Uber settles disabled passenger wait time fee lawsuit for $2.2M

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Uber settlement disabled passenger wait time fees overview: 

• Who: Uber agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle federal government claims that it discriminated against passengers with disabilities. 
• Why: The government claims Uber violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not adjusting its wait time fee policy in the event that a passenger takes longer to enter a vehicle on account of a disability. 
• Where: The Uber settlement was reached in California federal court. 

Uber Technologies has agreed to pay more than $2.2 million as part of a settlement to end discrimination claims brought against it by the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

The DOJ accused Uber of discriminating against disabled passengers who take longer to enter a vehicle by not adjusting its wait time fee policy for them. 

Uber will pay $1.7 million to disabled rideshare users who have filed a complaint about being charged the allegedly discriminatory wait time fees, according to the Uber settlement. 

The additional $500,000 will go to individuals the DOJ identified as being harmed in some way, per the settlement. Uber has also committed to pay a civil penalty of $50,000. 

Uber continues to deny claims it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), despite agreeing to the settlement and civil penalty. 

Uber discrimination settlement provides ride credits to more than 65,000 riders

Uber will also give ride credits to more than 65,000 of its users who may have been subjected to discriminatory wait time fees on account of their having a disability, according to the Uber settlement. 

The DOJ filed a complaint against Uber in November over claims the ride-sharing company violated the ADA by enacting a policy of charging a wait time fee to passengers who took more than two minutes to enter a vehicle. 

Uber violated the ADA by not providing a “reasonable modification” to its wait time fee policy in the event the passenger was taking longer on account of a disability, the government said.. 

The ride-hailing service has said it will waive wait time fees going forward for riders who certify they need more time to enter a vehicle due to a disability. 

In related news, a group of drivers filed a class action lawsuit against Uber and Lyft last month by a group of drivers claiming the companies have created a duopoly and are suppressing competition for driver conditions and pay. 

If you or a loved one was sexually assaulted by an Uber or Lyft driver in the last two years, you may qualify to join a rideshare driver sexual assault lawsuit investigation. 

The government is represented by Stephanie M. Hinds and David M. Devito of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Michelle Lo of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Division. 

The Uber discrimination class action lawsuit is U.S. v. Uber Technologies Inc., Case No. 3:21-cv-08735, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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