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What do you do when question is asked, objection is made, and question is requested to be stricken and its a video of doctor?

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:54:38 GMT

What do you do when its a videotaped doctors deposition and a question is asked, objection is made, and the attorney asking question says, quot;Well strike thatquot;? Do you take it out or put a parenthetical in stating what happened or leave it all as is? If I take it out, then if its played before a jury, when they get to that question, everyone may be confused, unless the videographer edits it out of the video.

Do I mark out minors name?

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:26:52 GMT

I am doing a depo involving minors. The exhibits list all of their names. The attorney asked that the names show as initials in the transcript. Should I leave the exhibits the way they are or mark out the names?

How do I submit the finished transcript?

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:22:01 GMT

Im in Georgia and have to do my own production work. Once a transcript is finished, do I send the condensed transcript out with the errata sheet for Ramp;S? Should I send out the full with the errata sheet attached to the transcript or do I send the condensed transcript out with the errata sheet for Ramp;S along with the full-sized copy of the transcript?Im very confused right now.

How do I submit the finished transcript?

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:20:08 GMT

Should I Buy a New Machine or an Older One?

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:54:55 GMT

Im getting ready to purchase a professional machine so I can work. I keep thinking that maybe I should just get an older machine because its cheaper and I figured I could just buy a new one once I start making money... but then I started thinking about buying a new machine because I dont want to have a machine with any problems, and this isnt just a toy, its for my career. My teacher said with all the new software that I learned in school, all the new machines work better with it, if that makes any sense. Just really confused on what to do. Any suggestions would be appreciated! :) Thanks.

Anyone know what this word is?

Fri, 10 May 2013 20:58:32 GMT

It sounds like PRUFFERY rights. It came up in a job about water rights and was said when they were talking about quot;beneficial use,quot; although I dont think the term itself applies specifically to water rights. It was said twice and I wrote it the same way each time, so Im fairly certain I heard it right.

What is that word/phrase?

Fri, 10 May 2013 19:54:10 GMT

Judge, during relinquishment of parental rights: quot;...divested of rights and obligations concerning the child, and XXX is released from any obligations to her. His status as an quot;air wahquot;/quot;air lawquot; will not be modified unless and until there is a final decree of adoption, so he will still retain that status at this point. And I do find this all to be in the best interest of the child. quot; I am completely stumped. Perhaps hes saying quot;as inquot; instead of quot;as an.quot; I thought it might have something to do with ICWA, but I dont think that was an issue in this case. Any ideas?

How do I get rid of humming sound

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:01:09 GMT

How do I get rid of the humming sound coming from the Elan Mira a3 when listening to the audio while taking a deposition? I cant hear the witness because of the humming sound.

Spanish interpreter doing it right... atty doing it wrong

Fri, 10 May 2013 13:10:09 GMT

Tried finding answers to this from previous posted questions, but didnt have much luck. Just want to see what others would do in this situation.
Spanish interpreter was doing exactly as she was supposed to, answering in first person, BUT every question the attorney posed was quot;Ask him (bla bla bla), so ultimately in colloquy. Should it be formated as such: MR. SMITH: Ask him who his doctor is now. A. I do not remember. Also, this is a video deposition. YAY.... The attorney literally asked the interpreter to read aloud a portion of another deposition transript to the witness IN ENGLISH. Later on, she ends up reading it to the witness in Spanish. Since this is a video dep, would you all do the English reading in actual words after INTERPRETER:, or would you use a parenthetical? Because when she later reads in Spanish, that obvisouly needs to be a parenthetical. Should the parenthetical read: (Interpreter reads in Spanish) or (Interpreter translates in Spanish) or any other ideas? Thanks everyone!

How do I apply a header to only certain pages of the transcript?

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:36:02 GMT

I have a confidential excerpt in the transcript, and I am having trouble inserting quot;CONFIDENTIALquot; in the header of just those three pages in Case CAT. I see where I have the option to only place it on one page or to the end of the document, but how do I start the header on page 3 and stop it on page 5? Anyone? Anyone?

Is it proper to change a stipulation when the stipulation doesnt apply to the second transcript?

Thu, 9 May 2013 17:07:48 GMT

Changing a stipulation is a no-no, I understand, as well as changing anything else. I did a deposition same case, two witnesses. I have an agency asking me if there is any way I can change a stipulation in which the information is clearly unrelated to witness 2. Witness 1s stipulation mentions sending it to her at her stated address with SASE, etc. On witness 2, attorneys agreed to same stip as witness 1. I dont believe its correct to change anything. The parenthetical I used is: The deposition of John Smith is incorporated as follows: and then I double indent with quotes all of the stipulation from witness 1. Please tell me if theres a correct way to handle this.

Notation for indecipherable word

Wed, 8 May 2013 12:22:35 GMT

Im editing a depo of a witness who had a very heavy accent. I had to stop her many times to have her repeat a word, which I had no problem doing and mostly worked out fine. Shed repeat the word and then wed move on. However, I just hit a spot in the transcript where I stopped her, saying, quot;Im sorry. The what we discussed?quot; But she didnt repeat the actual word I was looking for. I couldnt clarify what I wanted her to repeat since I didnt understand it in the first place. Im thinking of putting something like this: quot;But I know that the indecipherable that we discussed about that...quot; followed by myself interrupting on the record and her reply to me. Anyone have any other ideas for me?

how do I save and exit a file in StenoCat?

Sat, 4 May 2013 20:20:50 GMT

I have old StenoCat 4.1. I have had a request for old transcripts. I remember how to do everything to get the transcripts. I opened one from edit. Now I cannot remember how to save and exit file. Help!

Anyone looking to buy a Stentura 8000LX?

Thu, 2 May 2013 10:19:59 GMT

I am selling my Stentura 8000LX for $850 OBOIt includes the following:

Writer, paper tray, realtime cable, power adapter, four ink cartridges, tripod, oil and adjustment tool kit, two pads of paper, serial adapter for 9-pin to USB for computer hookup, floppy disk, brand new in the package quiet touch key pads from Stenograph, manual, oil maintenance guide card.

email me at pixiegirl8888@gmail.com and I can send you pictures.

Can you work for an agency without your RPR?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:04:11 GMT

Im graduating from school this May and I really want to get hired by an agency for deposition work. The RPR test is also in May and I dont know if Im going to pass it the first time... can I still get hired by an agency without my certification? I know Im a good reporter because my teachers all say my readback and notes are spotless, but I do chokeup with it comes to testing. My fear is that I worked so hard to graduate and now that Im ready to go out into the world to work, will I be able to get a job without my certification.

Should I buy this mic?

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:37:34 GMT

Hopefully the picture Ive copied for this question shows up. Does anyone know if this mic can be plugged into and used with the Diamante? Its called the HGMUSB (sold by Martel). I quit lugging my laptop around a long time ago. All I take on jobs with me is my writer, but I always worry that the battery on my mic is going to go out. This mic doesnt require batteries. Its expensive ($300), but would be worth it and eventually pay itself off by not having to buy batteries for it. But of course, not an option for me if its not one I can plug into my writer, like the one that came with my writer (that uses batteries).

Attorney repeatedly says My question is in different forms

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:29:46 GMT

At the beginning of many of the attorneys questions he says, quot;I guess my question is...quot; or quot;My question is that...quot; Do you reccommend putting colons after is and not after that or leave it out altogether? Thank you.

Does anyone have suggestions of best way to clean up dictionary?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:27:45 GMT

Does anyone have a suggestion of how to clean up your dictionary without having to print the whole thing and analyze it? Im on Stenocat. I was thinking of printing until I saw its about 1500 pages long

What is the best way to clean up dictionary?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:17:02 GMT

How would you write this?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:57:16 GMT

Took a depo and witness kept calling her department dot com Would you write it quot;dot comquot; or quot;.comquot; ?? Thanks!!

Is Court Reporting still worth it?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:54:56 GMT

Hi,I am a student who just started speed-building and passed my first test! I really enjoy the program and find myself practicing all the time. This being said, I am really terrified when I read about all the courts closing in my area. (Los Angeles)I have also read that the work is very slow in this area, and to make decent money takes awhile. I dont have a problem with working hard and becoming a very good reporter, but my question is:Is it worth it? I am needing to buy a steno machine, software..etc. Will there be work when I have completed the program? I am a single mother and dont want to spend the money and time if at the end of the day, the pay-off is not as grand as I believed it would be.I just started so it is not too late for me to go into another field that is quot;booming.quot;I just feel so discouraged by what i see that I am not sure if it will be worth it in the end. (or if i will even have a job.) Thanks.

Attorney misspeaks Plaintiffs name, then corrected in second depo.

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:52:07 GMT

Hello All,
I had an attorney start out pronouncing one of the plaintiffs names, Cassie, correctly and then a little ways through starts pronouncing it as Casey, which was during the fathers deposition. In the second deposition of the mother, he starts doing it again and she corrects him. What do I do about all the other times in the fathers deposition when it wasnt that big of a deal, until we came to the mother (you know us moms;)? Any advice would be great! I am a first-year reporter and everything is still so new. Thank you.

Stentura Fusion and all accessories for sale!

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:05:47 GMT

I Retired! I wish to sell my Stentura Fusion, Machine Cover, Tripod, Paper Tray, 2 Batteries, Charger/AC Adapter, Operating Manual, Paper Tray, Audio Sync amp; Audio Sync Mike, StenoPro Traveler on wheels carrying case. All of this for only $800! It has been a great machine, but I have no need for it any longer now that I have recently retired. If interested, contact me at tnelsoncsr@sbcglobal.net

Nonparty witness (NY)

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:05:17 GMT

Who do you charge for a copy sale in NY when you have three lawyers and the witness is a nonparty witness (ex: cop, friend of plf...?

Time to give it up?

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:51:05 GMT

Ive been a reporter for about three and a half years, and in that time Ive made less money every year. My second year I made about 17k less than the previous year, and it just keeps getting worse. For the past several months Ive been making about $500 most months, and when I try to cover work or get on calendar with other agencies Im told theyre not hiring, works slow right now, etc.Its been bad enough that Ive considered quitting for most of that time, but earlier this week my husband was in a bad car accident and needs surgery (broken clavicle), and since we dont have insurance and only had liability coverage, weve gone from barely hanging on to total crisis mode. And I find myself wondering what the point is in hanging on to a career that seems to be going nowhere. Im considering quitting and selling my machine to cover some small fraction of the medical expenses, but my husband is hesitant to let me do that because I worked so hard for this. Is it time to just let it go? I dont know what to think anymore. For the time being Im off anyway to look after him. I dont know whether its appropriate to ask this question in this forum, but if anyone can suggest a medical facility or an orthopedic surgeon who accepts uninsured patients and allows them to make payments anywhere near the inland empire, the information would be truly appreciated. Were having a very hard time finding somewhere for him to go.Thank you for your time.

How can I properly clean a Diamante machine at home?

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:18:44 GMT

My Diamante is a little bit dusty (nothing major). I was just wondering if there were any electronic wipes or any type of cleaning method that I could use on it so the machine wont be harmed.

God bless Boston...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:10:17 GMT

Just wanted to post my heartfelt sorrow for the people of Boston. I know how hurtful it is to have your city terrorized. Bostonians are a tough bunch, just like New Yorkers.....god bless. New York hearts Boston!Sorry for the non-court reporting post....just had to say something :(

What caught you off guard when starting to work as a reporter?

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:17:17 GMT

Im curious to find out your perspective on this:

What caught you off guard when you started reporting? After getting certified and leaving school, did anything about working as a reporter completely surprise you or overwhelm you when starting out?

For me, personally, I was not prepared for whenever attorneys/witnesses got pissed of and started yelling at each other. Not only was it uncomfortable, but they would usually begin talking absurdly fast or over each other.

I found it difficult to remind everyone to please go quot;one at a timequot; when theyre in the middle of giving the other guy the finger and a dropping a few f-bombs.

What about you?

-Cale

Latin term- help!

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:25:39 GMT

What is this Latin term used to describe the interrogatories:quot;This is a set of questions called quot;per quadquot; interrogatories.quot;What is this quot;perquot; word?Thanks

How to designate complainant in a hearing???

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:58:35 GMT

In a proceeding with a hearing officer, the complainant was pro se. She gave direct testimony, then the Agency did their cross-examination of the complainant. Do you use quot;THE COMPLAINANTquot; throughout the direct testimony with THE COURT or THE WITNESS? Or, do you use MR./MS. WITNESS?I should know this, but Im drawing a blank here....

keyboard for practicing?

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:30:02 GMT

Im a new student and I just had a really bad first week and also missed a day. I feel maladjusted. Ive fallen behind and I really want to catch up, get ahead but I would have to catch up by practicing at home this weekend. Tonight Ive been trying to practice with my fingers alone on a table but I dont think its realistic enough to practice this way. Im not going to purchase or rent an actual steno machine yet because, frankly, I cannot afford one. Is there anywhere to find a steno keyboard (not a real machine but just a keyboard!) to practice on? There must be one! Is there anything of that nature and if not, do you have any suggestions? Possibly a used writer that does not work? All I want is a keyboard and to spend less than, idk ... $50 Thank you!

Witness misspells own name

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:07:10 GMT

Do you just go by the spelling the witness gives you when he/she misspells her name? Example: The name is pronounced quot;DRAINquot; and they spell it quot;DRIN.quot; Im not using the exact name on this question, just close. I know it should be spelled DRAIN because I had to look up all the relatives names and even saw a marriage cert that says DRAIN. Do you put the correct spelling in the transcript all the places it comes up and just leave them spelling it the way they did when they spelled it out? Also the attorney after she spelled it also spelled it the same way confirming what she said.

how do I pass 225

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:52:25 GMT

Help! Ive been working on 225 for a whole semester already and I cant seem to make a dent in it. I have pretty much struggled since 160 and 225 is just killing me. I am using more briefs and doing my homework but my fingers dont seem to want to go any faster. Any tips or pointers on how to break down this wall. I am so close to being done and ready to finally be a reporter. I find myself start to panic when I think Im having a good test. Im also thinking maybe I should start doing 4 hours instead of the required 3 hours 6 days a week. I really just need/want to be done already (Ive been a student for four years ugghhh.)

Why is the receiving wireless real time computer not showing any server?

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:24:09 GMT

I have wireless network set up, writer sends to my computer, but I cannot get it to hook up to Judges receiving computer. Cant get past the quot;serverquot; window. Nothing shows as available to pick. Am using Caseview Net. Firewalls have been removed. Any help or ideas would be so appreciated!

computer not responding

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 20:42:27 GMT

Does anyone have trouble with their computer saying not responding during a job? I use CaseCatalyst, and I have recently been having that happen. It will lag a few pages, and then suddenly update and catch up with my writing. I have Carbonite as my backup and suspect that may be the problem. It is making me CRAZY!

How do you write this monetary figure in the transcript?

