TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Nov 17, 2020

Federal District Court Judge Aleta A. Trauger last week ruled that Disability Rights Tennessee (DRT) can move forward with its lawsuit against the Tennessee Department of Correction over its failure to accommodate deaf inmates. The lawsuit, filed in March, alleges TDOC failed to provide deaf inmates with effective communication, including sign language interpreters and videophones, to ensure equal access to TDOC’s programs and services. Trauger rejected TDOC’s motion to dismiss the case and held that DRT, which is the state’s protection and advocacy organization, has standing to file a lawsuit to protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. Read more about the case from the Disability Rights Tennessee website.