County Sheriff in Colorado Settles Deaf Man’s Lawsuit

The Adams County sheriff has agreed to provide sign language interpreters to deaf inmates in Colorado when they arrive at the county jail as part of a settlement of a deaf man’s lawsuit.

The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition and Colorado Association of the Deaf had filed the lawsuit on behalf of Timothy Siaki, who they say was detained in 2010 for 25 days with no ability to communicate with his jailers. The groups say charges against Siaki were later dropped.

The Denver Post reported a federal judge has approved the settlement, which also requires that deaf inmates be provided with an orientation video with sign language interpretation. Sheriff’s officials also agreed to eventually add a video phone.

The settlement says the sheriff must pay $100,000 to the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition Legal Program.