Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Massachusetts

could it be considered discrimination?

I live in a very small costal massachusetts town with equally limited public transportatin options. One snowy winter day, not too long ago, I opted to take a taxi to work instead of driving to avoid directly battleing with the elements. Before this day (and within the previous 5), I'd taken taxi's home from work at least once a week paying a $15 fare and assumably having a decent ride and commencing the service on good terms.Well, that snowy day when I called for a ride I was denied service, and told that they do not pick-up at my address anymore because of lack of payment.I live in a multi family house that is broken up into many smaller apartments, and my experience with the character of a few of my neighbors has not always been positive and I can respect the apprehension of the taxi service, but I have always been a good customer,never given them any problems, and I would like to know if its lawful for them to deny service to everyone and to punish me for the wrong doing of a few bad apples? This is an important concern of mine because where I live there aren't many options regarding transportation if you do not have a car, and I don't intent to loose this one without a fight.


Asked on 1/27/08, 4:28 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Edward Wiest Edward R. Wiest, PC

Re: could it be considered discrimination?

1. Have you raised the question with a manager at the taxi company? It sounds like the company was stiffed by somebody else at your address, and the dispatcher on call may have painted everyone at your address with the same brush without realizing it was a multifamily. I wouldn't escalate this matter without trying to talk with the manager who reviewed the no-pickup decision.

2. If this doesn't work, call town hall and try to speak with the person in charge of taxicab licensing. I don't know what town you live in or the specific rules it applies to taxi service; ordinarily, a taxi license or franchise requires operators to provide service to all "orderly" people. The local enforcers can tell you whether the company was in the wrong, and are likely to remedy the problem more quickly than legal action.

I can't give a more specific reply without knowing more of the facts (particularly the town(s) where the incident took place and the cab company is located). While I would think that this can be resolved without formal legal assistance, please feel free to get in touch if I may be of assistance.

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Answered on 1/27/08, 5:56 pm


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