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 10:38:02 GMT

I recently did a depo where the witness was a Chinese gentleman, heavy accent. A lot of figures were thrown around. The dollar amount of $59,500,000 was mentioned a lot by attorney. When witness referred to this amount he said quot;59 million 500.quot; Its clear to people in the depo hes referring to 59,500,000. But writing it in the transcript is my concern. How do I write this? It makes most sense to write it as is, quot;59 million 500,quot; but is there another way Im not seeing that would be more clear? Thank you all my verbatim reporter friends!

What is on your court reporting resume?

Sat, 6 Apr 2013 18:32:13 GMT

Hi, yall! Well, its that time again ... time to move on to greener pastures and new opportunities and I havent updated my resume in 12 years! Although I have always been, and most likely always will be, a freelance reporter and/or independent contractor, I have worked exclusively for the same firm for the past 10 years. Not an employer relationship; got a 1099 and all that good stuff. They have just been so great to work for and kept me busy enough that Ive never taken a single job from a competing firm. (Prolly cos I wouldnt be able to change my headers/footers if I had to!)So Im curious ... do you all (yall) list all of the firms names that youve contracted with on your resume as past work experience? Such as, ABC Reporting from 2002-present. XYZ Reporting from 1998-2002, etc.Ive been freelancing for most of my 23 years but also have experience Id like to include, such as stints briefly in Superior County Courts as an official, Federal Grand Jury in Louisiana (oh, what fun THAT was!) Traffic Court in New Orleans (oh, what a nightmare THAT was!) Depos, hearings, arbitrations, bankruptcy, blah blah blah ... I just dont know how potential future agencies go about checking background and skills and perfishiancy and such and grammerly purr-fection of yer transcripts and all that jazz! (Joking there on the misssssspellings.) Sorry my questions are usually long-winded but so are some attorneys I know! Ha ha .. thanks in advance. By the way, my said firm, independently family owned amp; operated for almost 60 years, was just quot;soldquot; to a corp. out of Vegas and I dont even think Id be able to reach my old firm owner to ask for a reference since he is now in retirement land and the new people know nothing about any of us :(Thanks amp; xo,
CaliGirlCSR

Do you remove answers that were on the record if attorneys agree?

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 21:50:38 GMT

The other day, I had a dep where the attorney asked the witnesss social, she answered, and a couple questions later her attorney asked that it be considered off the record discussion and the questioning attorney agreed.

Well, what do all of you do in that situation?

punctuation help at the end of a sentence

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 15:09:24 GMT

What punctuation would be used at the end of sentences that end in quot;soquot; or quot;orquot;? For example:quot;I wasnt sure where to go soquot;quot;Was this the first job you had orquot; I would think you would use dashes because the sentence isnt complete. Any suggestions would be great!

CPA for court reporters

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 10:09:42 GMT

Do you know a good CPA who specializes in court reporters?

The MiraA3 Touch

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 14:39:31 GMT

I just bought a refurbished Mira A3 from having a Stentura, and I a mess. The touch is so light that I fell like my fingers slip though the keys at times. Does anyone else have this problem and any solutions?

Job requirements for Chief Reporter, Circuit Court -- Is this for real?

Tue, 2 Apr 2013 13:08:11 GMT

As a freelance primarily deposition reporter for many years I was surprised to read, among other job requirements, that a candidate for the chief reporter job in a local county circuit court must be able to climb ladders and lift 50 to 60 pound boxes (!) All the other high-level professional requirements are expected, but -- really?

quoting read material

Mon, 1 Apr 2013 18:40:02 GMT

Im wondering if I could get some help...When a witness is reading from a document but does not say quot;quotequot; and just begins reading, would I put something like (as read) then quote the material he/she is reading or not quote it? Ive read some questions on here where some people would and wouldnt quote what was read. What would be the best thing to do? In this case its a doctor reading from a report. He answers his question by reading from the report.Id appreciate any comments or feedback!

Help! What did he say?

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:07:20 GMT

I thought I heard this right at the time, but now I cant find anything that resembles it in Google. I assumed he was referring to some case law, but nothing turns up. In a PI case:MR. JONES: Objection. Collateral source.MR. SMITH: It has to do with the sounds like Hannah Voss --MR. JONES: Yeah, Im aware of that, but I dont think it comes into play at this juncture of the lawsuit.Anyone have any idea what this could be?

What would you put for attorneys name?

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:27:50 GMT

I have an attorney named Mr. Smith, III. In colloquy do you put:MR. SMITH, III: orMR. SMITH:I cant remember how I did it in the past.Thanks in advance!

how do you puncutate these phrases in a sentence?

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:47:09 GMT

Ive been using commas around these common phrase. I am interested how other CRs are puncutating. Thanks! Ex. 1: quot; I mean, he was the one who...quot;Ex. 2: quot;Ive been going there about two years, Id say.quot;Ex. 3: quot;Ive been going there about two years, I guess.quot;Ex. 4: quot;Ive been going there about two years, I would think.quot;

This is just plain silly...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:00:05 GMT

Heres what I heard in my last depo, and I darn near burst out laughing. Try saying it fast with a thick international accent: quot;A: YES. ON THAT PHONE, I HAD THE BLUETOOTH, TOO. IF I ONLY USE IT, I CAN USE THE BLUETOOTH AND STILL HAVE THE BLUETOOTH, TOO.quot;

Is everyone slow this week?

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:31:11 GMT

I only worked one day this week, and I was wondering if Im alone? Im hoping its because of Passover and Easter, and I just cant remember if it was this slow last year.I hope it picks up next week, I turned into a couch potato this week, hah :)Anyone else slow this week, or should I start to panic? LOL

Percentage of write-ups in Raleigh, NC

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:56:32 GMT

Can anyone tell me what percentage of time your job orders in NC, specifically Raleigh? Im wondering if NC is one of the many states where everything you do orders. Thanks for any info!!

How do I punctuate this?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:56:47 GMT

Its one of those days... Please help. Im not sure how to punctuate this with the quotes. It is not looking right to me. Do I put a period after change? So quot;...resistant to change.quot;?They all look wrong to me. Q And youre aware that severe denial is defined as: quot;This level consists of offenders who deny committing the current offense and refuse to acknowledge responsibility for even remotely similar behaviors. Offenders may also appear excessively hostile or defensive. These types of denial are most resistant to changequot;? Heres another one:
Q Do you recall Mr. Man sending you an e-mail that stated: quot;I think youre right. Hes agreeable enough and got a decent disclosure, but the fact that he cant fully disclose concerns me. His continued use of alcohol doesnt help his case at all. Just let me know what you need and when you need itquot;? Period after it?? Thanks for your help!

Is Charlotte, NC a good move for a freelance reporter?

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:52:41 GMT

Hi everyone. Ive been reporting in FL for about 5 years now and Im now seriously looking into relocation. Florida is not optimal for this field anymore - nobody ever orders!! I want to move to Charlotte, NC but Im trying to do research on the court reporting field up there. Is it one of those places where everyone orders and Ill have lots of work? I know theres no state-required test to work there but Ive also heard something about a lot of voice writers up there. Please, any info would be much appreciated! Im hoping this can be a permanent and positive step forward for my career and my family!! :)

What is the best way to transition from intern to getting hired as a court reporter?

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 11:43:12 GMT

I am having a tough time transitioning from interning at various agencies to getting hired as a court reporter due to continually hearing that the agencies are not taking on new reporters. While Im preparing to and up until I take the RPR, do you feel that going for a scopist job would be a good way to get my foot in the door on the way to being a court reporter or alternatively, what am I doing wrong? Helllllp...many thanks...!

Disability insurance

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 11:37:23 GMT

I am a freelance reporter in California. I am looking to have another baby and find disability insurance to be able to take some time off after delivery. I was wondering if any of you California reporters have any advice on companies or plans to look at. I do know you can purchase it through the state but may need a business license...Ithink.Any advice would be greatly apppreciated!!

How do I get CaseCat to stop creating this file

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:35:00 GMT

Every time I start editing a job my software (computer) starts creating all these files with the same name, but nothing in them. Theyre not backup files. When I go to delete them it just says theyre unknown. The do no harm but theyre a pain in the rear. Anybody know how to make the software stop doing this?

Need help on a video transcript

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:08:13 GMT

Quick question, during a video depo, my paper on my machine was getting stuck, so I asked the plaintiff attorney to excuse me and give me a few minutes to fix my paper, would I write out exactly what I said or would I put a parenthetical of an interruption in the proceedings? I would appreciate any help!

Including read instructions and depo order in videotaped depo

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:54:12 GMT

I always include the attorneys order in the transcript. I have been burned before, and it wont happen again. In this case, I had a video depo and the videographer, of course, went off the record after the attorneys were finished with their line of questioning. Should I include a parenthetical between the moment when the videographer said, quot;Off the recordquot; and where the attorney is asking if the deponent would like to read/waive and the transcript order that says something like, quot;End of videotaped portion of depositionquot;?

Do I actually put ~ over the N for a Spanish name?

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:29:27 GMT

There was a last name in the trascript that is Zuniga. I was told by the interpreter that the N is the one with the ~ over it. Do I actually put it in the transcript or leave it without the ~?Thank you!

New reporter with a few Qs.

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:00:24 GMT

Im proofing a job that I took and I have a few questions that have been chewing at my side.For starters, the deponent didnt correctly pronounce a word. She kept saying quot;Arconitquot; when the correct pronunciation and spelling was quot;Aconitequot;. Counsel asked her to spell the word out and she spelled it A-r-c-o-n-i-t, which is wrong. Should I just place (sic) after the first instance of it being mentioned or all throughout the transcript? Also, when she spelled the word she kind of took a step back while spelling it. This is what I have, which looks silly to me. Q. How do you spell that?A. R-R-R -- A-R-C-O-N-I-T.I feel as if Im taking the quot;Get everything, drop nothingquot; mentality a little too far and should remove the quot;R-R-Rquot; in the beginning for the sake of clarity in the record.Further, Im a bit confused on the proper punctuation of a few lines of testimony. She kept saying quot;Blah blah blah, I mean, like, you know, blah blah blahquot; I feel like Im using too many commas in that situation, but is that the correct way to punctuate it?Also, when I was in school we were taught to use the $ symbol only when the word quot;dollarsquot; was actually said. Now, in the transcript counsel would always say quot;dollars,quot; but the deponent would just say the numerical figure without saying quot;dollarsquot;. Am I correct in adding the $ symbol to the deponents answers, even though the deponent didnt say ldquo;dollarsrdquo;, for consistency purposes?

Thanks!

Should I cap Prednisone?

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:57:33 GMT

Im scoping through a job, and I have Prednisone capped in my dictionary, but I just looked it up online, and sometimes its capped and sometimes not. Should I cap it? I dont know why, but it looked funny capped, thats why I looked it up. What does everyone use, cap or no cap?So many questions I have today, LOL! :)

Audio recording

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:36:31 GMT

Okay, since my Case 13, now 14, didnt come with audio because my original Case 3 didnt have audio, I finally broke down and ordered the audio sync portion, and its being delivered this week. My question is.....Does it only record while youre writing? Like if you leave the room, and the attorneys are talking to their client, it doesnt record, right? I know its probably a silly question, but since Ive never had audio, I dont know how it works yet. Im guessing it syncs as you write, but if you drop something, does it not record it?Thanks!

Is Mira A3 still a good investment

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:24:17 GMT

I am buying a refurbished Mira A3 because I dropped my Stentura 8000. Guess I am forced to buy a newer writer. I would love a Diamante but cant afford one right now. Is the writing on the Mira softer, easier and is it a good investment?

Do the words scratch that get scratched or left in?

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:49:06 GMT

Do you leave quot;scratch thatquot; and everything that came before it, in the deposition, or do you take it out and start the question after that? Im an official, and would leave it in. But Ive heard freelance reporters say that they take it out in depositions because it makes the transcript more readable.

What did the lawyer say?

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:02:10 GMT

Please help me figure out the below that the lawyer said in colliquey. I heard quot;to the extent,quot; but it just doesnt sound righ on paper. Please help.MR. SMITH: Just let this serve as a formal demand for any police accident report to the extent I already provided to the City of New York.

What laptop has the best audio sound for editing?

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:38:03 GMT

Just wondering what laptops rate the highest for playback of audio for editing. I currently have a Dell and am in the market for a new laptop.

What you you do? Another awkward moment in depo

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 10:14:55 GMT

So my attorney is going along at a fine clip, asking question after question, but when opposing counsel for the witness didnt quot;likequot; a particular question, he would say, quot;Wait, HOLD ON, Read that backquot; before allowing his client to answer. After I would read back, he would quot;rephrase the questionquot; for his client followed up by a quot;... so do you understand what hes asking?quot; This turned into a huge fight between the attorneys and MY client said that he is the only one allowed to instruct me to read back and that it was improper for opposing counsel to ask me to keep re-reading back his questions because he didnt like them. Opposing counsel said in 20 years he had never heard such a thing. My client says, yes, in 30 years hes been taking depos it has always been that way. I was actually taught in school to only take quot;directionquot; from my client and my client only; not the witness, nor anyone else when requested to read back. It got very awkward because then I was torn between who to listen to. Curious if anyone has had this much fun in a depo lately!

Would I sic this word?

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:53:50 GMT

The witness was asked if she was diagnosed with anything, and she answered with quot;facility plantar.quot; Clearly, the answer is supposed to be fasciitis, not facility. So would I sic facility or just leave it alone?Thank you!

What Do I Do When Counsel Speaks In Spanish?

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:53:01 GMT

Counsel asked the witness, quot;Is this para el estomago?quot;...meaning is this for the stomach. How would I put this in the transcript, since her question was half English and half Spanish?Thank you :)

what to put as the deponents answer..

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:31:26 GMT

Im wondering what would be the best thing to put down when an attorney is asking the witness a question about where he was standing in the exhibit photo, and the witness does not answer but marks an quot;xquot; on the photo..what kind of blurb would I put down as his answer?Does this make any sense?

What is Case CATalyst?

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:36:48 GMT

Case CATalyst - Im aware that it is software for stenography but what is its function?

How do I label the line of questioning by the OTHER defendants attorney?

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:33:02 GMT

Oddly, this is the first time I have encountered this scenario. Here goes:The noticing attorney is for one of the defendants, and he finishes his direct examination. Then the attorney for the other defendant begins his line of questioning. How do I label that in the transcript? Do I simply put quot;direct examination byquot; before each line of questioning? Just doesnt seem right.

Appearance Page, of Counsel

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:00:18 GMT

How do you list on the App Page when counsel is of counsel...like this? Law Office of John Doe101 Main StreetNew York, NY 10121By: John A. Smith, ESQ. of Counsel

How would you write this false start?

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:49:54 GMT

Help! Lol...I desperately need to know how to fix this question... Did you have to cross was the bodega did yyou have to ccross the street that yyou dont know the name of or did you have to cross X Avenue to get--THanks for the help.

Instructed to transcribe abbreviated name as its full name.

