Comments on: Judge: new Gotham cabs must have wheelchair access

By: David Smith

David Smith — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:08:10 +0000

Ron,

Your heart may be in the right place (useless in the real world), but you forget: People do not study law to serve justice. They study law to make money. The people studying law are no more altruistic, idealistic, etc. than the guy taking a course in second hand auto sales.

I’ll bet no one remembers that line from the Godfather where Corleoni tells his son to get a degree. “One man with a briefcase can steal more money than a thousand men with guns”.

Of course you don’t remember it. It was cut from the final issue. Now who (do you really have to ask) “encouraged” the director to censor his own work.

The fact that the commoners just don’t have enough money to make all lawyers rich is not to the ethical credit of the incompetents who can’t claw their way to the top of the pile.

By: Ron Miller

Ron Miller — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:18:39 +0000

I get your point, I guess, David. I suppose I can just better understand the motive of the average mugger between than the average lawyer going after a “not get so rich” scheme…unless they are true believers in the cause of the handicapped in which case, you have to admit it is harder to have the same venom against them. But my point was, economically, I think there is lower lying fruit.

By: David Smith

David Smith — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:52:06 +0000

Ron,

You forget. Lawyers don’t have to be getting rich to be despicable.

The average guy mugging little old ladies is not getting rich, however, he’s still a leaky *********.

By: Ron Miller

Ron Miller — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:44:36 +0000

My question, and it really is a question, is are lawyers making a fortune bringing ADA claims? Somehow, I doubt it. I’m a plaintiffs’ lawyer. I’ve never brought one and I don’t know anyone who I know has. Maybe their is a big cottage industry out there but it is certainly outside of my sphere. I just hope we are not blaming trial lawyers just because we let a few posts go by without blaming them for anything.

I would like to read the briefs in this case to see the arguments that were made. It is a tough issue all the way around. I certainly understand both points of view.

By: Court Ruling Broadening Americans with Disabilities Act Will Harm Taxicab Safety and Cost Hundreds of Millions

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:51:16 +0000

[…] Deregulate to Stimulate, Economy, Employment, Features, Legal Tweet A federal judge last month barred New York City’s ”Taxi and Limousine Commission from issuing permits for taxicabs unless they’re […]

By: marco73

marco73 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:41:09 +0000

Disabilities come in all shapes and sizes, literally. I’m 6’5″ tall. I have an artificial left hip and some metal plates and screws holding together my pelvis. I’m not in the 20% yet, but my latest hip replacement is already 15 years old, so I’m looking to upgrade again.
All that hardware makes it difficult to bend enough for me to sit in the back seat of a standard car or taxi. Whenever I need to ride in a taxi, I specifically request a minivan or van, and that I get to sit in the front passenger seat.
Amazingly, most cab companies are more than happy to provide a minivan or van; sometimes I have to wait a few more minutes for one to be routed to me.
Now sitting in the front passenger seat is another story. Many big city cabs will not allow any passengers in the front of the vehicle. Safety regulations, you know. All I want to do is sit in the seat with extra legroom. Where are my reasonable accomodations?

By: Melvin H.

Melvin H. — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:49:49 +0000

At the moment, Richard A., at the moment……

By: Richard A Harrison

Richard A Harrison — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:11:32 +0000

I’m torn.

On the one hand, the heavy-handed ADA and those who promote it (especially the serial plaintiffs and their “cottage industry” lawyers) aren’t adding much value that I can see. And I’ve done battle with a number of them.

On the other hand, I do so enjoy the sweet irony of Mayor Nannystate (no salt for you!) now being out Nannystated by the Nannyfeds.

And of course, converting 100% of taxis to accommodate the needs of 20% (maybe) of hte populaiton is ridicuous. All the ADA requires is reasonable accommodations. Under this logic, every seat in every football stadium would have to be handicap accessible . . . and that is clearly not the law.

By: David Smith

David Smith — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:04:09 +0000

Ms Fischer,

I notice your linked article does not make any mention of cost . . . and whether or not the commoners want to be forced to pay that cost.

I will add in the obvious (but maybe not to you) you are a lawyer – and you expect me to take ANYTHING y0u say as honest/reliable/neutral/informative?

I’ve just plain caught too many lawyers in lies that (technically) were not lies, but sure made the case they were being paid to make. IMHO a lie is still a lie.

By: Leafs004

Leafs004 — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:37:53 +0000

Even though wheelchair equipped vehicles are safe, my biggest issue is cost. The vehicles are more expensive. Since Santa Claus doesn’t bring the vehicles, they have to be paid for. It won’t be only those who need a ramp who pay extra, it will be everyone who uses the cab. Another cost that gets passed onto us.

I had a friend who was a quadriplegic. His story showed how the free market helped him get around without mandated ramps. Since he needed a cab with a ramp, he planned his excursions with his preferred cab company. They worked together to make sure he had a cab ride to and from wherever he was going, the company also knew his schedule so they could make sure a cab with a ramp was available for him. It was a win-win situation as he always had a cab nearby, and the cab company was happy because they had a regular customer for life. Does that mean there weren’t issues? No, occasionally he had to wait longer than he wanted to, but he got around pretty well for 20 years without a government mandate.