NEW ORLEANS – A Gonzales man who is deaf says staff at Hand Surgical Association refused to work with his sign language interpreters, effectively denying and delaying his treatment for hand pain.
Terrance LeMaire filed a lawsuit on March 1 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Hand Surgical Association Ltd., alleging violations of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, LeMaire, who is deaf and communicates primarily through sign language, sought treatment for his hand pain with Hand Surgical Associates in March 2014. Although a doctor at Hand Surgical ordered a scan of his hand, the suit says he was unable to receive treatment there because of staff resistance to provide or work with his interpreters.
As a result, LeMaire says he went to another doctor, where he was diagnosed with a cyst and carpal tunnel syndrome, and underwent surgery on Aug. 25, 2015. The suit says LeMaire suffered unnecessary pain because of the delayed treatment and that Hand Surgical’s actions violate disability protection laws.
LeMaire seeks a jury trial, damages and attorneys’ fees. He is represented by attorney Susan Meyers of the Advocacy Center in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-01770-ILRL-JCW