Lawsuit claims airport shuttle service fails to accommodate wheelchair users

A class action lawsuit recently emerged, shedding light on the alleged failure of a prominent airport shuttle service to accommodate passengers who use wheelchairs, despite advertising the provision of such services. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, targets SuperShuttle Express/Execucar, a transportation service utilized at various Bay Area airports.

Three individuals from the Bay Area, each with mobility disabilities, have come forward as plaintiffs in this case. Jacqueline Garrett and Kathi Pugh from Berkeley, along with Dorene Giacopini from Richmond, have accused SuperShuttle Express/Execucar of failing to offer wheelchair-accessible transportation to passengers heading to airports in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, notwithstanding claims made on the company’s website.

The trio, all of whom are attorneys and disability advocates, travel frequently for both business and leisure using wheelchairs for mobility support. They have faced challenges in trying to utilize SuperShuttle’s services, resorting to costly alternatives or canceling trips altogether.

It was highlighted in the lawsuit that before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, SuperShuttle had wheelchair-accessible airport shuttles, which have since been discontinued. The complaint specifies that a wheelchair-accessible vehicle SuperShuttle once operated has fallen into disrepair without being fixed.

Despite promotional materials suggesting partnerships with independent third-party operators offering services to individuals with mobility disabilities, the plaintiffs claim that SuperShuttle representatives have informed them to the contrary. This contradicts the information displayed on SuperShuttle’s website, which assures a commitment to accommodating all passengers, including wheelchair users.

Requests for comments from WHC Worldwide LLC, the company behind SuperShuttle, have gone unanswered. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), companies are mandated not to discriminate against individuals with disabilities and must make reasonable modifications to ensure equal access to goods and services for disabled customers.

SuperShuttle operates services to various airports beyond the Bay Area, such as those in Southern California, Hawaii, Denver, Washington, D.C., and Seattle. The company’s parent entity, WHC zShuttle, one of the country’s largest airport transportation providers, services 70 airports across the United States.

The plaintiffs are represented by Disability Rights Advocates, based in Berkeley, a non-profit organization recognized for its extensive work on behalf of disabled individuals through litigation. Their lawsuit aims to put an end to SuperShuttle’s discriminatory practices against people with mobility disabilities and seeks compliance with the ADA, along with compensation for the named plaintiffs.

Meredith Weaver, lead counsel for Disability Rights Advocates, emphasized the adverse effects of SuperShuttle’s lack of wheelchair-accessible transportation on the plaintiffs. One of the impacted individuals, who frequently travels out of Oakland, has had to enlist a paid attendant to transport her wheelchair-accessible van to the airport and back, incurring significant time and costs.

In conclusion, the class action suit spotlights the importance of accessibility and non-discrimination, urging transportation companies like SuperShuttle to uphold their commitments to disabled passengers under the law.