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 12:31:37 GMT

During the morning session of this deposition the defendant witness referred to her place of employment in one word as quot;Womanquot; and the deposing attorney, plaintiffs counsel, referred to it as quot;Women.quot; The defendants counsel corrected the plaintiffs attorney by reciting the full title of the defendants place of employment, and the plaintiffs attorney joked on the record that it was confusing.During the afternoon session the attorney for the witness, on the record, instructed me to transcribe the full name of the place of employment instead of quot;Womanquot; or quot;Women.quot; She recited the name and the spelling. On the record I asked the defendants attorney if she wanted me to transcribe the full name and she said yes. However, plaintiffs attorney remained silent.Wherever the witness testifies to her place of employment as quot;Womanquot; I am not going to change it to the full title. What would you do when both attorneys continued to refer to the title in the abbreviated form of quot;Womenquot; or quot;Womanquot;?I feel should not change anything at all. Thanks for your feedback.

What font size does everyone use?

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 09:56:18 GMT

I use Courier New 12, and sometimes I think it looks too small. I heard the agencies can control the font size when they print it out, but Im not sure about that with my agency. Just curious what everyone uses. I know it doesnt change the characters per inch, so its not like were padding the transcript, but I think a bigger font looks nicer. Maybe Im just getting old, haha. :) What is everyone using?

appearance page

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 20:04:46 GMT

When the claimant is representing himself and he has no lawyer, what do you write on the Appearance page where you list lawyer info?

How would you write this?

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 15:07:24 GMT

So one of the attorneys said this, and I would like to know how you would punctuate this: Q. Could you just write where next to where your vehicle your name so that we know which one is your vehicle and which one is the van Thank you all for your help. xoxonewreporter

writing numbers or numerals?

Tue, 5 Mar 2013 15:34:27 GMT

Hello everyone!Quick qustion, I know that you have to spell out numbers 1-10 and write out numerals 11 and above, but when you have a sentence that has both, for example:quot;One day well have 12, one day well have 6, and one day well have 1.quot; Do you have to write out all of the numbers or keep all them as numerals?I know its very simple and my mind just needs some refreshing. Id appreciate your help!

Any Voice Writers working in California???

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 23:47:14 GMT

I am wondering if there are any VWs working in California. I know the board does not allow certification of VWs here, but are there any people doing CART or captioning in California using their voice? I would love to talk with you. Thanks.

How do I write heights on my machine so that CAT formats it properly?

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 15:06:10 GMT

I did find one question about height on here that asked how you write out verbally spoken height measurements in your transcript. While many said they wrote out quot;five foot six inchesquot; or quot;five-six,quot; Im with the side that writes it as 56quot;. So for those who transcribe it that way as well, how do you write this on your machine so that your software automatically formats it that way in realtime? Writing 5, apostrophe, 6, end quote is five strokes for me... waaaaaaaay too many! Any suggestions?

slow start up and saves on case cat

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 11:46:11 GMT

running case cat 10. it literally takes 5 minutes for case cat to start up.then it takes 5 minutes of so to do a file save, even for very small files. any suggestions?

What do you do about firm treating you like an employee?

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 11:43:33 GMT

Firm owner treats the reporters like employees, i.e., will tell them they cant have a day off or they must take a job and calls quot;mandatoryquot; meetings -- scheduling makes it impossible to accept any other work from other firms or your own clients-- and if you did, it would be frowned upon to say the least.There is no employment contract, and overall, a great firm to work with, but there is no control over our scheduling, which often results in difficulty with turnaround. Sticky situation!

What is the longest job youve ever had?

Sat, 2 Mar 2013 13:13:16 GMT

Whats the longest youve gone in one day and how many pages? And are you in court/freelance? Just complete curiousity. :)

where to put the hyphen on all four of these phrases?

Sat, 2 Mar 2013 07:06:50 GMT

left hand laneleft hand turn laneleft turn only laneleft hand turn only lane

Cleaning up testimony

Fri, 1 Mar 2013 12:48:51 GMT

I just endured one of those really nasty jobs that make you consider applying for a job at Starbucks or Target and leaving this stress behind once and for all, and now Im trying to work through the transcript, but Im having a really hard time on this one.The witness was a doctor -- and he was two hours late, forcing me to sit in terrible traffic on the way home -- and he stuttered throughout the entire depo. I seriously doubt he offered up one complete sentence all afternoon. False starts, countless quot;you knowquot;s, etc. Never have I seen so many dashes. I know my agency generally wants us to clean up the testimony for the attorneys and expert witnesses and usually its just a false start here or there and it doesnt bother me. But in this case, I dont see how I can clean up his testimony without rewriting it. Ive been chastised once before for turning in the transcript verbatim and causing some embarrassment to an attorney who spoke faster than anyone Ive ever encountered and stuttered quite a bit as well. That was a big surprise to me since I was under the impression thats my job. In that case, when I begged him to slow down he told me about another court reporter who after yelling at him to slow down all morning finally threw her hands up, packed up her things, and left. He thanked me for asking him politely but never did slow down. Anyway, Im just wondering how you decide where to draw the line.To be clear, when I say stuttering, Im not talking about someone with a speech impediment. Im talking about tesimony like this:quot;If you -- if you -- if you have -- if you have functional -- well, because if you have functional limitation in the wrist -- well, as long as the limitation is -- the patient is not completely ankylose in greater than maybe 60 degress of flexion -- yeah, so --quot; Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

How do I clean up the transcript?

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:22:00 GMT

I did a transcript today with an interpreter. A few times within the transcript, the attorney says to the interpreter this like: tell him this...tell him I have to ask the question this way...tell him etc. etc. My question is how do I format that? Do I put it in colloquy? Am I supposed to fix it to make it a regular question? Also, at times, the witness answered in English and the interpreter would just sit there without answering. Do I put the witness in colloquy or do I write: A: (By Mr. whatever) Thanks,newreporter

How do I format 911 call transcriptions?

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:29:50 GMT

I am transcribing a series of 911 calls (18 in total) about the same incident. Is there a standard format like quot;Operatorquot; and quot;Callerquot; for the Qamp;A? Also, I have an automated voice that is effectively time stamping over the calls (like when we used to call ATamp;T for time back in the day). I have thought about including the very first audio time stamp (or whatever it is) but then dropping the rest. Nonetheless, Im not sure if I am required to transcribe the automated voice or not. Most of my clips have two channels where I can bring the automated time voice down so I can hear the call. But a couple clips have it all in one channel where the time is actually right over the call audio and obscures what is being said. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Also, my assumption is that I just put quot;unintelligiblequot; or quot;inaudiblequot; in the places that cant be transcribed definitively.

Help with name of medication

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:07:09 GMT

I shouldve asked for the spelling at the depo, but I dont usually have such a hard time finding medications. It sounds like quot;disloketonequot; or quot;dislokedone.quot; I havent even been able to come up with a possible match.The various medications were for back pain if that helps.Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Stenocat Key for sale???

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 20:52:03 GMT

Does anybody out there have an old Stenocat key they would like to sell? I have an older version of Stenocat, and my key hasnt been working consistently. Please email me if you have one. I am not quite ready to upgrade. Thank you. crutchbunch@msn.com

Are you looking for additional training?

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:48:00 GMT

Because Scoping Made Affordable (SMA) has been contacted by various court reporting students who are seeking more training information, I wanted to inform you about a FREE class were having this afternoon.Here is the link to the CR Editing Training/SIP Orientation Class we are having in our virtual classroom today at 12:30 p.m. CST: http://www.wiziq.com/online-class/1137489-sip-orientation Anyone interested in seeing what the CR Editing Training or Scoping Intern Program (SIP) includes is welcome to attend. Materials will be distributed after class to prospective students for a small fee. Contact me at accoladescoping@hushmail.com if you decide you would like that information.

Lightspeed Classic and ProCat Stylus II For Sale

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:12:37 GMT

I have a Lightspeed Classic (Royal Blue) for sale. Great machine. Comes with the manuel, a case, USB wiring and CD to upload to computer, Would be shipping from NJ/NY area I also have a ProCat Stylus I bought from another reporter who used it for 1 year. I bought it last Feb. when my 8000LX died on me. I only used it for 2 months until I purchased the Lightspeed. I am very negotiable on both machines. Please e-mail me @ jld0209@gmail.com

Ascii file to pdf

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:44:35 GMT

I need to convert an ascii file to pdf. I can do this using the cutepdf program, but the page image is more than the page image that is in the ascii file. For example, the pdf file I created will have the 28 lines for one page of the transcript, and then it will also have 3 lines of the next page of the transcript. So the pages are all off. Plus, there is a header on the page with the file name that I dont think should be there either.Any help will be greatly appreciated.Karen

What is this word? (precipice)

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:12:14 GMT

A 20-something year old dft was explaining his car accident, but I think he used a word incorrectly amp; I have no idea what word he was going for..either way, please help if you can figure out this word which sounds like quot;precipice -presepesquot;A: My vehicle stopped at the precipes of contact with Ms. Smith. I was coming to a complete stop, and that was the time we made contact.

Is the RPR worth it?

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:39:24 GMT

Greetings,So the RPR exam is coming up and Im curious as to of its worth it for me, someone without years of experience, to take the exam so that I have that certification behind my name. Will it help me move up a few spots within my agency? Is it worth it? I know NCRA said that you dont have to be member to take the exams, but do you have to be a member to upkeep your certification? Also, is the NCRA membership worth it for someone like me who isnt really seeing an income as of yet from Court Reporting. Thank you all for your feedback.

Parenthetical for Videographer Changing Tape During a Videotaped Deposition

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:04:33 GMT

Help! I need a parenthetical for the point in a videotaped deposition when the videographer changes the tape.

Dashes During a Videotaped Deposition

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:13:38 GMT

I have been reporting long enough that I shouldnt have to ask this question, but Ive received conflicting information. During a videotaped depo, when you are including every word uttered, would you use a comma or dash in the following examples? The thought hasnt really been changed, but which is right?I went to the -- to the store the other day.I went to -- to the store the other day.orI went to the, to the store the other day.I wentn to, to the store the other day.

Any students want a free eBook?

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:34:24 GMT

Hey, guys. This is a weird request, but I can always count on the ReadBack family here always being very helpful.

I am about to release an eBook that specifically talks about how to conquer the CSR exam (for any state or cert), and I am looking for some more students to read the book and provide an honest testimonial. If you want to see what Im talking about, you can just click on the website name below my name.

So if you would like to read a free private copy and provide your honest opinion on it, please reply here or e-mail me directly (through here or the website). Students who are about to qualify for their test or who are in their higher speeds are preferred, but I am open to anyones interest.

Thanks so much, everyone!

-Cale

Elan Mira A3 - Professional For Sale

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:24:13 GMT

Had it for 2 years. I wish to sell it to upgrade to a DIAMANTE. Am asking just $3000 for the machine. Contact for more details and pictures. graceamac@hotmail.com

What is your experience StreamText?

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:57:27 GMT

Does anyone have any experience with using StreamText software for streaming text? How is the technical support? Have you ever used it in the courtroom? Was it easy for users to log on? What issues if any did you encounter?

Hello, everybody. I am new to the site. My name is Annette. I am a realtime writer and wanted to know if anyone is currently using the Caseview and using iPads for realtime; and if so, have you experienced any hiccups with the connection?

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:47:38 GMT

Using iPad with Caseview software

Why do I need to upgrade from a student to a professional machine?

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:10:23 GMT

Hello,I am about to join the field (hooray!), and I really have no money right now. I have a machine with internal storage, with a real-time connection, and my notes/dictionary is automatically uploaded online for backup every time my computer connects to the internet.Why do I need to upgrade to the professional version of the same machine? I really dont understand what I am missing for this to be an adequate machine to start taking some jobs.

Help me with my transcript.

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 12:57:52 GMT

Greetings,I am currently working on a transcript where I had a man who had a strong Spanish accent. I just have some questions that I would appreciate some answers on.1. The questioning attorney asked me in between her opening if she was going too fast. Of course I said yes. Should I put that in the transcript? I didnt so far.2. When the witness says 8 to 3 meaning 8am to 3pm, is it okay for me to just put 8 to 3 or should I make it 8:00 to 3:00?3. When attorneys start most of their questions off with And and Okay, do you omit that because I have?4. While doing a difficult read back, I stumbled on concussion and the witness helped me. His attorney reminded him that he doesnt need to help me in a read back and it has nothing to do with him. Should I put that whole thing into the transcript or leave it out?5. The witness answered mhm hmm I think twice. How would you write it in your transcript? Was the attorney supposed to remind him to say yes, or was I? I was so focused on not missing anything and trying to make sure that I wrote down what he was saying correctly because Im not seasoned yet with understanding people with heavy accents.Keep in mind I am a new reporter, so I guess these are my mistake hurdles that Im trying to jump over. Thank you all for your feedback.

Stenograph Wave -- student writer

Sat, 9 Feb 2013 10:03:54 GMT

Im looking for a back-up machine. I know the Wave only holds 50-70 pages; however, if youre using your laptop in realtime, would this even matter? Couldnt you go all day?

Should I sic this?

Thu, 7 Feb 2013 18:34:07 GMT

Im editing a job I took the other day. There was a French interpreter. The witness was from Canada. Ill give you the question and answer.Q. What happened when you got back to the accident scene?A. The police officer was there. The lady that he hit was there, too, and the basic was there, but forget about the basic.I want to (sic) after quot;basic.quot; I even asked the interpreter to repeat it, and she said it twice. Of course the attorney said nothing, and he kept on questioning without asking what she meant by quot;basic.quot; Would you sic it or leave it?Also at one point she said her husband saw his doctor, his quot;generalist.quot; I dont know if thats the word they use in Canada for primary care physician. Help!

Patterns...Is it just me?

Thu, 7 Feb 2013 14:24:02 GMT

Lately Ive been noticing some strange patterns.If Ill have a depo that busts, Ill have depos the entire week that bust. If I have a witness with a thick accent, the next few deps I have will have witnesses with thick accents. I just had three depos in a row where I didnt get home until 9 p.m. (That rarely happens.) Just wondering if it happens to you guys as well :)

How do I Unbold a transcript??

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 07:56:21 GMT

Im using Case CAT and somehow I changed my transcript from being bold to un-bold. The Q amp; As were unbolded now theyre opposite. How do I change that back

What to do when talking about rates with agencies?

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 07:23:06 GMT

I work in the NJ area and recently started working after some time off from the field. As I was calling agencies to start a realtionship and get work, one agency asked what my page rate was. I didnt have an answer because I didnt know what would be an appropriate rate to give. Also, I didnt know what questions I should be asking for myself and know whether or not what the agency is telling me is fair or not. If any one from the NJ area can help Id appreciate all the help I can get on this subject. Thank you in advance.

when witness is indicating

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 12:12:07 GMT

Hello everyone! Im wondering if I could get some feedback.So this witness is giving his answer and then points at a certain part of his body to indicate his pain, then the questioning attorney clarifies for the record what body part hes pointing at. My question is, do I still need to put a blurb in there where the witness is indicating even though the attorney has clarified it? Id appreciate any help!

Worried - Am I going to be able to get a job?

