Legal Cases
A variety of legal cases in which deaf individuals were involved is presented below. Additional court decisions are an available in the Legal Toolkit.
New to case law?
Watch "How to Read a Case" presented by Debra Patkin, the National Association of the Deaf's staff attorney.
Agreements:
- ADA Settlement Agreement (2000, Delaware) - This agreement pertains to the failure of a law office to provide the requested interpreting services under title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
- ADA Settlement Agreement (2003, Texas) - This agreement pertains to the failure of police, city jails, and municipal courts to provide effective communication under title II of the ADA.
- ADA Settlement Agreement (2004, Louisiana) - This agreement pertains to the accessibility of 9-1-1 services provided by a city under title II of the ADA.
- ADA Settlement Agreement (2004, Louisiana) - This agreement pertains to the accessibility of 9-1-1 services provided by a sheriff's office under title II of the ADA.
- ADA Settlement Agreement (2004, New York) - This agreement pertains to the failure of the Department of Corrections to provide effective communication under title II of the ADA.
- ADA Settlement Agreement (2006, Florida) - This agreement pertains to the failure of a facility for adjudicated, delinquent, and at risk youth to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services under title III of the ADA.
- ADA Settlement Agreement (2010, Florida) - This agreement pertains to the failure of a Department of Children and Families to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services under title II of the ADA.
Court Decisions:
- Linton v. State, 13-05-00668-CR (Tex. App. - Corpus Christi 8-28-2009) - This case pertains to the provision of interpreters during a trail for driving while intoxicated.
- State v. Speer, 124 Ohio St.3d 564, 2010-Ohio-649 - This case pertains to a court's determination to accommodate or excuse an impaired juror from service.
Memorandum of Understanding:
- DOJ letter to the Indiana Supreme Court (2009, Indiana) - This memorandum of understanding pertains to the provision of interpreting services in Arrieta v. State, No. 10S05-0704-CR-139 (Ind. 2008).
News Services:
- EEOC C. The Picture People, Inc., No. 09-CV-2315 (D. Colo. May 9, 2011) - This news service explains the summary judgment passed in favor of the employer despite the lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that the employer discharged a Deaf employee in violation of the ADA.
- Germano v. Int'l Profit Ass'n, Case No. 07‐3914 (7th Cir. Sept. 12, 2008) - This news services outlines a novel legal issue about whether statements made during a telecommunications relay service call by a communication assistant have the admissibility of hearsay.
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The contents of the Project CLIMB website was developed under a grant (#H160D160001) from the Department of Education. The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education. Do not assume endorsement by the Federal government.
As of December 31, 2021, this grant project is no longer active or soliciting applications.
This website will remain available as a resource.
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