Santa Rosa, California – In a landmark lawsuit, the United States Department of Justice has filed suit against ride share giant Uber Technologies for discriminating against passengers with disabilities, including those who use service animals and other mobility devices. DOJ cited a decade of complaints by Canine Companions client Ryan Honick in the $125 million suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The Department’s civil complaint alleges that Uber and its drivers routinely refuse to serve individuals with disabilities; impose 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.
Canine Companions client Ryan Honick says the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 guarantees access for service dog teams, “It’s not a courtesy. It’s federal civil rights law.”
Many people with disabilities rely on rideshares to access the world around them, from simply getting to work or spending time in their communities, to attending important events. In a recent report Paws For Access Report on Assistance Dog Rights, published jointly by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), shows strong issues with public transport, with 56% of respondents globally experiencing refusals in taxis or rideshare vehicles. Guide dog handlers report even higher refusal rates (63%).
Among the most concerning findings are the emotional and behavioral toll on assistance dog handlers. Four out of every ten said they sometimes stay at home or avoid public places because of the hostility they encounter when out and about. Service dogs are expertly trained and under control at all times, performing life-changing jobs for their owners with a disability.
“The repercussions of a handler being denied a rideshare with their service dog extends way beyond immediate practical inconveniences,” says Canine Companions CEO Paige Mazzoni. “The emotional and subsequent behavioral impact of these experiences can last a long time. On top of living with a physical or psychological disability, many handlers feel unwelcome, frustrated and anxious.”
“Since I was first partnered with a service dog in 2014, rideshare denial has been part of my daily life,” Honick shares. “I’ve been left at the curb, had to educate drivers, and remain calm while they openly violated federal law. The frustration isn’t just personal; it’s policy failure in real time. I’m reacting to years of inaction, broken complaint systems, and companies like Uber failing to enforce their own nondiscrimination policies.”
Eventually, Honick stopped being surprised and started budgeting for it. He called it rejection time — building in an extra 30 to 60 minutes just to find a driver who wouldn’t violate his rights. When he started documenting these denials publicly, the pushback was instant. People said he was overreacting; that he sounded angry; that maybe he should just leave the dog at home. But Lovey isn’t optional. And access shouldn’t be conditional.
“This complaint underscores the United States’ commitment to enforcing the ADA’s promise of equal access,” says U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian of the Northern District of California. 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.
Read the full DOJ press release by clicking this link. **
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