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 08:31:31 GMT

Hello! I am currently a student. I have been reading a lot of articles lately that have me scared that I will not be able to find work when I graduate. So, is there anything that I can begin to do now that will guarantee work when I graduate? Is there any niche that I can specialize in that is in high demand for those in this field of work?
I originally wanted to go into captioning but I read an article that says there is only a 1 in 1000 chance that you will find a captioning job. Is this true? If not, can I do anything to prepare myself for this field of work while I am still in school?
Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Where to place the oath

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 22:47:55 GMT

One lawyer asks me to swear the witness, I swear him in, and then the other lawyer goes into colloquy for about two minutes, then the questioning starts. Where/how do I put the the duly sworn bit in. Ive encountered this many times and have a way that I do it, but I dont like the way it looks. So Im sure someone has a better idea.

How to handle optamologist sic or an ophthalmologist

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 16:45:11 GMT

Im working on a transcript and not sure what to do here. Usually I would probably just correct it to ophthalmologist, but because of the way it was phrased Im not sure what to do.quot;Q. So a doctor whether it be an quot;optamologistquot; or an ophthalmologist had prescribed you glasses; correct?quot;Any suggestions?Thanks in advance.

Business license

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 14:30:34 GMT

For California is a reporter required to obtain a business license?

How are the raised vowel keys on steno machines?

Sat, 2 Feb 2013 23:58:29 GMT

I noticed that a lot of professional machines now offer raised vowel keys. I am in the midst of choosing a machine to buy as I am in the higher speeds. I stack a lot, and I heard that the raised vowel keys help prevent stacking. Is this true? I would like to hear all the pros and cons of the raised keys. I want to make the right decision when I order it.

What is the correct way to use wise at the end of a word?

Sat, 2 Feb 2013 12:05:17 GMT

When someone says, quot;Did you have anything else, formal-education-wise,quot; do you use hyphens between all three words or just between quot;educationquot; and quot;wise?quot;

How would I put this into the deposition

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 13:33:03 GMT

The defendant was conferring with her atty (whispering), the plaintiff, who is the deponent, says, quot;Say it out loud.quot; Is there a parenthetical for this?

A what kinda fracture??

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 08:53:03 GMT

I took the depo of a neurosurgeon yesterday, and he said something that sounded like quot;hilpartquot; fracture. I cant find anything anywhere that even remotely resembles that. And its not quot;hipquot; -- the patient was a man with cervical spine injuries, and thats what the depo was about.Heres the passage for context:quot;The other comments are in relation to the **hill part** fracture, the prevertebral soft tissue swelling which would tell you that there may be a fracture in the bone.quot;Any ideas would be much appreciated!!

How do I stop the roller on a stentura 400?

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:33:45 GMT

Its making a lot of noise, so much so that its distracting me with head phones on

Hyphens in phrase

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:14:30 GMT

Would this phrase be hyphenated this way: four-point-something-
million-dollar estimate?

Writing dollar figures

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:38:21 GMT

How do I write out $5 million or $5,000,000? Then questioning goes into $6.2 million and shortening figures to 5 million or would it be 5,000,000?

parties/attorneys questioning your realtime?

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:03:31 GMT

Ive been reporting five months and have already had someone question the realtime feed.
I was curious how often, if at all, this happens to you and how you respond to it. In my situation, it was a contested divorce. We had a senior judge who had a habit of mumbling and speaking to himself. So Im writing everything thats being said without really paying attention. Unless someone tells me off the record, its going in! They were talking about a car the petitioner had been driving that wasnt running anymore, and then they were getting into some financial information, when I noticed the respondent suddenly staring intently at the realtime screen. Heres what happened:
A I know there was nothing added to it.
Q Okay.
THE COURT: When was it cashed in? approximately ?
A June of 20**.
THE COURT: Before the crash? Okay --
MR. XXXX: Excuse me, Your Honor, but it -- did you just say before it was crashed?
THE COURT: Thats not evidence. Thats just my observation. I said that was before the crash in the market.
MS. YYYY: I thought you were talking about crashing the Nissan.
THE COURT: No, I was just trying to talk about crashing the market. But thats not evidence. Thats just observation.
Reading it, it really could have read the judge was asking about after the car crash when really, he was just thinking out loud Oh, so it was after the (stock market) crash. Even the petitioners attorney thought thats what the judge meant. Of course I started questioning myself about whether I should have put in all the judges mumbles to himself, but I decided, no, if he says it loud enough for me to hear, its going in. Just thought Id share! Even though it wasnt a blatant error on my part, my heart still started racing when I realized he was questioning what was on the screen. :P

How to write birth weight...

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:06:24 GMT

Okay, so Im doing this depo, and the woman is talking about the birth weights of her children. How would you write this....A My daughter was 6-7. My son was 5-9. Should I write it 6 lbs 7 oz? Should I write six-seven? That looks silly to me. I want it to make sense to the reader. Ughh, I hate when I get stuck on something that is probably so simple. It looks funny the way I wrote it. How should I write this? She never said pounds or ounces. Thanks!!

Why is Case Catalyst not responding when I try to close a document out in edit?

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:11:15 GMT

I have been trouble closing documents in edit. I have to restart the computer. I get a message quot;Case Catalyst not respondingquot; and the blue circle just keeps spinning.

I hate court reporting

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:50:37 GMT

Im so over this field. Im so sick of the disrespectful women in this dying field. Im so tired of being broke. Court reporting sucks. I was a die hard court reporting student/new reporter. Now Im bitter. I am so much better than this. I was not put on this Earth to sit and keep my mouth shut. I wish I knew then what I know now and I wouldnt have wasted years of my life. I hope this field dies. Have a good day.

Is it really that slow?

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:30:35 GMT

Greetings,So I have officially started working as a Court Reporter in NY. Yay! So far, I am excited about my new career. However, the agency that I am working with is really slow. I dont know if its because I am a new reporter and they are being selective with the work that they give me, or is it that it is truly slow in NY. I actually really like the agency that I am working with, but I only got two jobs (EUOs) for the month of January, and I would love the opportunity to make some more money. Do you know of any agencies that are hiring (I dont have experience)? Thank you all for your feedback. I value all of your opinions.

NY Reporters -- Pursuant to...

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 14:50:19 GMT

I am preparing the transcript from my NYC dep, but onclear on the Title page if my dep was pursuant to Notice or Court Order??How do I find this information? It is not listed on the caption I received.Case is for the Supreme Court, County of Kings --if that helps.

How do you respond to an attorney who argues with you about paying the expedited certified copy order?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:28:30 GMT

Please tell me how you would respond to this situation with the additional copy order being expedited:Today I had an attorney request his certified copy order expedited. His copy order was in addition to the 0amp;1 that was being expedited; in other words, Attorney A, who was the taking attorney, was getting the 0amp;1 on an expedited basis. When I asked copy order attorney if hed like his copy in the regular turnaround time or expedited as well, he looked at me and said, quot;What are you talking about?quot; I explained that additional copy orders when ordered in addition to the 0amp;1, are subject to expedite fees as well. (This is the way it is with every agency Ive worked for in So Cal.)He got very angry and started arguing with me about the fact that its already been expedited, he shouldnt have to pay the additional expedite fee, this is highway robbery. He also went on to tell me that no other agency does this, and hes never ever seen this happen in his law career, and he wouldnt be surprised if I was just saying that to personally benefit. (yes, he was a true jerk.) I told him this is the way its been with any agency Ive worked for, and I work for several. No, he said thats not true. Its just a copy. Its already done anway. They did me a favor by paying for the extra copy order. How could I do that to them? I got to use my saved up phrase with him (thank you to whoever said this!): quot;You dont work for free when providing legal services, do you?quot; Well, this upset him. He responded angrily, quot;Thatt not a good analogy. Youre just clerical.quot; I know better than to argue with an ignorant hothead and an attorney to boot. I just said Id have the agency contact him. period. but that was really upsetting. Is there anything else I should have said?

Also in Appearance: Bobo and Bruiser?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:09:42 GMT

During the entire deposition proceedings, claimants attorney kept his two small dogs in the conference room with him. They were very well behaved and so cute. One of them even slept on the arm of the owner attorney. There were a few pauses made because of the dogs wanting to go out or barking at visitors in the lobby, but it didnt last long and didnt affect the flow of the proceedings. My question is should I put the names of these two dogs in the quot;Also in Appearancequot; section of my transcript? The attorney said one reporter did so and even put a blurb in the transcript about them barking, but I just used my general blurb quot;Pause in the proceedings,quot; and wont include their names in the transcript. Does anybody have a different view on this? Quite a comical situation, but delightful as well.

Case Catalyst Version 13 for SALE. Interested?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:33:56 GMT

Version 13 Case Catalyst for Sale.Asking Price: $4,000.00 or best offer.I was a freelancing reporter who now works in a County Officialship Position and no longer need the software. Feel free to contact me if youre interested at Kgraff88@hotmail.com

How do I adjust the platen for paperless writing?

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:13:52 GMT

I finally have gone paperless. Old habits die hard, and I got tired of storing it. Ive been paperless for a month or so. My machine is making a lot of noise when I write as the keys hit the platen. For those that are paperless, how did you muffle the platen? I think Ive seen other reporters leave paper around the platen, but is it taped? Is the tape on the outside, or is it hidden like you would hide it when wrapping a gift? I dont want to leave tape on the outside of the paper if its going to damage anything. Am I being paranoid? Thanks in advance for your help.

How do I format rebuttal testimony in a trial?

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:58:58 GMT

It was a three-day trial, but I only reported the final day.
The defendant was called to present rebuttal testimony; he had testified previously the first or second day.I have two questions.
1) Do I use Direct Examination/Cross-examination bylines still? Or would I use something else?2) Do I distinguish rebuttal witnesses from regular witnesses on my index?
Seems like such a silly question, but Ive never had rebuttal witnesses before. Thanks!

What is the best way to file deposition transcripts?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:21:47 GMT

I am taking the RPR written soon and a lot of the questions on the test are on depositions. I took a depo class a while ago and just want to double check my answers if anyone can please help?
One was, what is the best way to file transcripts for a depo? By date? Case number?Another related to court proceedings: If in trial and either an attorney or the judge asks for part of the record to be stricken, do you include the request, along with the original part to be stricken, in the transcript?
Also, what is the primary reason for readback to the jury?
If anyone could help with these Id really appreciate it!

How do you feel about Lighspeed LSF writer?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:22:40 GMT

I am thinking about buying a Lightspeed LSF. Anybody have any strong opinions about this model? I have heard they can be hard to adjust to. I am a new student who has just begun speedbuilding so I am hoping the learning curve wont be too great, but, I would have to spend that kind of money on something that people dont generally like.... what do you think? Thanks!

discussion held off the record

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:23:53 GMT

I need some help in this situation! I did a video-taped depo yesterday and I wasnt too sure what to do. So both counsel are having a discussion (Im assuming off the record) because questioning attorney comes back after their discussion and says quot;back on the recordquot; and begins asking his question. No one had mentioned anything about being off the record while they were having a discussion about how certain information was going to be redacted from the exhibits. Then questioning attorney comes back and says quot;Let the record reflect that counsel for the defense is going to redact -- quot; and so on but still while off the record. So my question is, if its a video-taped depo, should I keep that conversation on the record? I feel like that information shouldnt be left out. Any suggestions? And to top it all off, the videographer had no idea what he was doing !!

CART n00b has questions about etiquette...

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:01:26 GMT

Hi all! Here I am, just starting my second week of providing CART at a college in my area. A little more background info on me: Im new here in more ways than one. Unlike many CART providers, I came straight out of school, no detours into deposition-land for me. I shadowed a local CART agency and they told me my work was great and they had some hours for me. Score! ...Right?
So, I began this semester captioning four different classes of varying difficulty. Yet my biggest challenge is not with the material. Its with the students and teachers. First, the teacher. I show up to her first class and cant find my student, so I ask the teacher for help out of desperation. Instead of helping me find her, she directs me to the back of the class and instructs me to wait. No one else shows up to class and I believe my student is a no-show.Except she was there the whole time. Teacher never called roll or tried to help me find her, so there I was. When the student complained to the disability department, the instructor claimed that I didnt show up to the right class. Yep, she straight-up lied. The next time class convened, I was careful to find my student without help, but the first thing that this bitchy, lying teacher says to me is, quot;Oh, I see youre here at the right time today.quot;Other problems so far (after only a week, grrrrreat) include another student who will not stop talking to me while Im captioning. Like, asking me whether I know the answer to the question. (its a math class) She also told another student in the class that I was quot;her little petquot; when she asked what I was doing there. Gross.Another student heaves and sighs every time there is a mistranslate. Which isnt THAT often, even though I am brand-new. Look, I know its a high-standards kind of job. Im prepared for that. I was just not prepared for this kind of drama and rudeness, from just about everyone. Is this normal? How do I deal with these people without coming off as being as rude as they are?

Audio Use and Non-Use

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 13:54:20 GMT

With all this talk of no audio, Im really bewildered. Im a newer reporter, 2 years in. I ALWAYS use audio and cant imagine being without it. On several of the boards Ive noticed reporters saying they hardly ever use audio. How is that possible? I mean, Im am working on becoming realtime and I try not to depend on my audio recordings but it never fails that when I go back and listen to audio I catch something I heard wrong or catch a missed phrase. How can a reporter do an all-day job and be sure they didnt miss anything, especially something that may be crucial? I try my hardest to write as clean as possible, but I dont see how I could ever be without an audio backup. Am I missing something?

Wordperfect 5.1 for DOS Condensed Transcript

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:11:17 GMT

How can I produce and print a condensed transcript (4 pgs on 1 pg) using Wordperfect 5.1 for DOS on a newer computer? I can do it now because I am using a 32-bit desktop but it wont install on my new 64-bit laptop. I am currently using Multi-Page from Microscope, which went out of business years ago, and the only installation disks I have are the small ones. The new computer doesnt even have a SLOT for that size disk. Can anyone help me?

When should I start using my computer software during speed-building?

Wed, 9 Jan 2013 22:11:52 GMT

Hi, I am a newbie student. I just started speedbuilding (60wpm) and I am wondering your thoughts on using the transcription software. My at-home school recommends beginning using the software later, around 100-120wpm but I have read other people say that you should start using it from the beginning.
Any thoughts?Thanks!

Its that time of year again. TAX TIME!

Wed, 9 Jan 2013 11:18:04 GMT

Dont we all love this time of year?! (sarcasm)Im starting to compile my list of write offs, and wanted to know what you guys write off besides the normal purchases of new machines, laptops, ink, paper, etc. I know you can also write off your NCRA membership, insurance for your writers/laptops, virus software, upkeep/cleaning of your machine, cell phone bill (if it is work related) and health insurance if you pay out of pocket. Any others you guys add?

Word help, medical

Tue, 8 Jan 2013 04:03:20 GMT

Heres the context:A. It says that she is status post a diverting colostomy, and that she has a sacral gluteal decubitus ulcer, and there is a chronic right ischial osteomyelitis, and that she has MS with spacticity and chronic pain. And then at this point the plan was to set up subacuriata.

