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Consent Decree entered in interpreter case
On September 7, 2011, Chief United States District Court Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., signed an Amended Consent Decree in 1:09-cv-466, Maine Human Rights Commission and Shirley Carney v. Sunbury Primary Care, P.A. In the complaint, plaintiffs alleged that Sunbury denied Ms. Carney, who is deaf, with an interpreter for a treatment visit and was likely to deny other patients who are deaf with interpreters. Sunbury denied any unlawful discrimination. Pursuant to the Decree, which fully resolves the Commission's complaint, Sunbury agreed to implement a policy to "provide any current or future Sunbury patient who is deaf with a qualified interpreter, upon request of the patient, for any visit that is likely to involve interactive communication between the hearing impaired patient and a Sunbury provider regarding a substantive medical issue." The Decree also enjoins Sunbury from violating the auxiliary aids and services provision of the Maine Human Rights Act for hearing impaired patients and awards $7500 to Ms. Carney. The Decree remains in effect for three years, other than its continuing nature as an order within the meaning of 5 M.R.S.A. §4613(2)(B)(7). Ms. Carney separately resolved her claims against Sunbury.
The claims and facts of the case, as detailed in Judge Woodcock’s decision on various motions, can be viewed here: : http://www.med.uscourts.gov/Opinions/Woodcock/2011/JAW_03142011_1-09cv466_MHRC_V_SUNBURY.pdf
