Discrimination Lawsuit
In January 2004 the Fung Wah Bus Company refused to sell tickets to a blind couple traveling with a guide dog under the company's policy barring pets from buses. Even when informed by the couple, and later by police responding to a disturbance call, that they had the right to board the bus with a service animal, the company refused to allow the couple to buy a ticket.
In conjunction with the Massachusetts Attorney General, the couple later filed a discrimination lawsuit against the company. Per the Attorney General's office: "Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination against blind persons and requires businesses to allow service animals in their establishments even when there is an existing “no pet” policy, as long as the animal is controlled and does not otherwise pose an undue burden."
In July 2007, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination awarded the couple $60,000 in damages, assessed a $10,000 civil penalty payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered the company to take several steps to prevent discrimination in the future.
Read more about this topic: Fung Wah Bus Transportation