Uber ADA discrimination $2.2M class action settlement

Uber agreed to a $2.2 million class action lawsuit settlement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to resolve claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that riders with a disability faced discrimination as the company charged them unfair wait fees.

The settlement benefits Uber users who opted into Uber’s wait time fees waiver program for riders with disabilities by May 12, 2022. 

Uber is a rideshare company that allows riders to request a ride between locations. According to Uber’s website, riders may be charged per-minute wait time fees if they don’t board a vehicle within two or five minutes of arrival, depending on the ride type.

The DOJ accused Uber of violating the ADA by charging wait time fees to consumers who took longer to board a vehicle due to their disability. Uber allegedly failed to provide a “reasonable modification” for these riders as required by the ADA.

Uber hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $2.2 million class action settlement to resolve claims from the DOJ. This includes a $50,000 penalty paid to the United States.

“People with disabilities should not be made to feel like second-class citizens or punished because of their disability, which is exactly what Uber’s wait time fee policy did,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in the DOJ’s settlement announcement. 

“This agreement sends a strong message that Uber and other ridesharing companies will be held accountable if their services discriminate against people with disabilities. The Civil Rights Division remains committed to enforcing the ADA and ensuring that people with disabilities can travel free from barriers and indignities.”

Under the terms of the Uber disability discrimination lawsuit settlement, class members can receive a credit to their Uber account. 

Of the Uber ADA lawsuit settlement fund, $1.7 million will be allocated to disabled rideshare users who have filed a complaint against Uber’s policies; $500,000 of the settlement fund will be used to compensate individuals identified by the DOJ as harmed by Uber’s practices. 

Exact account credits will vary but class members can receive twice the amount they were previously charged in wait time fees. 

Uber has agreed to make changes to its business policies as part of the ADA discrimination lawsuit settlement. The rideshare company agreed to maintain its notification campaign to inform users of its wait time fee waiver program and provide an accessible way for riders to request refunds for wait time fees. The wait time fee waiver program allows riders to certify that they have a disability and will waive fees for these consumers as an ADA accommodation.

In order to receive benefits under the Uber ADA discrimination class action lawsuit settlement, class members must submit a release of claim form by April 24, 2023. 

Who’s Eligible

Uber users who opted into Uber’s wait time fees waiver program for riders with disabilities by May 12, 2022. 

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase applicable

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

04/24/2023

Case Name

United States of America v. Uber Technologies Inc., Case No. 3:21-CV-08735-WHA, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division

Final Hearing

N/A

Settlement Website

WaitTimeFeeSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Uber Technologies, Inc. – 7709
C/o Rust Consulting
P.O. Box 2599
Faribault, MN 55021-9599
Info@WaitTimeFeeSettlement.com
833-630-1409

Class Counsel

Kristen Clarke
Rebecca B Bond
Kevin J Kijewski
Cheryl Rost
Matthew Faiella
David W Knight
Megan E Schuller
Stephanie M Hinds
Michelle Lo
David M Devito
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Defense Counsel

Elizabeth A Coleman
UBER TECHNOLOGIES INC