Zelle Plays Key Pro Bono Role as USDA Returns to Centralized Interpreting Services in Landmark Settlement

August 30, 2022

Following the conclusion of claims administration, lawyers for a class of deaf and hard of hearing employees of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) working in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area announced a settlement in Campbell v. Vilsack (EEOC No. 570-2018-00277X). Plaintiffs were represented by the National Association for the Deaf (NAD), Zelle LLP, and Latham & Watkins LLP.

After eight years of litigation, all USDA deaf and hard of hearing employees in the Washington, D.C. region will now be able to access sign language interpreting services through a centralized system. Under the settlement, the USDA has agreed to re-centralize how sign language services are provided, and to fund sign language interpreting contracts through a centralized shared cost program.

Multiple Zelle attorneys from across offices contributed to the effort, led by John A. Carriel in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

NAD’s press release can be found here.