City Files Lawsuits Against 15 Cab Companies

Lawsuit claims companies are not wheelchair compliant

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} The City of Chicago announced it has filed 15 separate lawsuits against cab owners not in compliance with current wheelchair accessibility requirement.

“We are committed to providing better, more accessible taxi service for disabled Chicagoans,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Today’s efforts, in conjunction with the taxi reforms passed by City Council this month, mark important steps toward this goal.”

The claims, based on findings from an investigation conducted by the city, state that owners named in the suits did not have a sufficient number of properly functioning wheel chair accessible vehicles, according to a release from Mayor Emanuel's office.

One of the newly approved ordinances requires cab owners with more than 20 medallions to have at least five percent of their fleet as functioning wheelchair accessible vehicles.

The city is seeking to revoke the medallion licenses that were required to be wheelchair accessible vehicles, according to the release. The first status hearings begin in March at the City’s Department of Administrative Hearings.

Among the other ordinances passed by City Council ranged from mandatory GPS to "How's my Driving?" bumper stickers.

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