Deaf TTY User’s Word Not Good?
2 04 2008All.
The issue is "are relay calls same as voice"? The answer, of course, is a resounding YES - from our viewpoint (deaf and hard of hearing or any relay users). However, The United States District Court said no. Relay conversations are considered "hearsay" thus not admissable in court. YIKE!
Click to the article from about.com:deafness
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B
Interesting… Is it still “hearsay” if a person uses video relay service (using a sign language interpreter?? thanks.
M,
VRS is considered relay service, thus court probably will consider that as “hearsay” as well.
I hope appeal will win out and make court realize that relay conversation is not hearsay.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
man, this is terrible… another way for the rest of the world to reduce our credibility.
oh well, lets party.
Ed, do you happen to know if this decision is going to be appealed or not? This is terrible.
The article said that NAD intends to appeal.
Ed B
Hmm this has a greater ramification for society as a whole - using this in context, no deaf person would be able to give evidence, defend or make a statement via a sign language interpreter because then it becomes hearsay as it is the interpreter not the deaf person who said this or that(!).
Hey, this applies to spanish interpreters too! Where will the Justice system end up in then……
Does this mean that when I order something via the relay service, I don’t have to pay for it because it is hearsay and I did not actually order it and the credit card number was therefore stolen? My creditors would just love that excuse!
Does anyone know the exact citation of the case? I’ve been trying to find it but the only thing I find in the Second Circuit of Appeals goes only to 2006.