Overview
- Attorney George Bochetto filed the class-action complaint on Oct. 8 on behalf of rider Lance Haver, targeting the fare increase that took effect Sept. 14.
- The suit alleges SEPTA violated a state requirement to use reasonable judgment before raising fares and failed to allow meaningful public questioning at hearings.
- Plaintiffs seek refunds for riders who paid higher fares since Sept. 14 and cite weekly rider damages of about $571,000 based on SEPTA testimony.
- SEPTA says its legal team is reviewing the case and has previously warned that using its stabilization fund could hasten fiscal insolvency.
- Last month, Judge Sierra Thomas-Street ordered SEPTA to reverse 20% service cuts while allowing fare hikes to proceed, and PennDOT approved a one-time shift of capital funds to operations to restore service; class certification could take two to three months.