[nfbmi-talk] Taxis and Service Animals in D.C.

[J.J. Meddaugh]

This type of discrimination is very hard to prove and it seems like this 
staged setup is one good way to approach it. With a called ride like an 
Uber, the driver's intent is to pick up the passenger who requested the 
ride, so when they deny the ride because of a service animal, the 
discrimination is obvious. When a cab driver goes passed a blind person 
with a guide dog or a cane for that matter, the blind person is in many 
cases not even aware they were just passed up for another fare. I would 
assume that they were properly trying to hail a cab, or at a designated 
cab stand.

The problem usually stems from poor or inadequate training from the 
companies, whether it be cabs or ridesharing and knowledge and 
application of the laws vary widely by city.

Thanks for sharing.




Best regards,
J.J.

On 4/1/2015 11:41 AM, Terry D. Eagle via nfbmi-talk wrote:
> Blind passenger cites WUSA9 video in taxi lawsuit
>
>   
>
> An ongoing investigation into D.C. cabbies landed in D.C. Superior Court and
> it's a case that could forever change taxi service in the District. WUSA
>
> Erin Van der Bellen and Russ Ptacek, WUSA 8:34 a.m. EDT March 17, 2015
>
> Yellow Cab passing Eric Bridges
>
>   
>
> Yellow Cab passing Eric Bridges(Photo: WUSA9)
>
>   
>
> WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- An ongoing WUSA9 investigation into D.C. cabbies
> landed in D.C. Superior Court and it's a case that could forever change taxi
> service
>
> in the District.
>
>   
>
> The lawsuit against four D.C. cab companies calls for damages and a
> permanent order to prevent taxi companies from discriminating against the
> blind and
>
> people with service dogs..
>
>   
>
> Still images used from
>
> WUSA9's May 2013
>
> undercover investigation documented D.C. cabs passing blind passengers with
> service dogs and going 100 feet down the street to stop for Investigative
> Reporter,
>
> Russ Ptacek,
>
>   
>
> That passenger, Eric Bridges filed a lawsuit today against Elite Cab, Grand
> Cab, Pleasant Taxi, and Yellow Cab.
>
>   
>
> "I might add that I am not just filing this complaint against these taxi
> companies on my behalf but rather also on the behalf of my friends and
> family and
>
> colleagues," said Bridges who works for the American Council of the Blind.
>
>   
>
> The WUSA9 report is specifically identified as a basis for the lawsuit which
> charges violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and
> discrimination.
>
>   
>
> "The incidents alleged in the complaint are just a few examples of the
> systemic discrimination that blind individuals with service animals face on
> a daily
>
> basis," said Matthew Handley, Director of Litigation at the Washington
> Lawyers' Committee in a statement.
>
>   
>
> "The Cab Company Defendants have all contributed to this systemic
> discrimination and illegal activity by engaging in, and allowing their
> drivers to engage
>
> in, a pattern and practice of discrimination," Handley said.
>
>   
>
> "I feel very strongly that the day that I spent out in the rain, in the cold
> rain doing this work with channel 9, in was incredibly frustrating, it was
>
> demoralizing, and it showed clear discrimination," said Bridges.
>
>   
>
> In the lawsuit, Bridges is asking for damages as well as an injunction
> forcing taxis to serve the visually impaired as well as those with service
> dogs.
>
>   
>
> Only Yellow Cab responded to our calls denying the claims and saying it has
> a strong track record of providing accessibility transportation.
>
>   
>
> "The rights of passengers seeking taxicab service should be fully preserved
> and respected," said Yellow Cab President Roy Spooner. "Yellow Cab, however,
>
> has not discriminated against blind passengers with service animals, and
> will be completely vindicated through the judicial process.
>
>   
>
> In our 2013 investigation, of 42 cabs WUSA9 tested, 20 cabs or 48 percent
> either drove right past the passenger with a disability in favor of another
> fare,
>
> took them to the wrong location without warning, or charged an illegal extra
> fee.
>
>   
>
> Source:
>
> http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/2015/03/16/dc-taxi-disabled-visually-impaire
> d-lawsuit-/24865085/
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk mailing list
> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nfbmi-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/jj%40bestmidi.com