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Original article can be found here. Copyright 2009 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

A punitive damages verdict is enough to catch anyone's attention. But a verdict for punitive damages in a disability discrimination case can be a double whammy for physicians.

Since such claims are not covered under traditional medical liability insurance, any judgments would come out of doctors' own pockets.

That is exactly what befell New Jersey rheumatologist Robert A. Fogari, MD, when a Hudson County jury in October 2008 unanimously handed down a $400,000 award against him for allegedly refusing to pay for a sign language interpreter for a patient who is deaf. Half of the award was for punitive damages.

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SignLanguageInterpreters.com presents a new model of service delivery to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population. The RID certified interpreters we work with, most with ten years or more of experience. We modeled this new practice on that used in law, accounting, and other professional firms. We are not a social service agency. We are highly skilled professionals serving a broad range of both clients and consumers.

Corporations, hospitals and physicians, colleges and universities, lawyers, courts, and federal agencies are just a few examples of the clients who hire us to provide services to their Deaf and Hard of Hearing employees and clients. Our goal is to help them serve the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by adhering to the requirements of their internal diversity goals, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and state and local laws.

Because we are professionals, and because our goal is to engage the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as consumers rather than clients, we work with only the best interpreters. Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) certification is required. As interpreters grow in experience, they are eligible to become partners in the company, increasing their earning potential above that normally seen in the profession.

We also support our interpreters in their career goals to increase their loyalty to our company, and to ensure that they receive the ongoing continuing education they need to help them reach their professional potential. As they advance with SignLanguageInterpreters.com, it is our hope that they will develop ongoing and productive relationships with both clients and consumers.

Founded in 2008, SignLanguageInterpreters.com is comprised of partners, all with ten to fifteen years experience interpreting in a broad variety of contexts and settings. Because we are all partners in the firm, we are able to capitalize on our individual strengths to produce a well-rounded set of services for the organizations we serve and for our employees. We provide mentoring, training, technological solutions, and, of course, the highest quality interpreting.

A final goal is to combat the audism and attitudinal barriers of society. We do all in our power to ensure that we don’t limit the community’s view of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people by encouraging people to understand that Deaf and Hard of Hearing people serve in all walks of life and are represented in all professions.

All partners and interpreters are bound by the ethical practices of the Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf. For more information visit the RID website.