Judge dismisses lawsuit against CLC

A federal judge has dismissed a claim by a deaf Riverwoods man alleging the College of Lake County failed to provide him with adequate sign language interpreters.

U.S. District Court Judge William J. Hibbler ruled Abraham Untermyer failed to file his complaint against the school in a timely manner.

Untermyer, 41, launched the allegations against CLC in Lake County circuit court in September 2006, five years after he was allegedly discriminated against.

Untermyer alleges the college failed to provide him with a reliable interpreter for a level 3 calculus class in the fall of 2001, compromising his school work and causing him stress.

Under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, schools have a legal obligation to provide deaf people with quality interpreters.

According to Hibbler's ruling, the statute of limitations to claims arising under the Rehabilitation Act is two years, meaning Untermyer would have had to file the complaint before August 2003.

College officials and Untermyer's Chicago attorney, Gregory Adamski, could not be reached for comment.

Untermyer's mother, Ethel, said she and her son were unaware of Hibbler's July 23 ruling until contacted by reporters Tuesday.

"He was surprised but said, at least we tried," Ethel Untermyer said. "I'm sorry that this was decided on a technicality and not the merits of the case."

"This kind of jerking around with interpreters is the life of all deaf people. My son is profoundly deaf. He is completely dependent on the integrity of other people. When that breaks down, it causes nothing but grief."