Press Release
Press Release
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Olivia Thomas
06.23.16
Pillsbury, together with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, achieved an important victory on behalf of pro bono client American Council of the Blind. Representing ACB and its executive Director, Eric Bridges, Pillsbury served as co-counsel in a lawsuit seeking far-reaching reform of the way in which Washington, D.C., taxicab drivers treat blind customers, and played a critical role in the case’s successful resolution.
ACB announced the successful and collaborative resolution of the suit against four taxicab companies—more than one-fifth of the District’s taxicab industry—on June 21. The four taxicab companies entered into an Accessibility Initiative Agreement, in which they agreed to implement policies for the protection of blind passengers, mandate training of all taxicab drivers, and fund a testing program to be administered by ACB. They also agreed to advocate for better policies and training to be administered by the D.C. Taxicab Commission, which has now implemented a new training program covering appropriate treatment of blind passengers. As a direct result of this case, all new cab drivers in D.C. will be required to receive this training.
For full details of the Accessibility Initiative, click here.
The Washington, D.C.-based Pillsbury team acting on behalf of ACB in this matter was led by partner Matthew MacLean, associate Mike Warley and retired partner David Cynamon.
“Launching the Accessibility Initiative through the American Council of the Blind is a great accomplishment,” said MacLean. “This program has the tools to create meaningful change in the accessibility policies of taxicab providers in DC, and is an opportunity for companies to engage in a constructive program to ensure the rights of taxi passengers relying on service animals are understood and respected.”