Legal Question in Discrimination Law in Indiana

Re: Ejected from a Greyhound Bus

I can empathize with your daughter. When I was 19, I was put off a grayhound bus for hiding a cat in my bag, and of course, it eventually made its presence known somewhere in New Mexico!

Your daughter probably does not have a discrimination claim unless she was put off the bus because of race or color, age, national origin, gender, disability, etc. However, when she bought tickets for herself and her children, she entered into a contract for services - i.e. that the bus deliver them all safely to her destination. You may have a breach of contract claim.

This isn't my area of law (I do discrimination and other mediation), so you might want to ask this question again in a different section of LawGuru having to do with contract claims or transportation law.

If your daughter decides to do something herself, one option is small claims court, if the damages she seeks are $10,000 or under. Your daughter would just go to the nearest justice court and file a claim. The clerks there can assist her. I think it will cost her about $40.

If you'd like to be referred to a real live lawyer who does this sort of thing, feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to help you find someone you can trust near you. Good luck!

Re: Ejected from a Greyhound Bus

I agree, this is outrageous, and will probably qualify as the Outrage of the Day (though it's early yet.) However, off the top of my head, I can't think of any specific anti-discrimination statute violated by Greyhound. Ordinarily, your daughter would have a good claim for breach of contract, with punitive damage potential in a private civil case. But I'm not sure your daughter would even have a satisfying civil remedy, since interstate transportation companies get all sorts of protection against outraged consumers on account of federal laws and regulations. But see if an attorney located in the state of your daughter's residence would consider the case. You might try registering your complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice.

U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

And also bring this to the attention of your Congressional representatives, House and Senate. They would probably enjoy cuffing Greyhound around a little. Good luck.