ALEXANDRIA – A deaf mother and minor children alleges they were not provided sign language interpreters during medical treatment for injuries sustained in a car accident.
Shamika Dorsey, minor A.D., minor B.D., and minor S.D., filed a complaint on May 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Alexandria Division against Parishwide Hospital Service District of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, doing business as Riverland Medical Center, alleging that the hospital operator violated Titles II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs were injured in an auto accident on March 23 and were taken by ambulance to Riverland Medical Center. Dorsey alleges she was not provided a sign language interpreter and was unable to understand the nature, scope, or consequence of the injuries to herself or her minor children.
The plaintiffs holds Parishwide Hospital Service District of the Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to provide a qualified interpreter, did not ensure effective communication and failed to provide the necessary treatment or care.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek compensatory and nominal damages, costs and attorneys’ fees, interest and all other relief that the court finds appropriate. They are represented by Andrew D. Bizer, Garret S. DeReus and Marc P. Florman of Bizer & DeReus in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Alexandria Division case number 1:17-cv-00672