Sounded like quot;subacuriataquot; but cant confirm in any word search. Help?

Are attorneys talking faster these days?

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 16:49:10 GMT

I am either getting old or attorneys are on speed lately! Im not THAT old, only 47, but on Friday I had a job, and I finally set up realtime for myself with my new software and was very excited! Well, it turned out to be super fast, and my software has a quot;words per minutequot; function, and at one point it was saying 400 wpm for the attorney! Of course not sustained, but enough to make me nuts! I wrote 280 pages by 3:00 or 3:30, I cant remember, and we took two small breaks. The job was a car accident and the plaintiff only went to a chiropractor!!!My work usually trans at 98 to 99 percent, and this job was 95 percent! I wanted to scream! I dont even want to scope this job!The week before Christmas, I was on a plaintiff med mal. We went for four days in a row. I wrote an average of 250 per day, and we did not stay late and took a ton of breaks. At least these jobs came up nice at 98 percent tranned. I cant believe how fast attorneys are talking these days! Is it just me?

Stenograph Stentura Protege/Phoenix Theory Books For Sale

Sat, 5 Jan 2013 09:38:10 GMT

Great condition. Only used for a few semesters.
- Includes -
Wheeled backpack, protective case, tripod, paper tray/bench stand, battery, A/C
adapter/charger, cables for realtime connection, 3 paper pads, and users guide.
Also Included Are
Phoenix Theory Lessons - Phoenix Theory Reference Dictionary - Phoenix Theory
Quick Reference Guide - Phoenix Theory Reading Exercises
Phoenix Theory Fast-Track To Machine Shorthand Speed w/ Tapes
Asking $1,200 for everything. I also have the Court Reporting At Home (CRAH) program for sale.Please e-mail me at nataliehassig@gmail.com for additional information and pictures.

Anyone in Orange County, CA that I can sit out with?

Wed, 2 Jan 2013 13:28:46 GMT

I am a CSR but have not started working yet. I would like to sit out a couple times before I actually start just to pay particular attention to the process, especially with exhibits. I live in southern OC and am always available.
Thank you!!

What to put on business cards? What are absolute must brings to depos?

Tue, 1 Jan 2013 21:07:19 GMT

I just passed the CSR test, and now I am starting to figure things out to start working. What information do I put on my business card? Ive read people put their address? Do they put their own home address? Should I put my email and cell phone? I have no agency to work for at the moment but I want to be prepared.
What do I absolutely need to bring? So far I have: machine, computer, cords, extension cord, charger. Do I need an exhibit marker and depo book? Is there anything out there that is similar to the depo book that they sell on depobook.com?
Thank you!

Briefs for lawyers opening instuctions

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 11:13:47 GMT

Does anyone have any good briefs for the common phrases used in the opening instructions? for instance, quot;Have you ever had your deposition taken before,quot; for me is VUMP.Anyone have any other good ones you can share?

Student steno machine - paper or paperless?

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:23:55 GMT

Im trying to make a decision what student machine I should buy as my my first. I want to go for Elan Cybra paperless but the program Im about to take they recommend to go with paper tray machine since I would be more focused on my speed and not how my notes are translated on my computer. Paper tray machine seems like an outdated thing plus additional expenses for ink and paper. Does it really affect my writing if I start from paperless machine? What do you think? would appreciate any feedback. Thanks! Marina

VOTE NOW AGAINST ELECTRONIC RECORDING PROPOSAL!

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:39:17 GMT

I received this e-mail today from the NCRA, urging us reporters to vote against a proposal to use electronic recording in court rooms:

Recently, the White House issued nominations for the SAVE Award (Securing American Value and Efficiency), an award given annually to the federal government employee who proposes the best idea to make government work more effectively and efficiently and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. James Szender (Anchorage, Alaska), one of the individuals who is nominated for the award, has proposed eliminating the use of court reporters to transcribe public meetings and instead use digital recording.

While Mr. Szender may have had the best of intentions, NCRA believes that his proposal fails to look at the big picture. To ensure that his proposal does not win this award, NCRA encourages you to cast your vote for the quot;Shift to Senior Transit Faresquot; proposal conceptualized by Frederick Winter of Arlington, Virginia, who currently serves as the coordinator for the Realtime Writers Program. Winterrsquo;s proposal will reduce employee travel expenses by 50 percent with no loss in employee benefits.quot;

Vote now for the ldquo;Shift to Senior Transit Faresrdquo; Proposalhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/save-awardOnce again, your vote is needed to ensure that stenographic court reporter jobs are not lost due to this shortsighted proposal to save money. Please contact your friends, family, and colleagues and urge them to vote for the quot;Shift to Senior Transit Farequot; proposal. The deadline for submissions is this Friday, December 21, at 12 p.m. ET, so we must act quickly! EVERYONE PLEASE VOTE!!!

Who is telephonic?

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:50:16 GMT

If me and the lawyers are in one place and the witness is in another, on the phone, is it a quot;Telephonic Deposition ofquot; on the cover page or is he (Appearing Telephonically) on the coverage?

How do I fix PDF disaster?

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 08:35:34 GMT

I accidentally copied a PDF file into a transcript in CaseCatalyst. I was meaning to copy it onto my desktop. I took it out (dont even know how I did that) but the space that it was in now is just a blank space in the transcript that I cannot get rid of. Any ideas on how to fix this?

How to write figure numbers

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:23:56 GMT

I had a WCAB doctor depo...the doctor was giving the page and figure numbers for abduction, adduction, and flexion that he was using. He would say Figure sixteen three. When he says it like that, do I write it 16.3 or what?Thank you for your help!

What is a read and sign?

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:36:22 GMT

One time I was at a depo and all the attorneys agreed to a read and sign. I told my agency and they asked to who?? I didnt answer them back yet because I dont know. I went on a depo today and the attorney asked the witness on the record if he wants a read and sign. he said yes. Do I tell my agency to send it to the witness only??? On this same deposition that I took today, I just got a phonecall from the lawfirm saying they want an expedite.... can I send it to them without sending a read and sign?? They want an E-transcript. I mean, I have an idea of what it is.... but can you give me a detailed explanation of exactly what it is?Also, I do side jobs without an agency sometimes, if I get asked for a read and sign, what do I do??Is there a specific form Im supposed to send out? How does it work?

Looking for Canadian students taking CRAH program

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:49:08 GMT

Hi! I am located in Canada, seriously considering to start studying court reporting. There are only 2 schools available in Canada, and both are costly and lengthy. I found CRAH and would like to get in touch with its current students or graduates. Are there any people out here who live in Canada and taking the program? I would appreciate any information, leads, references. Thank you! Marina

What is the appropriate type of billing for a Board of Commissioners Meeting?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:59:55 GMT

I have done court work and Ive done depos, but not a Board of Commissioner meeting. Its for a cause-hearing and I would assume it would be similar to a quot;courtquot; format. Any guidance here? Use a freelance appearance rate/takedown/transcript rate or use the Court Per Diem/takedown/transcript rates? Im not asking for rate amounts, just the quot;typequot; or quot;parameterquot; to use for these types of jobs. HELP!!

Does anyone have any opinion on the Gemini writer?

Sat, 8 Dec 2012 13:49:56 GMT

I am thinking of buying a Gemini writer. If you have one, do you like it or not?

When to get a new machine..

Wed, 5 Dec 2012 15:58:58 GMT

How do you know its time to get a new machine? Mine is around five years-old. I havent really had any problems with it thus far, but I wanted to know from veteran reporters how long they waited to get a second machine.

What are you getting for your boss/agency for the holidays?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:58:35 GMT

Random question..I work for two very small agencies, where I actually have a friendly, yet professional relationship with my bosses. I was looking to get something for them for the holidays, and was wondering if any of you have done this, and if you have any good ideas. One of the agencies I have seniority with, and I have priority over many of the other reporters. The other agency Im new with, but shes giving us a Christmas bonus and I definitely want to get her at least something!

Should I put this on the record?

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:52:54 GMT

Im not sure about this situation, but when both attorney are conversating on the record about things that have nothing to do with the case, for example, one attorney was telling the other that his stomach was making a noise and the other one tells him hes probably hungry; would you still put that on the record? I would think you would because they havent verbally said they are not on the record. Would you put a blurb like (interruption in the proceedings) or something similiar to that or what does everyone else do when something like this happens?I would appreciate any help!

Repaginate in Case Cat?

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:34:57 GMT

What is the easiest way to repaginate in Case Cat?

Would it be unprofessional of me to hand out a catalog of a product Im selling at a depo if someone shows interest?

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 23:18:04 GMT

I sell items for a direct marketing company in my spare time, and I have never brought anything related to it to a depo. But I was wondering, would it be unprofessional for me to do so? I definitely wouldnt bring samples and order forms and ask people straight out at the depo to buy product; but I was thinking of doing something subtle, like drink from a water bottle with the logo, and if people ask questions about the logo and show interest in learning more about the product, then I would give them a catalog or a business card, and tell them to check out my website. A few times during a break or before or after a depo, attorneys or witnesses have mentioned the product or something similar (not knowing that I sell it), and it would have been a good time to give them a business card or brochure because they showed interest, but I didnt. Ive been hesitant because I dont want to do anything that would jeopardize my professionalism as a depo reporter. Opinions, please? Thanks!

Does windows 8 work with case catalyst?

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 16:24:17 GMT

Does windows 8 work with case catalyst? Thanks!

What to do about doctors names

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 22:38:33 GMT

Say you get the spellings of doctors names at the depo. You come home and research to confirm the spellings, but cant find the way they were spelled to you at the depo or just cant find anything close to it. Do you just write the names in the transcript the way they were given to you at the depo, or write the names out how you think and put (phonetic) after it?Thank you :)

Do I have to put this as colloquy? (Newbie attorney)

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:49:21 GMT

So this attorney must have been pretty inexperienced... it was an interpreted depo and she was the witnesss counsel. When it was her turn to question, she started asking questions in the third person, like quot;Did she cook before the accident,quot; instead of quot;Did you cook before the accident?quot; At some point, she did switch and start asking the questions normally, but do I need to put the third-person questions in colloquy since I guess technically shes speaking to the interpreter in a way?

How do you brief as opposed to?

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 21:32:29 GMT

Does anyone have a good brief for quot;as opposed toquot;?

What would you do?

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 19:46:20 GMT

I did a depo today where I thought defense counsel said, quot;Now, off the record.quot; He did, indeed, say that. What he actually said was, quot;Now, off the record your attorney told me...blah, blah, blah.quot; Because of the tone he used to say off the record and a brief pause between quot;recordquot; and quot;your attorneyquot; I thought we were actually going off the record, and I did go off the record.After a few questions I asked defense counsel if we were back on the record? He gave me this confused look and said yeah, he never went off, and I explained to him that I thought he had meant we went off the record. He told me what he said, and I told him it was my fault, I misunderstood. He asked me where I had left off, then said we were back on the record and reasked those questions all over again with the witness answering them.I have backup audio. My question is, do I transcribe everything that was said from where I thought we were off the record, or start transcribing from when he said back on the record?

Do you have a cheat sheet?

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:29:19 GMT

So, Im a new reporter, and Im trying to get prepared for my depos. Im nervous because I dont want to forget anything. Does anyone have a cheat sheet or checklist that reminds then of what needs to be done before he deposition starts and in what order? (Filling out dog sheets, swearing in tr witness, asking them to state their name and address, etc.) Also, if there is anything that you might deem helpful, please let me know. THANKS!

What to put when a Video is shown as an Exhibit?

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:42:43 GMT

I did an arbitration the other day and they showed a video, which is marked as an exhibit.What parenthetical do I use to say that the video is playing, and do I put a blurb to make it come up as an exhibit in the automatic index?The arbitration was kind of like a court proceeding to me. First one, so I didnt know what to expect.

Do you prefer exhibit labels over the exhibit stamp?

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 16:08:11 GMT

I finally got over my anxiety and have signed on to work with an agency. I need to purchase exhibit labels. I am just trying to decide on if I should purchase the stickers or the stamp. Please tell me your preference and why.

cant adjust keyboard of Diamante.....

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 13:44:53 GMT

When Im doing RT to my laptop and adjust the keys of the Diamante, it my realtime feed stops. Anybody had this happen?Im on Eclipse 5.00.27 and Windows XP.

Diamante Shadowing Problems

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:19:57 GMT

I bought the Diamante this year. I have noticed when doing depos that I am shadowing a lot. Words that are just one word...It doesnt make sense and its annoying. That never really happened to me in school with my student writer.Do you know if you adjust the wheel on the left(Depth) or the wheel on the right(Tension) to fix the problems with shadowing? I dont want to mess anything up. Shadowing is irritating because its just more work I have to do when I scope.Please help!Thanks

Arbitration format and just in general

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 23:39:21 GMT

I just did my first arbitration today. I didnt know what to expect and wow... so stressed. It was 7 1/2 hours, and Im really confused on the kind of format you use.Like is there certain include pages or cover pages? I dont know what everyone calls them. I dont have quot;includequot; pages for an arbitration, so I dont know what to do. Its obviously not like a regular deposition, so any advice would be greatly appriciated :-)I am a freelancer and a new reporter by the way.Thanks!

Do I need a school certificate to take the CSR of RPR?

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:49:15 GMT

I have been enrolled in a court reporting program for a little over a year. Everything is great; on track with my speed, almost all my academics completed. But I have one big problem: my school is an hour from my home, on a good day. I have been sleeping on floors, sofas and fold out beds with friends and family four days a week to minimize the cost of my commute (CA gas and bridge tolls are crazy). I am really at my breaking point with this lifestyle. It has taken a toll on my marriage, health and my mental outlook. I am trying to figure out if there would be a way I could stop taking my speed building classes, which require attendance 4 days out of the week, and next semester, just finish my academics. I could work on my speed at home (I am very disciplined). Does anyone have any suggestion for a good tact to take? My husband has agreed to move but due to circumstances it would shave my commute only by about 15 minutes. I am currently working to pass my 150 tests. Thank you in advance.

Question read off the record!

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:58:05 GMT

I did a depo today where the plaintiff attorney asked me to read back a question off the record. My question is, do I put a blurb in there that the question was read off the record, or do I just put a blurb like we normally do when off the record? Id apprecite your help!

Student with technical questions..

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 14:26:40 GMT

Im currently at 100 wpm and my laptop is getting ready to take its last breath. I want to avoid just purchasing a new computer to quot;get me byquot; until Im done with school, and gearing more toward getting a laptop that will last. What laptops have others found to be the most compatible with Case CAT? Also, are Macs Case CAT friendly? One more question.. Just out of curiosity.. At what point is it recommended to purchase a professional writer? Thanks!

Cant figure out a word...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 17:41:37 GMT

A few days ago I did a dr. depo, and I am having a difficult time trying to figure out this word. I hope that someone has heard of it and can help out! The doctor was speaking about the patient having a rotator cuff tear. So the plaintiff attorney asks this question:quot;So theres a difference between measuring the ( ) and measuring the range of motion?quot; In my audio, it sounds to me like quot;palaquot; and the ending sounds like quot;gyquot; I cannot figure it out. I think it has something similar to circumfrenial measurement. Throughout the depo, the attorney was throwing out some strange words I have never heard before! The defense attorney just kept giving me that quot;what are you talking about?!quot; look. I would appreciate any help!

