National Association of the Deaf

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), representing Carolyn Tanaka, has filed a disability discrimination complaint against New Mexico attorney Joseph David Camacho. The complaint, filed with the United States Department of Justice, claims that Mr. Camacho refused to provide qualified interpreter services as required under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Mrs. Tanaka retained the services of Mr. Camacho to represent her in a complaint she filed against the University of New Mexico Hospital. In that complaint, Mrs. Tanaka alleged that the hospital failed to provide qualified interpreter services in violation of the ADA. Mrs. Tanaka repeatedly requested that Mr. Camacho provide qualified interpreter services to communicate effectively with her. Mr. Camacho denied Mrs. Tanaka’s requests for qualified interpreter services. Instead, Mr. Camacho thought it was appropriate to suggest that Mrs. Tanaka’s nine-year-old son could act as an "interpreter" for these complicated legal discussions.

When Mrs. Tanaka refused to have her nine-year-old son act as an “"nterpreter," Mr. Camacho withdrew as Mrs. Tanaka’s attorney, leaving her without representation.

Kelby Brick, NAD Director of Law and Advocacy commented "It is unbelievable that an attorney suing a hospital for failing to provide sign language interpreter services refuses to provide the same services to his own client." Brick continued, "There is absolutely no excuse for asking a client’s nine-year-old son to interpret."

The NAD and Mrs. Tanaka asked that the Department of Justice (DOJ) find that Mr. Camacho discriminated against her on the basis of disability in violation of Title III of the ADA.

More information about the obligations of attorneys to provide sign language interpreter services and other reasonable accommodations can be found at:
http://www.nad.org/legalservices