Kentucky: NAD File Complaint Against KY State Courts for Failure to Provide Interpreters

[Harold Schiffman]

NAD File Complaint Against KY State Courts for Failure to Provide Interpreters

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NAD and Law Firm File Complaint Against Kentucky State Courts for
Failure to Provide Interpreters

Silver Spring, MD – The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the
law firm Freking & Betz have filed a complaint in federal court
against the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Administrative Office of
the Courts alleging their failure to provide qualified sign language
interpreters for Teri Mosier, a deaf attorney admitted to practice in
Kentucky. The complaint also names as defendants Joseph Lambert in his
official capacity as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kentucky,
and Jason Nemes in his official capacity as Director of the
Administrative Office of the Courts. The complaint was filed in the
United States District Court in Lexington, Kentucky.

Defendants' policy states that they "must comply with the Americans
with Disabilities Act by providing qualified interpreters for the deaf
and hard of hearing." However, Defendants' policy further states that
they will "not provide interpreting services for attorneys."
The complaint alleges that the Defendants' refusal to provide
qualified sign language interpreter services when Ms. Mosier
represents clients in court proceedings violates Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act. The failure of the court to provide qualified interpreter
services to ensure effective communication with Ms. Mosier effectively
limits Ms. Mosier's ability to practice law.

"State and local courts are required to provide accommodations, such
as qualified sign language interpreters, when necessary to ensure
effective communication with individuals, including attorneys, who are
deaf or hard of hearing," said Rosaline Crawford, Director of the NAD
Law and Advocacy Center. The complaint asks the United States District
Court to declare that the Defendants' policy of not providing
qualified sign language interpreters for deaf attorneys violates the
Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. The
complaint further asks the court to award money damages to Ms. Mosier.

http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-news/52040-nad-file-complaint-against-ky-state-courts-failure-provide-interpreters.html

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