Jason Porter, a resident of Louisiana with T8-T9 paraplegia, has filed a lawsuit against Shreveport Transit Management, Inc., also known as SporTran. The complaint was submitted on March 7, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Porter alleges that SporTran has violated several laws, including Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights (LCHR).
Porter's complaint outlines multiple instances where he faced discrimination while using SporTran's bus services. In August or September 2023, Porter was denied access to a bus because his feet were wrapped in medical bandages due to his disability-related condition. Despite explaining his situation to the driver, he was told he could not board without shoes and had to roll home. On December 18, 2024, another incident occurred when a bus driver publicly humiliated Porter by commenting on his urine bag and initially denying him service. Although another driver or supervisor eventually resolved the issue, Porter felt demeaned by the experience.
The most severe incident took place on February 17, 2025. At the Bossier Hub—lacking restroom facilities—Porter was instructed by a bus driver to empty his urine bag before boarding. After contacting a SporTran supervisor, he was advised to board quietly and return to Shreveport's main terminal. The ordeal caused significant inconvenience and embarrassment for Porter and other passengers.
Porter claims these incidents are part of an ongoing pattern of discrimination by SporTran employees against individuals with disabilities. He argues that such actions violate federal and state laws designed to protect disabled individuals from discrimination in public transportation services.
In response to these grievances, Porter seeks various forms of relief from the court. He requests declaratory judgment that SporTran's practices violate the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, and LCHR. Additionally, he seeks injunctive relief mandating policy changes within SporTran to prevent future discrimination. This includes training employees on accommodating disabled passengers properly. Furthermore, Porter demands compensatory damages under LCHR provisions for emotional distress caused by discriminatory acts.
The case is being handled by attorneys Andrew D. Bizer, Garret S. DeReus, and Eva M. Kalikoff from Bizer & DeReus LLC based in New Orleans. The case ID is 5:25-cv-00283.