It started as a regular Saturday in Detroit. Dajua Blanding, a local rapper who goes by the stage name Dank Demoss, just wanted to get to a Detroit Lions watch party. She opened her app, requested a ride, and waited. But when the car pulled up to her curb, the doors stayed locked. What followed was a viral standoff, a flurry of cell phone recordings, and a legal battle that has reignited a massive debate over size, safety, and civil rights.
When an obese woman sues Lyft, the internet usually has a meltdown. People take sides immediately. You’ve got the "it’s a private car" crowd on one side and the "discrimination is illegal" crowd on the other. But this case isn't just about hurt feelings or a missed football game. It’s actually a very specific legal fight centered on a Michigan law that most people don't even know exists.
The Standoff on the Curb
The driver, identified in some reports as Abraham, was driving a Mercedes-Benz sedan. As Blanding approached the vehicle, she says he looked at her and essentially refused to let her in. In the video she later posted to TikTok—which racked up hundreds of thousands of views almost instantly—you can hear the back-and-forth.
The driver was polite but firm. He told her his car was too small and that he was worried about his tires. "Believe me, you can't," he told her when she insisted she could fit in the back seat. He suggested she cancel and order a Lyft XL, which is the service's tier for larger vehicles or groups.
Blanding wasn't having it. She argued that she’s ridden in smaller cars before without any drama. To her, it felt like a "slap in the face." She ended up stranded, missed her party, and eventually decided to take the matter to court. Honestly, it’s one of those situations where both people probably felt like they were in the right at the moment. The driver wanted to protect his car; the passenger wanted to get where she was going.
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Why the Lawsuit Actually Matters
The core of the legal argument isn't just that the driver was "mean." It’s about the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
Michigan is actually quite unique in this regard. Most states have laws protecting you from being discriminated against based on race, religion, or gender. Michigan, however, added weight and height to that list of protected characteristics back in the late 70s. This means that in the eyes of Michigan law, denying someone a service because of their size is legally the same as denying them because of their skin color.
Her attorney, Jonathan Marko, has been very vocal about this. He argues that by refusing the ride, the driver (and by extension, Lyft) violated Blanding's civil rights. The lawsuit seeks damages for:
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Humiliation and embarrassment
- Attorney fees
- Economic damages
Basically, the legal team is saying that weight shouldn't be a barrier to basic public accommodations, and since Lyft operates as a public-facing service, they have to follow the state's rules.
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The Driver’s Side: Safety vs. Service
There’s a lot of sympathy for the driver in the comments sections of these news stories. Many people point out that a standard sedan has a maximum weight capacity. If you exceed that, you risk damaging the suspension or blowing a tire.
If a driver's car breaks, Lyft doesn't usually pay for the repairs. Drivers are independent contractors. They own their cars. They pay for their own gas, insurance, and maintenance. So, from the driver's perspective, this was a logical business decision to prevent physical damage to his primary source of income.
However, the law doesn't always care about "logical business decisions" if those decisions cross the line into discrimination. If a hotel tried to charge more for a guest because they were "too heavy" for the bed, they’d be in hot water. This is the tightrope the courts have to walk.
The Settlement and What it Means
Reports surfaced in late 2025 that Lyft chose to settle the case with Blanding. While the terms are confidential—as these things usually are—the fact that it didn't go to a full jury trial says a lot. Companies often settle to avoid the "bad look" of a public trial, but it also suggests that Blanding’s legal team had a very strong hand because of that Michigan-specific weight protection law.
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Blanding has since shared that she’s been on a health journey, losing over 40 pounds, but she maintains that the lawsuit was about the principle of the matter. She wanted to make sure other plus-sized people didn't feel the same "humiliation" she felt on that Detroit sidewalk.
What Riders and Drivers Should Know
This case is a wake-up call for how ride-sharing apps handle accessibility. It's not just about wheelchairs or service dogs anymore.
If you're a rider, especially in a state like Michigan, you have legal protections. But practically speaking, ordering an XL is often the move just to avoid the headache, even if you shouldn't have to pay more. It's a "pick your battles" kind of situation.
For drivers, the lesson is trickier. You’re trying to run a business, but you’re also operating in a regulated space. If you find yourself in a situation where you truly believe a passenger’s weight poses a safety risk to the vehicle, you have to handle it with extreme care.
Actionable Steps for Navigating Size and Rideshare
If you find yourself in a similar situation, here is what actually helps:
- Document Everything: If a ride is denied, take a video or screenshots of the app. This was the key evidence in Blanding's case.
- Know Local Laws: Check if your state or city has specific protections for "appearance" or "weight." Most don't, but Michigan and some cities like New York and San Francisco do.
- Communication is Key: Drivers who explain the mechanical limits of the car (like the GVWR—Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) are on slightly firmer ground than those who make comments about a person's body.
- Contact Support Immediately: Don't just walk away. Report the incident through the app so there is a digital paper trail of why the ride didn't happen.
The conversation around this case won't end with the settlement. It’s part of a much bigger shift in how we think about public spaces and who gets to inhabit them comfortably. Whether you think it's a "frivolous" lawsuit or a "landmark" civil rights victory, the reality is that the legal landscape is changing. Companies are being forced to realize that "independent contractor" isn't a "get out of jail free" card when it comes to state discrimination laws.