New York Hospital Wins in Deaf Patient’s Disability Bias Appeal

A deaf patient failed to revive her lawsuit alleging that a New York hospital unlawfully relied on her daughter to provide American Sign Language translation services instead of another interpreter.

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Wednesday affirmed a judgment for Montefiore New Rochelle in Irma Fantasia’s suit for disability bias under the American with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Affordable Care Act, and New York civil rights law.

Testimony heard by District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti during a September 2022 bench trial supported his decision that Fantasia had elected to rely on her daughter, Michele ...