On Monday 9 November 2026, the Justice Department sued Lyft Inc. over the treatment of passengers with disabilities, including people who use service animals and mobility devices such as stowable wheelchairs. The case, United States v Lyft, is in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The department's announcement says the lawsuit seeks $53 million for people with disabilities whom Lyft has discriminated against and who have submitted complaints to Lyft or to the department.
The allegations
The civil complaint alleges that Lyft and its drivers routinely refuse service to people with disabilities, charge fees such as cancellation fees to riders they have refused, and will not make reasonable changes to policies, practices or procedures, including a front seat for passengers with mobility disabilities who need one. Refusals, on those allegations, cover hundreds, and likely thousands, of people who travel with service animals or use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, and Lyft receives thousands of complaints each year alleging disability-based discrimination.
What the Act requires
The department says Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 prohibits private transport companies, including Lyft, from discriminating on the basis of disability. The Act requires Lyft to carry people with disabilities and their service animals, and to provide rides and assist riders who use stowable wheelchairs and mobility devices. A service animal is a dog trained to perform a task related to a person's disability. Under the Act, an emotional support dog is not a service animal, because emotional support is not a task related to a person's disability.
The order sought
The lawsuit asks the court to order Lyft to stop discriminating against people with disabilities, to modify its policies so they comply with the Act, and to train its staff and drivers. It also seeks damages for the people affected and a civil penalty. The United States has demanded a jury trial.
Lyft's reply
A Lyft spokesperson told The Hill that the company disagrees with the allegations and that its policies already protect riders with disabilities. "We have long-standing policies that require drivers to accommodate riders who travel with service animals or use foldable mobility devices for years, and drivers who violate these policies face serious consequences, including losing access to Lyft permanently. We've worked with the DOJ throughout its review, and we'll keep working to make sure every rider can get where they need to go."
From the department
Jesus A. Osete, acting assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, described the standard the department is applying. "Individuals with disabilities should be able to rely on rideshare services free of discrimination. We intend to uphold the ADA's promise that people with disabilities are entitled to equal access in every part of public life, including essential transportation services."
Craig H. Missakian, US attorney for the Northern District of California, set out the office's approach. "Our purpose in the Department of Justice is often to fight for what's right on behalf of those who can't fight for themselves. And there are few areas where the fight is more important than in ensuring equal access to transportation services for all Americans. We take these allegations of misconduct seriously and, like our case against Uber for similar discriminatory conduct, we will devote all the resources necessary to make things right. The stakes are high and we owe those with disabilities nothing less."