Miss-Delectable
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Attorney settles with Justice Department - New Mexico Business Weekly:
The Justice Department has entered into a settlement agreement with Albuquerque attorney Joseph David Camacho that resolves a complaint filed with the department by the National Association of the Deaf on behalf of Carolyn Tanaka, who is deaf and uses sign language for communication.
The complaint alleged that Camacho refused to secure a qualified sign language interpreter when necessary to assist Tanaka in a lawsuit in which he was her attorney; that he withdrew from the private case leaving her without counsel; and that the case was dismissed allegedly due to her failure to respond to discovery. Camacho allegedly attempted to communicate with his client through written notes, e-mails and sign language interpretation by her nine-year old son.
Under the agreement, the local law office will adopt and enforce a policy on effective communication with clients and their companions who are deaf or hard of hearing, by providing interpreters and other auxiliary aids free of charge.
Camacho also agreed to pay the former client $1,000 in compensatory damages.
"Effective communication is particularly critical in the legal setting," said Larry Gomez, acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico. "We are committed to ensuring that lawyers comply with the [American's with Disabilities Act's] requirements and that individuals with disabilities or their families are not subjected to unequal treatment because of an inability to communicate."
The Justice Department has entered into a settlement agreement with Albuquerque attorney Joseph David Camacho that resolves a complaint filed with the department by the National Association of the Deaf on behalf of Carolyn Tanaka, who is deaf and uses sign language for communication.
The complaint alleged that Camacho refused to secure a qualified sign language interpreter when necessary to assist Tanaka in a lawsuit in which he was her attorney; that he withdrew from the private case leaving her without counsel; and that the case was dismissed allegedly due to her failure to respond to discovery. Camacho allegedly attempted to communicate with his client through written notes, e-mails and sign language interpretation by her nine-year old son.
Under the agreement, the local law office will adopt and enforce a policy on effective communication with clients and their companions who are deaf or hard of hearing, by providing interpreters and other auxiliary aids free of charge.
Camacho also agreed to pay the former client $1,000 in compensatory damages.
"Effective communication is particularly critical in the legal setting," said Larry Gomez, acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico. "We are committed to ensuring that lawyers comply with the [American's with Disabilities Act's] requirements and that individuals with disabilities or their families are not subjected to unequal treatment because of an inability to communicate."
