Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in New York

Disabled person wants to sue the bus company and the driver for an ADA violation

I am a person with physical and mental disabilities. On October 15, 2004 I boarded an RTS bus that was outbound from Main and St. Paul to Irondequoit.I use a cane and I asked the driver, whom I know from having worked with her twenty five years ago, to roll out the ramp, which she did with no problem. When I arrived at my apartment building, she harrassed me by saying that I needed a wheelchair, and that I should be taking Liftline, which is the small paratransit company owned and operated by the RGRTA. She also commented on how well I walked down the ramp. the bus company has a policy which states that the ramps and lifts are to be provided by the drivers, for anyone who requests them. Do I have the right to sue the company for failure to enforce the law and its own policy? In addition, can I sue the driver who uttered those discriminatory remarks? Thank you for your prompt answer, and thank you for providing such a terrific service!


Asked on 11/05/04, 3:17 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Loeb Law Office of Stephen R. Loeb

Re: Disabled person wants to sue the bus company and the driver for an ADA viola

No, you asked her to provide a ramp and she did so. She also gave you some unsolicitaed advice, but if a person could sue everytime they received unsolicited advice, we'd all be millionaires, and broke.

Should you like to discuss this or any other legal matter, you can call my office to schedule an appointment for a consultation or in the alternative, I can be reached for on-phone low-cost legal consultation at 1-800-275-5336 x0233699.

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Answered on 11/08/04, 9:19 am


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