New York civil rights violation lawyer David Perecman comments on the new taxi chosen by New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission.

After a three year search, the Commission chose a Nissan model that is not wheelchair accessible.

The United States attorney’s office in Manhattan and Perecman, a New York civil rights violation lawyer for over 30 years, are investigating whether the lack of wheelchair-accessible taxicabs in New York City violates sections of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The Disabilities Act prohibits local governments, or private groups that provide public transportation services, from discriminating against the disabled.

“This is a disappointing turn of events in New York,” civil rights violation lawyer Perecman said. The city had the unique opportunity to set a standard for accessibility for taxis across the country. So, instead of helping New York become the first city in the world to have a fully accessible taxi fleet, the Taxi and Limousine Commission may find itself fighting a civil suit for having violated civil rights.”