Mira G3 keeps turning off...please help.

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 13:03:41 GMT

I own a Elan Mira G3. It keeps turning off. It turns off while plugged in or running on the battery. I have to press the reset button to turn machine on. Anyone else expericence this problem?

Helpful tips! Student needs some pointers

Fri, 9 Nov 2012 18:54:58 GMT

I am a month student and just inot Theory 2, I do really well until i get nervous. Can any give me some helpful hints?

Counsel marked exhibit once, and then marked it again

Thu, 8 Nov 2012 12:27:21 GMT

During the depo, Counsel said well mark this exhibit as C. Later on -- Im guessing he forgot that Exhibit C was already marked -- he said again for the same exhibit as marking it as C. Do I put the parenthetical in the transcript twice, just put it in the first time he had originally marked it, or what?

Has anyone used a metronome for speedbuilding?

Wed, 7 Nov 2012 11:00:28 GMT

Has it helped or hurt your progress? Thanks!

How to later read a stack on Mira

Tue, 6 Nov 2012 15:46:40 GMT

I just bought a used Mira. Without audio, how else can you read a stack? I was writing realtime and saw the stack and looked over at the steno in hopes it was there. Not. If you tran from the diskette, will it pick up the individual strokes?Thanks in advance!

Help! What is QME or PQME license?

Mon, 5 Nov 2012 23:51:16 GMT

Im wondering if anyone can help me out. I did a doctor depo today and Im trying to figure out this medical term. It was a depo of a chiropractor. The plantiff attorney was asking the doctor when he obtained his first (what sounds to me like) quot;QME-1quot; license or quot;PQMEquot; Im Googling this word, but I cannot find anything similar.Id appreciate any help!

Looking for an experienced Proofreader

Mon, 5 Nov 2012 19:05:34 GMT

Can someone please recommend an experienced proofreader along with email address who works of an ASCII or Eclipse.Thanks.

How many times would I sic in this instance?

Sat, 3 Nov 2012 14:12:23 GMT

Both attorneys and witness were saying a doctors last name wrong. Its supposed to be Dr. Wood, when they all would say Woods.My question is: Do I sic Wood only one time when the very first person said it wrong, or do I sic it once for each attorney saying it wrong and sic it once for the witness saying it wrong?I hope I explained myself good enough!Thank you! :)

How do I indicate I skipped a number in marking exhibits?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:31:22 GMT

I accidentally skipped over No. 25 when marking exhibits. I was going to put a parenthetical on the index page. Any ideas on how to artfully state that I skipped a number?Thanks!

Anyone know what PNS is?

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:24:15 GMT

This depo was a WCAB. It sounded like Applicants attorney said PNS. She said, quot;Well, shes already been PNSed by a doctor, which weve objected to.quot;Is this right, or does anyone know what it could be?Thank you!

How do you handle attorneys/witnesses with no regard for the record?

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:29:41 GMT

Ive been reporting a little over 9 years, so this aint my first rodeo...but I still find this a tricky situation to handle. What do you do when your attorneys and/or witness JUST WONT STOP TALKING OVER EACH OTHER?? I am not shy about interrupting, but every once in a while you get that one depo that no matter WHAT you do, they just wont stop making a mess of the record. Ive heard Anita Paul say she will only interrupt 3 times and then say something to the effect that she wont interrupt anymore but wont certify the transcript or will only certify it to the best of her ability or something like that. (I cant remember her exact verbiage.)What do YOU do? How do you get them to shut the hell up and behave like adults without interrupting 80 times and/or alienating your client?

Swearing the interpreter in at the end of depo

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:51:38 GMT

I took an interpreted depo today and forgot to swear the interpreter in. At the end of the depo, the interpreter told me that I forgot to swear her in. She said it also happened to her again last week, where the reporter told Counsel about it, and they agreed to swear her in after it. I did the same thing. I told Counsel I had forgotten to swear the interpreter in, if we can do it now. They both agreed, and I swore her in after the depo.My question is, is there anything special I need to do about this in the transcript, or treat it as though I had swore the interpreter in at the beginning of the depo and put the same parenthetical at the beginning of the transcript?Thank you for your help!

Do I change the spelling of bio diesel from two words to one word after three witnesses and then actully seeing documents?

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:28:51 GMT

Bonehead move on my part. Ongoing case, many depos. First three witnesses I spelled bio diesel two words. Fourth witness, I actually see company documents spelled biodiesel. Change to one word or stick with two words?

getting paid by agencies

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:57:14 GMT

Why is it that when you do a job for an agency and its been over 2 and a half months, when you do call or email them to get some kind of feedback, they are rude and just reply the same thing over and over, quot;We pay when the attorney pays.quot; Its ridiculous knowing that you are owed $200 and it will probably be about 3 months before you do even get paid. I know we work really hard to get the job done on time and yet we have to wait over 3 months to get paid. Ive only been doing depos for at least 2 years and Ive had this happen quite a few times. The first incident was when I did a job and got paid 7 months later. Im sorry, but that is just pathetic! Even when I had a normal 9-5 job, I always got paid...and on TIME! Makes me wonder if maybe I chose the wrong profession..LOL!Am I wrong in thinking this way or what does everyone else think?

Medical Question

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:04:47 GMT

Help decipher (sounds like NAIRD) what I think is an acronym for a medical report?MR: JONES: What are you looking for, medical records?MR: SMITH: The doctors records, of any kind, you know, other than a NAIRD.

Advice on a chair for the home office?

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 17:10:15 GMT

I have been using an IKEA chair (this is NOT an openinvitation to mock my love of IKEA - just an admission it may not be the most ergonomic) for five years, and I just cant sit still in the thing anymore. My neck, back, and butt tend to ache from depo anyway - so I at least want my space at home to be a little more therapeutic and a little less aggravating.I love Knoll and Herman Milller re: design - but its all insanely expensive. Same deal with any chair from Relax the Back. And then there is wackiness with kneeling chairs, Swopper stool, bungee chairs, and balance balls.Has anyone found the Holy Grail of office chairs for a court reporter?

Does being an RPR have many benefits?

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:00:11 GMT

To all the RPRs out there...I was just wondering if its worth it to become and RPR. I know you need to maintain your membership with NCRA, take seminars and CEUs. With all those expenses adding up I was just wondering it its actually WORTH it to be an RPR and why.

LAPD academy on Piscaloose Center?

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 20:20:11 GMT

This LAPD police officer went to this police academy on quot;Piscaloosequot; Center, which then was moved to a facility in Whittier. He would not spell it for me, and I cant find it anywhere, so my spelling is probably way off. Any ideas what it could be?

HELP! onto OR on to

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:15:13 GMT

Q: Would those complaints then be passed on to you or to Mike?or Q: Would those complaints then be passed onto you or to Mike?

Help with medical word

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:38:24 GMT

Im editing a medical depo, and Im having a hard time finding one word. It sounds like quot;nesialquot; decompression, which isnt even close to anything I can find.Heres the full answer if it helps.quot;Thats the code for the Hemilaminotomy *nesial* decompression. Its inclusive of microdiscectomy. Hemilaminotomies with decompression, foraminotomy, nerve root decompression, one level.quot;Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Have you heard of a vaulter agreement?

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:45:27 GMT

This case was before arbitration and the attorney says he is producing the witness pursuant to a quot;vaulter agreement,quot; not pursuant to subpoena.Any idea what that is? Valter? Vaulter? Vouter? Im kicking myself for not asking right then.

Errata sheet question?

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:40:08 GMT

Can someone tell me if the errata sheet requires a notary signature in the state of Virginia? Or does anyone know where I can find out this info?

colloquy or Q A with the judge?

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 08:24:17 GMT

Is it okay to use a Q amp; A format when the Judge swore in a witness and started examination? Or if its the Judge do we ALWAYS use colloquy?

Need help with the correct Word? My proofreader didnt know either.

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:34:53 GMT

The way I have it doesnt make sense to me at all. The word sounds like euh sigh linn but I put quot;assignmentquot; I put ** ** around it.Could somebody please help me?A. And they have signed -- and Ive entered that as a copy of the Rule 11 Agreement. We have **assignment** thats going to be filed with the Court today that we need to make copies of. We can sign before we leave.

What is your reaction when an attorney looks at your laptop?

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 20:11:29 GMT

Two part question:

Today I was taking an interpreted dep and the deposing attorney was really surprised by one of the answers, which led him to deviate from the line of questioning he was on. Four pages later, he wanted to know where he was before all that. I start scrolling up (First part: we are supposed to just suck it up and go back, right? This particular job was fairly easy to identify what he was getting at, but some other jobs Ive been on would have been difficult to find a certain spot 5 or 10 pages later) and looking for it. 15 seconds later, the attorney is at my side watching me scroll and pulling the laptop towards him, reading to figure out where he was. It made me uncomfortable. I was writing well, and thats not the issue, it just felt a bit invasive.

Is it or is it not?

Convert CC8 ASCII into a real useable transcript

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:11:24 GMT

After completing my transcript on CaseCat Version 8, I save it as an ASCII file, then emailed to my agency where they convert it to the final work product as an actual transcript. Now I have to do that myself for a job I did as a per diem to send to a public defender in a superior court. Can anybody help me do this? How do I save my transcript from CC and convert it into an actual working document? Right now if I just save it as an ASCII, then it converts to a Notebook work product, but it doesnt look like the actual transcript, and the pages spill onto each other when I print it out. I have PrimoPDF drop files on my desktop to change any document into a PDF file, but I need to have my transcript look like an actual transcript before I can use that program. I have to email this transcript tomorrow to the PD, so if anybody can help me, I really would appreciate your input.

What is the correct word used? I cant figure it out.

Tue, 9 Oct 2012 20:21:06 GMT

Here is what it sounded like.... I put ** ** around the word.Please help!! Thanks!
A. Because thats how its correctly stated under the DEA, is **cart fitnal**practitioners license.

mispronuniation... again... and again

Tue, 9 Oct 2012 14:46:30 GMT

I know this question gets asked a lot, but heres another example: Had a witness who has had several strokes that have affected his speech. He often had trouble pronouncing simple words like quot;molarquot; and quot;pedestal,quot; but generally I was able to understand and would ask him to repeat when I couldnt. But you can imagine what a tough time he had when discussing his arthritic condition called ankylosing spondylitis. Id be inclined to cut the guy a break and put the correct spelling even when he says quot;ankliosis spinoditisquot; because he truly has a speech issue, but then the attorney pronounced it several different ways, too, including quot;ankliosis spondilitum.quot; Do I sic? Do I write it phonetically a different way each time? Or do I just write the correct term, understanding they were all trying to say the same thing. Oh... and this was a videotaped depo.

Parenthicals for Telephonic depos when audio is cut off?

Tue, 9 Oct 2012 10:31:19 GMT

Does anyone have any suggestions for parentheticals for telephonic depos when you couldnt hear something because the audio was cut off, there was an interruption of the audio and you didnt hear one or two words, there was a, for lack of a better word, phone problem with the audio?

How do I read a job off my backup sd card

Mon, 8 Oct 2012 14:39:59 GMT

I need to read a job off my backup sd card from my Diamante onto my Eclipse software. I can get to the step where I pick the job but then I dont remember what to do after that.

Any advice for someone seriously interested in court reporting school?

Mon, 8 Oct 2012 10:28:53 GMT

I am a 35-year-old mom of two who is seriously considering court reporting school. I had considered it about 10 years ago but then decided to go with medical transcription instead. Now that that field is completely dead in the water and I have been out of good solid work for over two years, thoughts of going back to school for court reporting have been invading my mind almost nonstop.I have already applied to an accredited school (not an online school) and have been accepted, but this will be a big risk and leap for me. I am nervous about spending so much money and time on a new career, particularly when my last career fizzled out so fast.So basically, I am looking for advice. Is it worth it for me to consider this? Will there be jobs available in a few years when I am done? Am I too old to be looking into this career field? Will I have any time to spend with my kids for the next 2-3 years, or will I pretty much eat, sleep and breathe court reporting (that last one was a half-joke)?Thanks in advance for any advice.

How do you format cop speak?

Sun, 7 Oct 2012 17:00:06 GMT

Im fairly new to scoping and Ive been getting alot of police depositions lately. Id like to know how to phrase this for readability. I usually work out of the four one precinct. Should it be four one precinct, or 4-1 precinct. The attorney then refers to it as the 41st Precinct. I would appreciate knowing what others would do.

To copy or not to copy???

Sun, 7 Oct 2012 14:29:07 GMT

A transcript request was made for a DUI hearing. I have the CD of the traffic stop. Ive been taught to copy ALL exhibits for attachment to transcripts. For court proceedings, according to Georgias rate sheet, there is a fee for copying/producing CDs or providing an ASCII. The requesting party did not specify whether or not he desired a copy of the CD with the transcript. Do you copy it, charge them, and then attach? Or do you put a * in the index stating ... States Exhibits 1 and 2 retained by the Court. ???

A witness with a Tourette characteristic, how would you handle the transcript?

Sat, 6 Oct 2012 22:03:30 GMT

Recently had a witness who seemed to have a characteristic of Tourette syndrome where he would insert what sounded like the word quot;turn onquot; in the middle of a sentence, sometimes multiple times throughout a sentence. It was very difficult to take down his testimony.
Now Im about to work on the transcript and would really like another court reporters take on this. I understand that everything a witness says should be in the record, but Im starting to feel a little cruel with how this transcript is going to turn out -- and the witness is reading and signing! :(So if I keep the blurted words, is this how it should be done? (see below)Here is an excerpt:
A. No. I believe -- turn on -- that when we got there that next day -- turn on -- that she said there was going to be an investigation and they would let her know -- turn on -- what had happened -- turn on -- nurse and stuff -- turn on -- it was just at that time I was still shook up -- turn on. I just tried block a lot of it out. HELP

Looking for theory books

Sat, 6 Oct 2012 15:55:03 GMT

Does anyone have any old Stenograph theory books they would like to get rid of and sell at a cheap price?

Why do I keep forgetting what to put in the title page?

Fri, 5 Oct 2012 16:03:56 GMT

Okay, Im new, so forgive my lapse of memory. Where it says quot;EXAMINATION BEFORE TRIAL of the Defendant/Plaintiff so-and-so...quot; what do I put if the person wasnt a direct defendant? This woman is an employee of the company thats being sued, and it doesnt appear as though shes witnessed the matter at hand. I know I should know the answer to this, but its completely eluding me.And if anyone could maybe throw in other possible situations I may encounter in the way of what to enter for the title (a police officer that witnesses an accident, for one), Id appreciate that so much. I hope my question is clear. Thank you!

Am I Just a Prostitute with a Steno Machine?

