Attorney fails to provide interpreter for hearing-impaired client: ADA violation: Lessened comprehension of case: Settlement

Law Reporter, Nov 2004

United States v. Tirone, U.S. Dep't of Justice, Complaint No. 202-53-20 (Jan. 5, 2004).

Rozanski, 34, hired an attorney to represent her in her divorce and several other family law matters. The attorney refused to hire a professional sign language interpreter to interpret at his meetings with Rozanski, who is hearingimpaired, but instead wrote notes or asked Rozanski's family members to interpret. As a result, Rozanski did not understand all of what the attorney said about her case.

Rozanski filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, alleging the attorney failed to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12134, by not providing her with an interpreter.

The parties settled before suit was filed for $2,200, and the attorney will forgo any money due for the representation. The settlement also includes a provision that the attorney will post a notice in the local paper or a legal publication stating that he welcomes clients with disabilities and is in compliance with the ADA. The full text of the setdement agreement in this case is available online at www. usdoj. gov/crt/ada/tirone. htm.

United States' Counsel

R. Alexander Acosta,

John L. Wodatch,

Renee M. Wohlenhaus, and

Marc Dubin, all of Washington, D.C.