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eBay Sued For Discriminating Against the Deaf

Should eBay have to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act?  A Missouri woman is trying to make the courts say yes so that she can cash in on her stash of old comic books and vintage baseball cards and timepieces, some of which are worth thousands of dollars.

FOX News Radio’s Chris Hoenig has the story:

Audio clip:

Melissa Earll is suing eBay, saying they discriminate against her because she’s deaf.  The auction site requires a phone verification from sellers – which Earll can’t hear – but she says eBay just isn’t listening.

(Earll) “They said, ‘Can your mom or dad answer the phone for you?’  And I’m a 40-year-old adult woman…no, I don’t live at home.”

A Federal court has already thrown out the suit, saying eBay doesn’t have a physical storefront for interaction with customers so the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn’t apply.  Earll is appealing.

(Earll) “eBay keeps me from taking advantage of the opportunities that other people have.”

eBay declining comment, except to say that they’re happy the initial lawsuit was dismissed.

Chris Hoenig, FOX News Radio.

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4 Comments

  1. David Jonsson

    January 9, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    Fight Audism! Internet companies like Netflix too think they are exempt from accommodating cuz they only have voice phone customer service.

  2. Dave Ea

    January 9, 2013 at 7:57 pm

    Excuse me ! I am profound deaf. I have no problem with Ebay over 10 years. I use Video Relay Service. No problem commutation with Ebay. That deaf woman DOES NOT use sign language ,ASL. That is her problem. She is wearing coachlear implant to hear some, can be hear clear, can't be hear not clear.
    Yes, Ebay will ask you for your verity , like PIN numbers, phone numbers, last numbers of SS and birthday date for security. There has lot scams on Ebay, that is why Ebay ask for security. She is wasting her time !
    FYI : I am from Missouri.

  3. Dave

    January 9, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    Oh please ! Yes, she is deaf but she does not use sign language ,ASL She is wearing coachlear implant, she does not use Video Relay Service to sign to,talk. She is wasting her time !
    I am deaf from Missouri, I have no problem with Ebay over 10 years. I called Ebay via Video Relay Service ! That is her huge problem

  4. Deaf

    March 2, 2013 at 11:10 am

    Would you please add a train script to your podcasts? There are 50 millions of deaf/hoh people in USA who cannot understand them. Thanks!