Fri, 5 Oct 2012 09:34:53 GMT

quot;Sure, I may sell my services to attorneys for a high price, but Im no whore.quot; This was one comment I made to one of the sales snipers at my agency when I was asked what efforts Ive made to raise awareness of the agency.(For the purposes of this story, the name of my agency has been changed to Bloodsuckers, Inc.)Ive gone out tirlessly over the last 15 years waiving the Bloodsuckers flag, because my loyalty to them is a payback for the chance they gave me when I was a wee lad still writing a clean 240 with no gray hair and fewer wrinkles. I initially started my career with one of the smaller mom-and-pop agencies that had been around for some 30 years back then, but Mr. Bloodsucker and his faceless team of investors came and swallowed them up along with a half-dozen other smaller outfits.In the olden days, court reporting agencies really offered a personalized touch to the clients. I still meet lawyers in NYC who reminisce about the days of transcripts that cost $1 per page that came hand delivered to their offices from the reporter whod created them. I wish Id been around during those days, quite honestly, because it would make me feel more comfortable providing the same level of service with the same familiar touch. Unfortunately, all the little guys have gone the way of the typist and longhand reporters who carried a box of golf pencils and steno pads and came home a lead-smeared mess with wrist cramps.As Bloodsuckers, Inc., has grown, so has its clientele, sales team, collections team, production team, and most lamentably in my opinion its reporter pool. Were it not for the handful of clients I brought in and still service personally, Id be fighting for my work like a rabid pit bull in the basement of a Hempstead apartment building. The offices Bloodsuckers has opened up in the city and its surrounding boroughs have gotten bigger with their sterile corporate logo choking the light out of the atmosphere youd love to see through the glass doors upon entry. Theres no sense of family or office pride there anymore. The old-timers who were nearing the autumn of their years when Bloodsuckers was spawned have all but left. Only a few valliant soldiers from the heyday still lug their bags around taking easy depositions.To ease the transition from privately owned agency whose business thrived on excellent service with a personal touch, Bloodsuckers engaged the heads of those agencies to become quot;vice presidentsquot; to draw in their client bases where theyd inevitably succumb to the offerings of a corporate giant who probably couldnt care less about offering quality so much as protecting their bottom line. Reporters who now showcase their skills under the Bloodsuckers banner have to adhere to the ever-changing policies of a group of investors who know little to nothing about court reporting.There was a time when an agency principal knew the skill level of each of her reporters and would send reporters on assignments commensurate with said skill level. Sadly thats no longer the case, and newbies get sent to cover jobs way out of their depth. quot;Fear not, Madamme Reporter, you can use your audio to help complete your transcript. Just make sure its in within 10 days or youre going on the late list and not getting any more work.quot;As Im out there in the city taking depositions, I freqeuently meet attorneys who dont use Bloodsuckers, Inc., because they find them to be a little expensive. Some will tell me theyve been using one agency for decades and are comfortable where they are. Some will look to cut corners somewhere and ask me how much I charge. That last query will elicit a smile and self-deprecating retort of quot;Oh, dont ask me. Im just a lowly reporter. I have no idea what they charge the clients. I only know what percentage of it I get.quot; Then Ill offer them a business card bearing my name somewhere under the Bloodsucker logo and guide them to call for a rate. Honestly, the way some people look at me when Im asked this question really makes me feel like an idiot because I cant rattle off a dollar amount. This is where I wander back to the office and alert a salesperson who then jumps on the prospective client like a prisioner getting a conjugal visit. If Id been armed with Bloodsucker-monogrammed tchotchkes and promises of opera tickets, iPods, toaster ovens, and Betamax players -- or whatever is relevant in 2012 -- perhaps I could reel the client in myself.My bright idea? I call up one of the faceless sales drones at Bloodsuckers and ask for a few quot;goodiesquot; to offer an attorney whose office Im working at today that I know is not a client. Im grilled in detail as to the identity of that firm before Im offered even so much as a pen to dangle in their face. As soon as I fess up to who it is, Im encouraged to get their business. I was led into a room which looked like what every kid dreamed of -- shelves and shelves and boxed upon boxed filled with Bloodsucker-emblazoned junk to solicit business. At first, I thought to myself how ridiculous it was that anyone would want a Zagats Restaurant Guidebook with the Bloodsuckers name in the corner, but it was no more impractical than the novelty-sized football with the agency moniker scribed using the same font as the NY Giants. Classy, I thought. I also silently wondered how much money was spent on this stuff that could have possibly gone to me getting a raise. I took a few pens, pads, coffee mugs, calendars, and other assorted crap and hauled ass to that attorneys office. Boy, when I tell you how quickly his secretary SNATCHED that garbage from my hand, my ring and bracelet almost went with it. I never realized how far little trinkets go. Here I am thinking my skill as a reporter and my ability to produce an accurate, clean transcript would be enough of a reason to use me, but apparently it was the Bloodsucker yo-yo that sealed the deal. It was probably made in China for an eighth of a cent and fashioned out of cancer-causing lead. Enjoy!The next day, that sales grunt actually called me to follow up on my effort to land a new account. When I told her the attorney enjoyed the gifts, I left it at that while thinking how sad it must be that Id have to earn a living whoring myself with promises of worthless junk with a logo stamped on it. Then again, the way I hustle to market myself as a reporter sometimes leaves me feeling like I should have stuck with tabletop dancing at the airport bar like when I was in college.

Looking for the FREE Formatting Class??

Thu, 4 Oct 2012 15:01:02 GMT

Im finally getting a chance to schedule this FREE Formatting Class since I moved a month ago. This is the last FREE class SMA will
be teaching. The class will be Wednesday, Oct. 10th at 7 p.m. CST.We will cover colloquy, Q amp; A, parentheticals and bylines in this class.Here is the link to the information about the class: http://www.joyfulscoping.com/CRScopingtraining.html.If you would like to see more of the classes that SMA teaches, you
may want to check this link out: http://www.joyfulscoping.com/SMAClasses.html.You will have the wonderful opportunity of participating in this class
from the comfort of your home.I look forward to seeing you there. If youre unable to attend the quot;livequot;
class and you have questions, please send your questions to me at
drscoping@gmail.com. I will answer the questions in class and youll still be able to view the recording.

Are hearings transcribed from court proceedings bound differently than a depo?

Wed, 3 Oct 2012 14:25:29 GMT

In what case would you ever bind (or would you) a transcript on the top? Is there any difference between binding a transcript for a deposition and one for the Court?

Need more experience

Wed, 3 Oct 2012 11:34:42 GMT

Ive been out of school for almost a year. Ive found an agency willing to hire me as a newbie, but they are in another state and getting to them is proving to be quite a challenge in and of itself.My dilemma is this. Although the agency previously mentioned is okay with me not being in their area for another six months, I dont want to go that long without any exposure. To me that seems counterproductive. Ive already contacted most of the agencies in the city I live and all have said to me that they want someone with more experience (at leat two years).How is one suppose to obtain this experience if no one is willing to offer the opportunity. Experience doesnt fall from the sky. I wish it did, but it doesnt. I definitely dont want to put my skills out for free. Thats just crazy. So.....how do you go about getting this experience everyone seems to be after?Ive worked in a reporting firm for two years delivering and mailing transcripts and helping with binding on occasion. Outside of the fours months I devoted to my internship, I have no other deposition/writing experience to speak of. I am open to all feasible suggestions.

Is it okay for agencies to ask for audio files?

Tue, 2 Oct 2012 21:10:01 GMT

I did a job for an agency a month ago, and they requested that I provide my audio file along with the ASCII. This was my first time working for this agency. I was a bit confused as to why this agency asked for my audio file when no other agency has asked me for before. I believe its a new requirement of all reporters that work for them for extra backup. Does anyone have any feedback on this?

Help with Spanish Word

Tue, 2 Oct 2012 16:40:42 GMT

Does anyone know how to spell despot (phonetic)? It means to belittle. It is very clear it starts with a quot;Dquot; and ends with a quot;T.quot;

Word Help -- before I sic it

Tue, 2 Oct 2012 13:34:57 GMT

The word Im looking for sounded like quot;substinancequot;. The context is testimony of an educator, talking about what should be in a good lesson plan: quot;There were occasions that had been noted by myself and some of the previous supervisors that lesson plans were not either available or sufficient. So that was one area that was going to be looked at. But also what was included as SUBSTINANCE in the lesson plan, that there should be differentiation, taking in the differing needs of her students.quot; She didnt say quot;sustenance,quot; which wouldnt make sense anyway. Maybe she meant to say quot;substancequot;? Any ideas?

Have any good briefs for these??

Tue, 2 Oct 2012 11:00:32 GMT

(Ill) tell the Court(Id) ask the Courtif the Courtas the Court knows
(the) fact of the matter
basically
obviouslyvoluntarilyapparently(ANY -ly words youd like to share!!)nothing furthervery wellI apologizeIm sorryI spoke withas I understand it
I would agreeinterrogate(d)(ing)
anything else (of that kind/ of that nature)take(s) into account THANKS!

Whats the best way to attach a DVD thats an exhibit to a transcript?

Mon, 1 Oct 2012 20:38:24 GMT

I need some ideas on how to attach a DVD/CD to a transcript as an exhibit. Any suggestions?

How do you write okay at the end of a sentence?

Mon, 1 Oct 2012 18:12:53 GMT

Make sure you answer the question completely, okay?orMake sure you answer the queston completely. Okay? And what about correct or right at the end? You said you were not there that night; correct?orYou said you were not there that night, correct?orYou said you were not there that night. Correct?

Help with a word said by a college professor???

Mon, 1 Oct 2012 13:23:20 GMT

I have been struggling over a word, searched it and then searched it again, and looked in dictionaries, and college websites, and cant seem to find the right one. I have a reference librarian trying to help, too, as well as a Ph.D. person. They have come up with minimum and nonrenewable (I dont think so!!) This was testimony from a college professor, head of a Ph.D. program at a university. Phonetically, it sounds like charminal, sharmenal. Heres the testimony:
Q. And what was the process by which you became the deputy dean?
A. I was selected by the dean.
Q. Who was the dean that selected you?
A. John Smith.
Q. When you went into it, did you know it was going to be a three-year position?
A. That was a ***charminal***, yes.
Q. So they made it clear they wanted you for a certain amount?
A. Minimum of three years, yes. Any help would be appreciated. Tonight I put charminal phonetic. Its driving me crazy.

Web site to find if law firm is LLC, PC, ESQS...

Mon, 1 Oct 2012 06:59:09 GMT

Is there a go-to Web site to help me confirm the status of a lawfirm; if they are a PC, Esqs., LLP, LLC, etc...Google is not helping me with this unfortunately...and I never know what to put on my transcripts.

State mandated page rate for transcript requests in State Court?

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:17:04 GMT

When filling in for someone in State Court, and you receive a request for the takedown of a hearing, you charge the attorney(s) the mandated Court page rate for the transcript, right?

Parenthetical for simultaneous talk?

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:28:42 GMT

So I got tired of admonishing these attorneys on the record every time they started arguing like first-graders to speak one at a time. So after 300 pages and a second day on the case with a different witness, I just gave up. The next time they argued, they went on for over two full minutes talking over each other, both ranting at the same time about how the other one was unprofessional. They were not even trying to listen to each other. It was completely simultaneous. There is no way to tease out a single statement that stood out by itself without other words being spoken at the same time.I could pad the transcript by inserting almost two pages of colloquy fished out from my audio, which will be chopped up with a thousand dashes and not one sentence will have more than two words without being interrupted. I do not think we should be expected to retrieve testimony from our audio backup, especially testimony that is so far beyond our certification that not even Mark Kislingbury himself would have been able to write. Plus, voices can sound similar on recordings. I am not even sure I would be able to tell for sure who said what.Do you think I can just start the first two colloquy speakers - to give the flavor of the discussion - and then insert a parenthetical like quot;Mr. X and Mr. Y engage in simultaneous talkquot;? Is that acceptable?

Is it up and down stairs? or....

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:22:53 GMT

I get confused on this sometimes. Heres the question:Q So who was helping him during that period of time to go up and down stairs during that period of time?or is it: Q So who was helping him during that period of time to go up and downstairs during that period of time? Help!!! Thanks!!!

Request for interpreter, but not needed

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 18:15:42 GMT

There was a request sent by defense counsel to have an interpreter at the depo today. When he showed up, he found out that the applicant spoke perfect English and wasnt needed. He asked everyone present if there was some way it could be reflected in the transcript that he was requested and that they didnt need him after all. We all said yes.I dont know if its actually my job to put anything in the transcript because the attorneys never said anything about the interpreter on the record.My question is: Do I put a paragraph about an interpreter showing up and not being used? Also, what is it that I would put into the transcript about it and where?Thank you!

Interpreter asking for questions to be repeated nonverbally. How do you format this?

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:32:52 GMT

How do your format it when the interpreter leans forward and doesnt say anything to indicate they need the question repeated? If I ignore it, it reads as though the attorney is repeating herself for no reason constantly. And if I use a parenthetical to show the interpreters indicating, I think it might look like Im padding the transcript.Ive considered deleting the repeated questions, but Im not sure that would be appropriate either.This scenario has come up before, and I always wonder how to best handle it. Its one thing when its a question or two, but Ive got 10-15 repeated questions to worry about.Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Anyone want to purchase student machine and software?

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:07:46 GMT

Good afternoon everyone,I have a Stentura Protege student machine that I bought in 2010, but only used for two semesters with the usb cable, power cable, paper tray, manual, tripod, and rolley bag. I also have the student version of CaseCatalyst.I paid $1500 for the machine and $500 for the software. I would like to sell the machine and the software together as a package for $800. I would even be willing to take a payment plan of $50 a week until the balance is paid up provided an informal contract is typed up, signed by both parties and notarized.I live in Manhattan, NY 10009If you are interested or know someone who is interested please let me know.Thanks!!!

Do Little Boys Have Ovaries?

