For nearly three years, the city of Cleveland has been trying to streamline a disorganized outgoing cab service at Hopkins. At times drivers from up to seven companies have been competing for fares. In September of 2006, city airports chief Ricky Smith proposed a new system that would limit the number of cabs making pick-ups, but several immigrant-owned firms claimed the proposal was designed to leave them out of the mix. A federal judge agreed, issuing an injunction to block the plan. Yesterday, a three-judge panel from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that injunction. Representing the immigrant cab companies, attorney Diane Citrino says her legal team will try for another hearing.
CITRINO: We intend to ask the entire sixth circuit to re-hear this case, because we do believe our clients suffered injury to a protected property right and that their due process rights were violated
In the meantime, the Plain Dealer quotes Airports Director Smith as saying he will now work to relaunch the city's original airport taxi cab plan.
