NAD Files Complaint against Law Firm for Rejecting Relay Calls

Posted May 2, 2007

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The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) filed a complaint with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) against Peroutka & Peroutka, P.A., a law firm in Pasadena, Maryland.  The complaint alleges that Peroutka & Peroutka refused to accept telephone calls made through a Telecommunications Relay Service by an individual who is deaf, in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The Telecommunications Relay Service system was created to enable businesses to communicate by telephone with people who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have a speech disability.

The complaint alleges that an individual who is deaf received a letter from Peroutka & Peroutka regarding a legal matter.  The letter said, “If you have any unresolved questions or if you would like to discuss arrangements, please call our office at [Peroutka & Peroutka’s phone number].”  The individual tried to call Peroutka & Peroutka through a Video Relay Service and a TTY Relay Service.  During each call, a person at the law firm hung up after saying the law firm does not accept calls made through a Relay Service.

“Law offices are public accommodations under Title III of the ADA and lawyers must accept calls made through a Relay Service by individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing,” said Marc Charmatz, Senior Attorney with the NAD Law and Advocacy Center.  “The NAD filed this complaint to ensure that all lawyers accept calls made through a Relay Service.”

The complainant requests that the Department of Justice investigate the complaint, order Peroutka & Peroutka to cease its discriminatory practices, modify its policies and practices, and notify individuals with disabilities of their right to call the law firm through a Relay Service.