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| Uber is required to pay $ 1.1 million to a blind woman |
Uber was ordered to pay $ 1.1 million to a blind woman whose driver refused to ride her dog 14 times.
Sometimes the driver insulted or insulted her to get the guide dog to the car, said Lisa Irving. One of the drivers took her to another location and claimed that she had reached her destination.
An independent arbitrator ruled that the Uber driver was unlawfully discriminating against them based on their condition, and the arbitrator rejected Uber's claim that the company itself was irresponsible because the Uber driver had entrepreneurial status rather than an employee.
Irving, from San Francisco, said she was concerned for her safety due to the driver's refusal after he got cornered late at night multiple times.
She explained that canceling the trip also led to her leaving the job, which was fired. Although the driver complained to the Uber, the driver's behavior persisted.
An Irving spokesperson said: Of all Americans expected to be liberated thanks to the ride-sharing revolution, the blind and partially sighted are among the people who will benefit the most.
He added: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, guide dogs should be able to go anywhere blind people can go.
Following the decision, an Uber spokesperson said in a media statement: The company is proud to assist blind drivers.
The statement added: Drivers who wish to use the Uber app to provide services to animal drivers and to comply with accessibility and other laws will regularly train drivers for this responsibility. Our team will investigate any complaints and take appropriate action.
This isn't the first time Uber has faced a blind lawsuit from the community as the National Union of the Blind filed a complaint in 2014 against enforcement of community dog laws.
The case was settled for $ 2.6 million in 2017 when Uber agreed to make sure its drivers know they are legally required to provide services to people who have guide dogs.
In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Irving said, "I'm sorry this happened. I originally wanted to respect my civil rights, but the lawsuit sent a strong message that it was unacceptable."