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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2007 University Legal Services Files Federal Lawsuit Regarding Discrimination in Transportation WASHINGTON — On March 7, 2007, University Legal Services – Protection & Advocacy (ULS) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Joe Orozco, a blind man who, accompanied by his seeing eye dog, was twice refused access to buses between Washington, DC and New York City operated by Today’s Bus and Wilcar Tours.  The lawsuit cites violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which requires private bus companies to modify policies to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities who rely on service animals.               Employees of Today’s Bus, known popularly as the Chinatown Bus, barred Mr. Orozco and his dog Gator from boarding the buses under a company policy that prohibits all animals without exception.  The company employees refused Mr. Orozco access even after he explained his rights under the ADA and asked for an accommodation to allow Gator to ride on the bus with him.  Mr. Orozco finally had to call the police who arrived at the station and directed the employees to let him and Gator ride on the bus. On his return trip to DC, bus employees forced Mr. Orozco to sit in the back of the bus in violation of the ADA.  Since 1991, the ADA has prohibited the exclusion or segregation of people with disabilities from bus transportation, among other privately-operated services and facilities.  Federal regulations specifically require bus operators to “permit service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in vehicles.”  “By excluding people with disabilities and forcing them to the back of the bus, Today’s Bus is committing precisely the disability-based discrimination that the ADA outlaws,” commented Amy Metzel, ULS attorney for Mr. Orozco. Mr. Orozco’s attempts to resolve his complaints with bus company managers were unsuccessful.  He now seeks a federal court order requiring Today’s Bus and Wilcar Tours to allow people with visual disabilities to travel on their bus line with their service animals, train their staff, issue a formal apology, and an award of monetary damages.  ULS is the federally-designated agency that represents people with disabilities in DC to ensure their access to services. In addition to Amy Metzel, Marjorie Rifkin is representing Mr. Orozco. ###

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