Second Circuit Reverses Injunction in NYC Taxi Case

Yesterday, in Noel v. New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed the district court's grant of an injunction.  The district court held that the City violated Title II of the ADA by failing to provide meaningful access to taxi services for persons with disabilities.  It issued an injunction ordering the City to come up with a remedial plan and, in the interim, to issue new taxi medallions only to accessible taxis.

The Second Circuit reversed the injunction. It concluded "that, though the [Taxi and Limousine Commission] exercises pervasive control over the taxi industry in New York City, defendants were not required by Title II(A) to deploy their licensing and regulatory authority to mandate that persons who need wheelchairs be afforded meaningful access to taxis. The district court therefore erred in entering the temporary injunction."

For coverage of the ruling, see this article from the Wall Street Journal, this article from the New York Times, this article from New York Magazine, and this article from the New York Daily News.