| TRENTON
– The Division on Civil Rights announced
today that all taxi drivers in Atlantic City
will undergo training in state and federal
civil rights law as the result of a settlement
that resolves allegations the Yellow Cab Company
discriminated against a blind man by refusing
him and his guide dog a ride to a casino.
Under terms of the settlement, approximately
600 cab drivers who work in Atlantic City
will undergo training provided by the Division
on Civil Rights and focused on both the
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (
LAD) and the federal Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), as well as their individual obligations
as cab drivers under both laws. The training
effort – mandatory for Yellow Cab
employees -- is being coordinated with the
Atlantic City Department of Licenses and
Inspections.
The settlement announced today resolves
a complaint filed against Yellow Cab by
Thomas R. Schierioth, of Atlantic City,
in the wake of alleged disability-based
discrimination that occurred twice in the
same day on July 10, 2010. Schierioth, who
is regularly assisted by a guide dog due
to his blindness, contacted Yellow Cab and
asked to be picked up at his home. When
the taxi arrived to transport him, Shierioth
alleged, he tried to enter the cab with
his guide dog and was told by the driver,
"no dog, no dog." The driver subsequently
drove away.
Schierioth apparently got to his destination
– the Showboat Hotel and Casino in
Atlantic City – by other means, but
contacted Yellow Cab several hours later
seeking a ride home. According to Schierioth’s
complaint, a different Yellow Cab driver
arrived in response to his call but the
result was the same -- upon seeing Shierioth
and his guide dog, the driver refused them
service and drove away. Shierioth later
reported the incident to the Mercantile
Association of Atlantic City, and filed
a complaint with the Division on Civil Rights
in September 2010.
“The
alleged actions attributed to the Yellow
Cab employees in this case are troubling,”
said Attorney General Paula T. Dow. “They
are taxi drivers, and they reportedly denied
transportation to a blind person who was
accompanied by a guide dog to assist with
his disability. We are committed to ensuring
equal access for all persons.”
Said Acting Division on Civil Rights Director
Gary LoCassio, “This is an important
settlement because it will help generate
greater awareness. The training provided
by our Division will make clear to every
driver working in Atlantic City that denying
a ride to a disabled person who requires
a guide dog is illegal, and will not be
tolerated.”
Under terms of the settlement, Yellow Cab
makes no admission of wrongdoing.
According to Acting Director LoCassio, the
cab driver training (mandatory for Yellow
Cab drivers), will be provided over a period
of three weeks in October. The training
started yesterday (Wednesday, Oct. 5) and
will run through Oct. 26. Training will
take place in the Casino Control Commission
headquarters building, and will be provided
by Assistant Director Philip Freeman, who
oversees the Division on Civil Rights’
Bureau of Prevention, Outreach and Public
Education, and Division Community Relations
Coordinator Esther Nevarez.
While a major focus of the training will
be on the handling of persons with disabilities
who require guide or service dogs, all areas
of unlawful discrimination, as well as harassment
prevention, will be discussed. According
to LoCassio, the city’s Department
of Licenses and Inspections will continue
working closely with the Division to ensure
that all Yellow Cab drivers in the city
attend the upcoming training sessions.
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