Taniguchi v. Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd. - Post-Decision SCOTUScast
SCOTUScast 05-25-12 featuring Philip Pucillo
On May 21, 2012, the Supreme Court announced its decision in Taniguchi v. Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd. The question in this case was whether the “compensation of interpreters,” a category of costs that a losing party in a federal lawsuit may be required to reimburse the winning party, includes money paid to translate written documents into English.
In an opinion delivered by Justice Alito, the Court held by a vote of 6-3 that because an interpreter is ordinarily understood as someone who translates orally, the translation of written documents is not included in the “compensation of interpreters.” Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Kagan joined Justice Alito’s opinion. Justice Ginsburg filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justices Breyer and Sotomayor.
To discuss the case, we have Philip Pucillo, who is a Visiting Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law.
[Return to the SCOTUScast menu]