Civil Plaintiff
Private Arbitrator Orders Uber To Pay $1.1M For Its Drivers Refusing To Drive Blind Woman
A private arbitrator ordered Uber Technologies, Inc. to pay $1.1 million on account of more than a dozen instances in which its drivers denied service to Bay Area resident Lisa Irving, a blind rider who was accompanied by her guide dog, Bernie.
The arbitrator rejected Uber’s argument that it was not responsible for its drivers’ conduct because the drivers were — in Uber’s view — independent contractors, not employees. The arbitrator found that Uber was covered directly by the Americans with Disabilities Act, whether or not its drivers were technically independent contractors.
Complaints about denial of service to blind riders based on their service animals have been around since the early days of Uber’s ride-sharing service.
