Opinion ID: 2596761
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Language Issues

Text: First, Vreeken, Gergbroeders, and Lockwood argue that the district court lacked personal jurisdiction over them because they were not summonsed nor subpoenaed in their native language of Dutch in accordance with the Convention on Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters, November 15, 1965 (Convention). However, we find that even if the parties should have been served with a complaint in Dutch, they waived this argument. Although Vreeken, Gergbroeders, and Lockwood argue that the district court lacked personal jurisdiction over them because they were not summonsed nor subpoenaed in accordance with the Convention, these parties are actually challenging the sufficiency of the process with which they were served. [1] The defense of insufficiency of process challenges the contents of the summons. Heise v. Olympus Optical Co., 111 F.R.D. 1, 5 (N.D.Ind.1986). Whether or not the summons and subpoenas in this case should have been written in Dutch is an issue that goes to the contents of the documents and, accordingly, questions the sufficiency of the process. [2] Furthermore, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has implicitly found that failure to comply with the Convention does not affect a court's jurisdiction. See Nuovo Pignone, SpA v. STORMAN ASIA M/V, 310 F.3d 374, 385 (5th Cir.2002) (Fifth Circuit reversing the district court's decision that service of process by mail was permissible under the Convention, but remanding the case to allow Nuovo Pignone a reasonable time to effect service properly). Idaho Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(4), which governs the defense of insufficiency of process, requires that the defense be asserted by motion. Idaho Rule of Civil Procedure 12(g)(1) further requires that the motion be made prior to filing a responsive pleading and prior to filing any other motion, except a motion for an extension of time to answer or otherwise appear or a motion under Rule 40(d)(1) or (2), or else the defense of insufficiency of process is waived. Because Vreeken, Gergbroeders, and Lockwood waited to raise the defense of insufficiency of process until appeal, they waived the defense under I.R.C.P. 12(g)(1). Therefore, we need not decide whether the Convention applies in this case.
In addition, Vreeken argues that he was denied the right to have a certified Dutch interpreter present during his depositions. [3] Although Vreeken admits he did not request an interpreter, Vreeken argues the district court was required to provide him one under Idaho Court Administrative Rule 52(a). That rule states in pertinent part: It is the policy of the Supreme Court and the intent of these rules to secure the rights, constitutional and otherwise, of persons who, because of a non-English-speaking cultural background or physical impairment, are unable to understand or communicate adequately in the English language when they appear in the courts or are involved in court proceedings. I.C.A.R. 52(a). Vreeken argues the mandatory directive of this rule is that the court must sua sponte appoint an interpreter to any person unable to understand or communicate adequately in English in order to secure that person's rights. Vreeken argues that it is evident from his deposition transcripts that he had difficulties understanding legal terminology and legal consequences in English. Vreeken argues that these difficulties led to the district court misinterpreting his testimony, which prejudiced the appellants' position before the court on the respondents' motions for summary judgment. Vreeken is correct that under I.C.A.R. 52(a), it is the policy of the Court to secure the rights of those who are unable to understand or communicate adequately in English due in part to language barriers. In fact, I.C.A.R. 52(d)(1) further provides that an interpreter shall be appointed when an interpreter is requested or when the appointing authority determines that a principal party in interest or witness does not communicate in or understand the English language sufficiently to permit effective participation in a court proceeding. (Emphasis added). However, Vreeken did not request an interpreter for his depositions and the district court did not have occasion to determine whether Vreeken was in need of one before he was deposed. Therefore, contrary to Vreeken's assertion, the district court did not err in failing to sua sponte appoint him an interpreter for his depositions.