TAXI COMPANIES SETTLE LAWSUIT; BLIND CUSTOMERS WITH GUIDE DOGS CLAIM DENIAL OF SERVICE.

Byline: Jesse Hiestand Staff Writer

Five Los Angeles taxi companies agreed Thursday to settle a lawsuit filed by blind customers who claimed they were denied service by drivers who objected to carrying guide dogs in their cabs, attorneys said.

In settling the discrimination suit, the taxi companies agreed to pay $34,500 in damages and pledged to improve drivers' training on serving the disabled and to improve complaint procedures and penalties for those who discriminate.

``It's a great victory,'' said Eve L. Hill, executive director for the Western Law Center for Disability Rights, which filed the federal civil rights suit.

``People with vision impairment really depend on their service animals to give them freedom, and without the ability to use a taxicab, that freedom is severely restricted,'' Hill said.

The suit grew out of customer complaints that drivers did not want to carry dogs because they considered them dirty or they feared an allergic reaction or because it was against their religion.

The suit on behalf of five individuals alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and California laws requiring that guide dogs be allowed in public places, including taxicabs, Hill said.

Hill said she hoped the settlement would put other Southern California taxi companies on notice that discrimination will not be tolerated.

William Rouse said his clients, L.A. Taxi Cooperative and Fiesta Taxi Cooperative, teach new drivers to treat disabled people fairly and intend to step up those efforts.

``Our position throughout this lawsuit was that blind individuals are a critical and valued part of our customer base,'' Rouse said. ``So, strictly from a customer-care point of view, we wanted to make sure we were doing right by our customers.''

Rouse said his clients had enough evidence to prove they did not discriminate but decided it was more prudent to settle the case. The three other defendants were United Independent Taxi Drivers, L.A. Checker Cab Co. and Beverly Hills Cab.

Trial was set to begin in U.S. District Court last week and settlement negotiations had been under way for six weeks, Hills said.

As part of the settlement, Access Services Inc., which provides transportation for the disabled, will establish a subcommittee to study issues affecting customers who have guide dogs.

One of the plaintiffs, Ken Metz of Torrance, said that on several occasions he called for a cab and waited at curbside for more than an hour. When he later called to ask why he was not picked up, he was told the driver went to the appointed spot and found no one there.

Metz believes the taxi drivers actually saw him and decided not to stop because his guide dog was with him.

``One of the drivers told me he didn't want the dog. He said the fur would end up in the cab,'' Metz said. ``I think a lot of it comes from a lack of understanding; some of it could be cultural differences. But my goal from the onset was education for the drivers and the taxi companies.''