NEW ORLEANS – A deaf individual residing in Jefferson Parish who uses American Sign Language to communicate alleges that she was not provided an interpreter while receiving treatment at a medical facility.
Hope Huffman filed a complaint on May 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against University Medical Center Management Corp., Louisiana Children's Medical Center and Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College alleging that they violated the Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff has received treatment from the defendant on several occasions and alleges that as a result of the lack of an interpreter or other auxiliary aid, plaintiff was unable to meaningfully engage in her treatment and did not know the status of her condition.
The plaintiff holds University Medical Center Management Corp., Louisiana Children's Medical Center and Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College responsible because the defendants allegedly refused to provide auxiliary aids and services necessary to ensure effective communication.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory damages, costs and attorneys’ fees and all other relief that the court may find necessary and appropriate. She is represented by Andrew D. Bizer, Garret S. DeReus and Marc P. Florman of Bizer & DeReus in New Orleans and Andrew Rozynski of Eisenberg & Baum LLP in New York.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:17-cv-04480