JetBlue Airways Can’t be Sued

JetBlue Airways can’t be sued by the blind passengers because of their inaccessibility to check-in kiosks and airline’s website, a federal judge declared in his recent ruling.

In August 2010, a complaint was filed against JetBlue Airways by three individuals and the California Council of the Blind over the issue. The complainants said that check-in kiosks and airline’s website were not accessible to the blind people, which violated the Disabled Persons Act, Business & Professions Code and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.

However, the complainants’ petition was challenged by the airline seeking its dismissal in October 2010. The airline in its motion said that the plaintiffs never staked any claim or sought relief whatsoever from it. Again, in May 2011 the airline cited a similar case National Federation of the Blind v. United Airlines in which complainants’ petition was summarily dismissed by a federal court.

In his 24-page ruling, Joseph Spero, US Magistrate Judge, also granted JetBlue Airways’ motion to dismiss on similar grounds.