Corporate Regulation and Civil Rights

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights announced a settlement Wednesday requiring Lyft to strengthen protections for blind and disabled riders with service animals nationwide after multiple Lyft drivers refused rides to college student Tori Andres and her guide dog, Alfred. State investigators found the company violated Minnesota’s Human Rights Act and negotiated a deal mandating new driver training, clear warnings that drivers who reject riders with service animals can be deactivated, and app updates that let passengers note they are traveling with a service animal and quickly report denials. The state will monitor Lyft’s compliance for three years, and Andres will receive a $63,000 payment. Under the terms, drivers may not cancel or refuse rides because a passenger uses a service animal, a wheelchair, or has low or no vision, and Lyft must follow up on every report of a refusal. While Uber is not part of the agreement, officials stressed that Minnesota’s Human Rights Act applies to all ride-share firms, signaling broader pressure on the industry to enforce disability-access laws more rigorously.