US justice department sues Lyft over alleged refusal to serve passengers with disabilities

Lawsuit filed in California claims drivers routinely refuse to transport individuals with service animals or mobility devices

The Department of Justice sued Lyft on Monday, accusing the ride-share giant of discrimination for denying service to passengers with disabilities.

The federal lawsuit, which was filed in the US district court for the northern district of California, said Lyft drivers have routinely refused to transport individuals who depend on service animals or use mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, an alleged violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

In one example, provided in the complaint, a Nevada woman who uses a wheelchair, due to injuries from a near-fatal car accident, had a Lyft driver allegedly drive away, as she waved to catch his attention.