced the feature only after being notified of the investigation. “But Uber has continued to discriminate against riders who use service animals notwithstanding the feature,” the filing reads.
The DOJ is seeking a jury trial, injunctive relief and monetary damages. It also wants to charge Uber a civil fine for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If this all sounds familiar, there’s a good reason. The DOJ sued Uber in 2021 over similar claims. That suit focused on “wait time” fees sent to passengers who, due to their disabilities, needed more time. The two sides settled the lawsuit in 2022. Uber agreed to pay at least $2.2 million to passengers with disabilities who were charged waiting fees. The company has also faced a string of lawsuits from passengers over serving riders with disabilities.
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