Kouichi Taniguchi, Petitioner v. Kan Pacific Saipan, LTD., Dba Marianas Resort and Spa (566 U.S. 560)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided May 21, 2012 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 566 U.S. 560 · 132 S. Ct. 1997
- Decided
- May 21, 2012
- Term
- October Term 2011
- Vote
- 6–3
- Majority author
- Justice Alito
- Issue area
- Judicial Power
- Disposition
- Vacated and remanded
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Conservative
Opinion excerpt
Justice Alito delivered the opinion of the Court. The costs that may be awarded to prevailing parties in lawsuits brought in federal court are set forth in 28 U. S. C. § 1920. The Court Interpreters Act amended that statute to include “compensation of interpreters.” §1920(6); see also § 7, 92 Stat. 2044. The question presented in this case is whether “compensation of interpreters” covers the cost of translating documents. Because the ordinary meaning of the word “interpreter” is a person who translates orally from one language to another, we hold that “compensation of interpreters” is limited to the cost of oral translation and does not include the cost of document translation. I — < This case arises from a personal injury action brought by petitioner Kouichi Taniguchi, a professional baseball player in Japan, against respondent Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd., the owner of a resort in the Northern Mariana Islands. Petitioner was injured when his leg broke through, a wooden deck during a tour of respondent’s resort property. Initially, petitioner said that he needed no medical attention, but two weeks later, he informed respondent that he had suffered cuts, bruises, and torn ligaments from the accident. Due to these alleged injuries, he claimed damages for medical expenses and for lost income from contracts he was unable to honor. After discovery concluded, both parties moved for…
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