[Colorado-Talk] Justice Department Sues Uber for Denying Rides to Passengers with Service Dogs, Wheelchairs

[Curtis Chong]

Link to Original Source:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-uber-denying-rides-pa
ssengers-service-dogs-wheelchairs

 


Justice Department Sues Uber for Denying Rides to Passengers with Service
Dogs, Wheelchairs


Friday, September 12, 2025

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For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Yesterday, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies
Inc. for discriminating against passengers with disabilities, including
those who use service animals and mobility devices such as stowable
wheelchairs. Uber is the largest provider of ride-hailing services in the
United States. The lawsuit seeks $125 million for individuals who have been
subject to discrimination and previously submitted complaints to Uber or the
Department.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
California, alleges Uber violated Title III of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability
by private transportation companies like Uber.  The ADA also requires Uber
to allow service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in
vehicles and to provide rides to, and assist, riders with stowable
wheelchairs and mobility devices.

The Department's civil complaint alleges that Uber and its drivers routinely
refuse to serve individuals with disabilities; impose impermissible
surcharges by charging cleaning fees for service animal shedding and
cancellation fees to riders whom Uber has unlawfully denied service; and
refuse to reasonably modify Uber's policies, practices, or procedures, where
necessary, to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities,
including by denying individuals with mobility disabilities the option to
sit in the front seat when needed. Due to Uber's ride denials, individuals
with disabilities have experienced significant delays, missed appointments,
and have been left stranded in inclement weather.

"For too long, blind riders have suffered repeated ride denials by Uber
because they are traveling with a service dog," said Assistant Attorney
General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights
Division. "This lawsuit seeks to end this persistent discrimination and
allow riders with disabilities to use Uber. We will enforce the ADA's
guarantee that people with disabilities have equal opportunity and full
participation in all aspects of American society, including transportation."

"Rideshare companies like Uber are prohibited from denying riders with
disabilities the same access to transportation that riders without
disabilities enjoy," said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian of the Northern
District of California. "This complaint underscores the United States'
commitment to enforcing the ADA's promise of equal access."

The lawsuit seeks a court order to force Uber to stop discriminating against
individuals with disabilities, to modify its policies to comply with the
ADA, and to train its staff and drivers on the ADA. In addition to the
monetary damages to compensate aggrieved individuals subjected to Uber's
discrimination, the lawsuit demands that Uber pay a civil penalty to
vindicate the public's interest in eliminating disability discrimination.

To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit
<http://www.justice.gov/crt> www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible
violations of federal civil rights laws go to
<http://www.civilrights.justice.gov/> www.civilrights.justice.gov. For more
information on the ADA, please call the department's toll-free ADA
Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit
<http://www.ada.gov/> www.ada.gov.

Updated September 12, 2025

 

Cordially,

 

Curtis Chong

 

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