Supreme Court Takes On Deaf Woman’s Emotional Distress Claim

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review whether plaintiffs seeking recovery for emotional distress are entitled to compensatory damages under federal anti-discrimination statutes.

By taking the case on Friday, the justices can resolve a split in the federal appeals courts and potentially undo a ruling against a deaf woman that she said will otherwise leave many victims “with no meaningful remedy at all.”

The dispute arose from Jane Cummings’ claim that her physical therapy provider refused to supply her with an American Sign Language interpreter.

She sued Premier Rehab Keller PLLC for violating the Rehabilitation Act and the Affordable Care ...