Bankruptcy

"For Spanish Press 1, For All Other Languages Press 2"; the Translation Service at the Bankruptcy Court

By Joseph McDaniel, Esq.

One of my clients spoke fluent English; her husband was much more comfortable in Korean.

The trustee, remarkably efficient, asked if a translator would be useful. My client said yes.

The trustee called the magic phone number, and the recorded voice said, "For Spanish press 1, for all other languages, press 2". He pressed "2", and the prompt asked him to state the language for which he needed a translator.

He said "Korean", and the robot at the other end routed him to a human who was a Korean Language Translator.

Used to be that sort of thing would have taken much longer, and involved a human in the room.

I think I like the speed and efficiency of this process.

I think.

But I know the Bankruptcy Court in Arizona needs all the help it can get with languages.

I was at a First Meeting of Creditors recently in Phoenix, and after roll call ("Present, With Counsel!") the Bankruptcy Trustee appointed in the five cases being questioned asked if translators would be needed.

The answer was yes. My client was the only client that hour who DIDN'T need a translator.

And none of the four other languages was Spanish.

Phoenix is a pretty cosmopolitan city now; when we moved here fifty-five years ago, it was a wide spot in the road.

On the other hand, then there was a Lazy Lou's Fish and Chips, and my favorite Lazy Lou's Fish and Chips location is finally closed, after 60 years. Makes me a little sad.

Did I say a little?

That was GREAT fish and chips!

NOTHING HERE CONSTITUTES LEGAL ADVICE RE A CHAPTER 7, CHAPTER 13, CHAPTER 11, OR CHAPTER 12. FIND AN ARIZONA BANKRUPTCY LAWYER WHO IS BOARD CERTIFIED IN BANKRUPTCY LAW, AV RATED, AVVO 10 RATED, ON SUPERLAWYERS, OR JUST VERY EXPERIENCED AND A FORMER CHAIR OF SOME BANKRUPTCY SECTION OR COMMITTEE. NOTHING HERE MAY BE USED AS LEGAL ADVICE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY BANKRUPTCY, WHETHER THAT BANKRUPTCY IS IN PHOENIX, GLENDALE, TEMPE, MESA, SCOTTSDALE, OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

Full post as published by Arizona Bankruptcy Attorney Blog on June 04, 2010 (boomark / email).