Obama administration takes sides in disability suit against Uber

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

The Obama administration weighed in Tuesday on the side of advocates for the blind in a San Francisco federal court suit accusing ride-on-demand company Uber of discriminating against passengers with guide dogs.

In its court filing, the Justice Department did not endorse the specific allegations of discrimination but said companies like Uber are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires equal treatment and reasonable accommodations for disabled customers.

Uber has denied discriminating but has also argued that it is not a public-service provider — a “public accommodation” — covered by the disability law.

“The ADA applies to private entities that are primarily engaged in providing transportation services,” even if a company is not a public accommodation, said the filing by Justice Department lawyers and U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag’s office.

Uber also argued that it does not directly provide transportation services but merely signs contracts with independent drivers. The Justice Department countered that a transportation company “may not contract away its ADA responsibilities” and is covered by the law if it operates a “demand-responsive system.”

The Obama regime sides with the taxi cartel: not much of a surprise here. It's amazing how economic growth is stunted in the name of the ADA.