Bus Passenger's Discrimination Complaint Was Rightly Dismissed But...

It is likely that many can identify with a woman's claim that she was subjected to frightening encounters on Greyhound buses and in Greyhound bus terminals.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

It’s hard to disagree with a federal court judge’s dismissal of a discrimination complaint filed against Greyhound Bus Lines, Inc.

The plaintiff, a woman who shall remain unidentified, filed a complaint in U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia alleging she “was discriminated against, stalked, and [subjected to] hate crime while riding Greyhound buses and in Greyhound terminals.”

She claims she “was almost attacked once” and was exposed to “persons playing the witchcraft/voodoo game” while travelling on unspecific dates through multiple states. On top of that, she alleged she was overcharged.

Poor people, especially, cannot avoid public transportation and tend to be the primary victims of liberal policies that discount or ignore petty crimes.

The plaintiff, who represented herself, demanded “restitution” and damages for “pain and suffering” in the amount of 17 trillion dollars.

U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb this week rightly dismissed the complaint for failing to follow minimal pleading standards and because it alleged “so few facts… that no defendant reasonably could be expected to prepare a proper response to the complaint.”

However, the lawsuit reflects a wider concern about the problem of safety in public transportation. This is a problem that came into focus recently when an ex-marine was charged in the New York subway death of a Jordan Neely, 30, a homeless, mentally ill man.

Daniel Penny, 24, seems to be emerging as a popular hero for coming to the aid of subway passengers.

A fundraising effort set up to pay Penny’s legal fees exceeded $300,000 on Friday.

Penny interceded when Neely, who has a history of violence, began shouting at subway passengers for money. Neely died after Penny restrained him in a chokehold. Penny subsequently was arrested and charged with manslaughter.

Judge Cobb granted the plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis (excusing the payment of court fees).