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:40:20 GMT

Time and time again, we all have witnesses or attorneys who cannot string a sentence together without mangling the English language. Yesterdays case was no different for me, except I think the witness discovered a new level of stupidity that made me laugh...and then sigh in disappointment.Anytime someone alleges a medical malpractice against a doctor with whom they or their family members have treated, Ive always thought it would be in their best interest to educate themselves as to the malpractice so they could make themselves sound more credible and less like the woman I suffered from listening to yesterday.Shes a tenth-grade dropout who illegally adopted her nephew shortly after his birth because her sister was incarcerated throughout the whole pregnancy and continued to abuse drugs at the same time. Plaintiff brought the suit on behalf of the boy, now 16, because he suffers from Crohns Disease and was never properly diagnosed. Its actually really sad, because the infant plaintiff is only four-one and weighs 72 pounds and wears an ileostomy bag full time. He was surprisingly intelligent about his condition during his testimony, and he was as well spoken as he was charming. The quot;mother/natural guardian,quot; on the other hand, made us all cringe with her twist on the English language.First rule of thumb for me is to ignore obvious misspoken words like quot;testsquot; and quot;asked,quot; because it does no good to reflect quot;testesquot; and quot;axedquot; on the record since itll result in an angry attorney saying Im deliberately making his client look dumb. My question is: What about using wrong words altogether? My answer: Ive never put quot;sicquot; so many times in one transcript, but it was all I could do without seeming partial to her in a never-ending effort to get her to speak like an adult.Dr. Coren was mispronounced throughout the transcipt as Dr. Crohn. At first, I wrote quot;Dr. Crohnquot; assuming she referred to the doctor treating her sons Crohns Disease with that moniker. Counsel advised me it was, in fact, Coren by spelling it for the record after the fifth time it came up.Tegretol, a seizure medication, was repeatedly mispronounced throughout the transcript as Tegator. The questioning attorney never heard of it and just scribbled it down on his legal pad phonetically. I wrote it just as I heard it. Then I spent almost 20 minuted googling it until I came up with the right name. Each time it came out of the attorneys mouth on the record, it was correct. Each time the witness said it, it was paired with quot;sic.quot;This last one wouldnt be considered a malaprop or mispronunciation. It was just f*cking stupid. She was asked why the boy had to wear an ostomy bag, if she was told why by the doctor. Her answer made me cringe. quot;He had a poop blockage in his small ovaries.quot; Counsel actually kicked my foot under the table to make sure Id caught the word quot;ovaries.quot; I grimaced as I wrote it. Thank goodness I didnt have to read it back. I think I would have bust an ovary myself.I put quot;sicquot; after the word, because Im certain when her attorney reads the transcript, hell make sure to point out it was a mistake the reporter made. Oh, sure. I have the same brief for ovaries as I do intestines. Dont you? After awhile, I was just sic to my stomach reading the transcript, but I was somehow still feeling bad for the woman whose little boy is so ill. Just another depo under the belt. Perhaps the million-dollar settlement shes demanding will pay for a dictionary. Or a high school diploma.

How would you spell and put this in the transcript?

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:45:43 GMT

I had an attorney spell a doctors during a deposition and noted what hospital he was from. The attorney spelled it, then asked the witness if that was correct, and the witness confirmed that it was (said witness mispelled several other things in the transcript, though). A quick internet search resulted in a doctor that works at the same hospital with one letter different, no exact results.

So, would you put sic after the spelling and throughout the transcript? The way she spelled the name was Shroft, and the other name that came up is Shroff. This is littered in the transcript.

What would be best?

Anyone on a Gemini writer? If so, what is your opinion?

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:45:28 GMT

I am still on my original Stentura 8000LX. I have always had problems with my neck and shoulders from working too much, but lately I was taken out of commission because I just hurt too bad. Someone I work with has a Gemini writer and loves it. She said she doesnt have the neck and shoulder problems since she has had it. Im seriously considering looking into buying one. So I was wondering of those people who have them, what their opinion is. ~ Thanks, Marcie

Which usage is correct?

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 20:06:04 GMT

You will not be allowed to go back ONTO State propertyORYou will not be allowed to go back ON TO State property.And please explain to me why so that maybe my lame brain can remember it for next time.thx

Interested in Assuming lease for CaseCat Scopist version?

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:09:46 GMT

I was with a firm that quot;requiredquot; I get this to be able to scope (learn to scope) her work. I am a voice writer. We parted ways for a variety of reasons. Now, I have the wonderful expense of brand new software that Ill NEVER use! E-mail me if interested. I can give you the details.djllanes@comcast.net. Thanks!!

Generic billing question...no pricing info asked for...

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:57:27 GMT

If you have 100 exhibits to attach to an Original transcript and the attorney orders a full copy with only 50 of the 100 exhibits attached, you charge them for 150 exhibits, right? Or do you just bill them for the 50 for the copy, since they provided the originals?

Question about Certified questions

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:22:52 GMT

Its been a while since I have certified a question and, frankly, a while since I have worked a reporter. Ive gotten a backorder, and there is a certified question in the transcript. I have the format, but where do I insert the Certified Questions Index...on the index page? Do I create another page for this, as it seems to require a signature according to the FCRA manual, and takes up a lot of room.

Why is my audiosync skipping?

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:47:45 GMT

So I made a decision not to renew my support contract with Stenograph. I made the decision because in the entire year that I paid way too much money for, I had merely two problems that I needed help with and both times I called, was on hold forever after a while couldnt hold anylonger so left my number and one ever called back. Thats what I paid that ridiculous amount of money for. When Stenograph failed to provide help, I came here and got my questions answered for free.Anyway, go figure, my contract expires the day before I have a problem with my audiosync. Theres no one to call, and Im terribly afraid someone here might not be able to help me. I hook everything up, my battery is fine, I played it back in my ear as I was taking the job, no problems there. But I get it home and load it onto my computer and its not all there. Im getting intermittent audio. For this last job, I didnt really need it, and for most jobs I dont need it, but when everyone starts talking at the same time, its nice to have. I looked to the Help Desk and found something that told me that maybe my computer is too full of audio files, so I backed all those up and deleted them. It still did not fix the problem.Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Do you charge for the word index pages?

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:12:20 GMT

I normally submit my work to an agency and they do the billing, but I covered a deposition for a pro se litigant. Is it customary to charge for the word index pages or is that free?

Should I get training on Case 13?

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 19:28:22 GMT

Well, I am up and running on Case 13, and so far Im loving it, but of course after I got the new software, I got really busy, and I am just getting the transcripts out without knowing all the bells and whistles and cool stuff Case 13 offers! I swear I was dead for so long, finally got the new software, and now I want to learn how to do it all, and Im busy. I guess if anyone is slow right now, buy some new software, and boom, youll be swarmed with work, LOL! (believe me, Im not complaining! It was bad for the first half of the year for me!) I tried watching the tutorial that came with it, and got through the basics (wasnt that hard since I was on Case 3.2, haha, and it is the same concept), but I cant watch the video and then do it, I forget what I just watched, so I was wondering if I should just hire someone from Stenograph to train me, or maybe there is a slow reporter out there who wants to make a few bucks teaching me all the cool stuff on 13? I learn more by watching someone do it. I had called Stenograph like ten times when I first got 13, and it was so cool that they can come on your screen and help you out, haha, but of course I forgot what they did. I think they just wanted to help me quick, and did some format stuff for me, and they were on to the next caller.What should I do? Any NY/LI reporters out there who are slow and want to spend some time teaching me? I swear Im not a crazy person :) I dont even know what Stenograph charges for training.....been too busy to find out! Any suggestions?

Will practicing the same material over over help me in speedbuilding?

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 10:26:38 GMT

I know theres a post on this site about directed practice amp; this may be related, but Ive heard that practicing the same dictation over amp; over will increase my speed amp; I dont really understand how? Meaning, write one dictation again amp; again until I can do it clean; then increase the speed by 10 WPM amp; repeat the process w/same dictation; increase again by 10 WPM amp; repeat the process; until Ive increased the speed to maybe 20 WPM above my goal speed. Personally, early on, I have so much of it memorized, I feel like its not helping me. I would love to hear if you agree or disagree with this method amp; why. Many thanks...

Can you use any machine with Case Catlyst...ProCat machine?

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:58:10 GMT

Can you use any machine with Case Catalyst...Pro Cat machine?

How would I mark these exhibits?

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:56:15 GMT

Counsel wanted to attach an exhibit marked Defendants Exhibit A. He handed me a whole stack of documents that are the same, but have certain date periods on them. For example, first document is 2 pages stapled together dated July-September 2009. Next document is October-December 2009, 2 pages stapled together. Each one continues on in the same fashion. Would I mark each one Exhibit A-1, A-2, etc.?Thank you!

How do I attach exhibits to transcript?

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:11:42 GMT

Is there a certain way I am supposed to attach exhibits to the transcript? Are they supposed to be placed at the end of the transcript? Is it okay to hole punch the original exhibits, or is there another way I am supposed to bind them to the transcript?What if there are too many exhibits to fit? Any info. would be greatly appreaciated!

Need a good Proofreader...

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:14:01 GMT

I am looking for a good proofreader. I utilize mostly WordPerfect, but I do have a version that will convert it to be compatible (not perfect) with MS Word. If anyone could refer someone, Id be most grateful. My e-mail is djllanes@comcast.net. Thank you!!

Commas or dashes - How do I punctuate this sentence?

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:54:36 GMT

quot;Are you aware of the physical condition, whether it was in good condition, poor condition, or any other way you can describe it, of the sidewalk in front of the property?quot;
Is this punctuated correctly? Or should it be:quot;Are you aware of the physical condition -- whether it was in good condition, poor condition, or any other way you can describe it -- of the sidewalk in front of the property?quot;
Thanks!

Cant We All Get Along?

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:13:19 GMT

I cant believe some of the people on here are such haters when it comes to opinions they have on others stories. He didnt put me up to this, but my friend pwreu is a great friend of mine and an amazing reporter. He happens to be one of the most professional reporters out there in NYC. I did most of my internship with him last year before I started working on my own, and hes still a great help to me when I come home from a disastrous job. For anyone to say hes unprofessional, they should try being in his shoes, or even try working in NYC. Sure, people elsewhere in the US might do things differently when it comes to procedures, and that is why were all different. I might not agree with everything he says, but hey, thats life. Put on your big girl shoes and walk away instead of criticizing and calling names.Oh, and your first indication that its going to be another one of his trademark silly stories is when he puts the word quot;humorquot; or quot;funnyquot; in the tagline. I for one think theyre entertaining, and I used to look forward to reading this site to learn things I didnt learn in school, but now that I see how hurtful some people are when they hide behind their computers, Ill find somewhere else to learn.

How Do You Survive CART With An Assh*le Attorney?

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 09:11:27 GMT

Believe me, Im no fan of old-fashioned technology, but sometimes its what works best. I made the mistake of accepting an assignment yesterday at the Supreme Courthouse in the Bronx, a place any of my NY reporters colleagues know is Hell on Earth. After almost 15 years lugging my writer and other equipment all over NYC, I can count on two hands how many times Ive gotten suckered into going to the Armpit of NYC a/k/a Supreme Bronx. One huge room with tables jammed up next to each other with only two outlets for 12 reporters to fight over and a super-noisy environment doesnt make it fun. Now, dont get me wrong. Im proud of being a NYer, but geographically its very far from where I live in Nassau County because public transportation is the smartest way to get there. Oh, Im also too pretty to be in such a gross neighborhood.One of the calendar girls at my agency called me Thursday night at 6:30 to ask if she could switch my job for Friday. Naturally I was pissed since Id been given a really great case with nine attorneys -- a doctor who was testifying in a case Id taken in the past. In fact, I was actually requested by the client, so when Calendar Girl asked to put me on something else, I groaned. It was a CART assignment, something Id never really been too fond of because of the high-pressure tactics the attorneys put on me. I am capable; I just dont like working too hard on Fridays. She promised me the sun and moon in terms of dollars because it was in the Bronx, so I agreed. This was a hearing-impaired witness who doesnt sign, so she needed a CART reporter to be able to read the questions from a screen. Apparently she beacme deaf later in life and spoke clearly, so that alleviated one of my fears that Id be reading her answers of a cocktail napkin that shed scribbled to create the record. Thered be two hookups: one for her and one for her attorney. The client didnt need to see what he said, asserting hed just ask me to read back anything of interest. Again, money motivated me that day, if nothing else, so I dove right in ready to caption the day away.Now, I swore off this type of work a few years ago because of a traumatic experience. No, I didnt screw up the assignment and misstroke quot;if you canquot; for a four-letter word. I was providing CART for a mute and hearing-impaired old woman who was a Pro Se Plaintiff in a personal injury case. As she was reading a question asked by the attorney, Counsel and I engaged in a brief conversation about how long hed been at his firm. Sure, it was probably not the right time to start gossiping about law firms, but the awkward silence of the witness made the day drag. Plaintiff looked up, saw our lips moving and our faces smiling, and she wrote on a piece of paper quot;What are you two saying, and why isnt it on the record? Youre making fun of me!!quot; We assured her we werent, but she stood up and stormed out of the room and left. It was embarrassing for all parties involved, and I was tasked with the responsibility of explaining to my agency principal why the depo ended so abruptly. Counsel and I agreed that wed quot;massage the truthquot; and say Plaintiff was seriously emotionally disturbed and urinated on her chair after chanting some Bhuddist prayers and wishing us death because my eyebrows were more neatly manicured than hers. (Hey, I said quot;massagequot; the truth.) For this reason, I stopped doing CART work.I entered the Third Circle of Hell yesterday at 9:15, a full hour before the deposition was to start. Now, it was being held at the courthouse because the Plaintiff was phyically afraid of the Pro Se Defendant who would also be attending the deposition. I learned it was an assault case rather than a medical malpractice action. The client represented the hospital where the alleged molestation occurred but couldnt represent the male Defendant nursing assistant because -- well, actually, I dont realy care why. It made the papers last year, if you really must know, and the Plaintiff is represented by the summiest, slimiest ambulance-chasing troublemaker in NYC. (Hint: Hes always following Al Sharptounge around because hes a real media whore.)Im on Case CATalyst, and my CaseView efforts are done wirelessly. I stopped carrying the wires a long time ago. As I got set up with the two loaner laptops, I absolutely COULD NOT get the session to start. I began to panic, and calling the IT person at my agency proved worthless since shes a moron with an attitude problem. Poor cell service at the courthouse also made calling Stenograph almost impossible. No one could help me out of this dilemma, so I made a phone call to the NY office of my agency, BEGGING someone to come with cables so we could get the show on the road. As soon as Plaintiffs counsel got wind of my problem, he loudly (in typical assh*le fashion) started grandstanding and posturing his displeasure at me, my profession, and my offer to let his client at least just read MY screen as a last-ditch effort to provide CART. There were lots of people in the area where Counsel put on his show, but I remained unimpressed. As he began loudly and emphatically threatening to go to the judge and force Defendant to waive the Plaintiffs deposition because of HIS wrongly perceived view of my shortcomings as a CART reporter, I just stood there smiling at him. It was a nervous smile, like the one youd give to someone who just farted in church. He then started grumbling that this deposition had been scheduled WELL in advance to make sure the reporter brought quot;the CART machine.quot; He continued to use this ignorant expression, lecturing me that I should have quot;brought the CART machinequot; since I knew his client quot;needs a CART machine.quot; All I could do was stand there while he ammassed his audience of nervous citizens as he made an ass of himself. When I couldnt take it anymore, I urged him to quot;simmer down, Counsel. First of all, theres NO SUCH THING as a CART machine. Thats number one. I made a call to someone at my office to meet me here with the necessary cables to connect the laptop youll be utilizing. Please, stop yelling at me because youll make one more remark and itll retult in you having no reporter. An IT guy is on the way with cables, and well get started when he shows up. Thank you.quot; I seriously was one second away from telling him to STFU or Id punch him in the throat. Then again, Im too much of a lady to engage in such ugly behavior.Defense counsel came to my rescue and thanked me for the delay since he was hoping to go to the judge and argue something else. He also told me Plaintiffs counsel has been an assh*le throughout the entire time the case has been in litigation and that I shouldnt take anything he says to heart. I assured Counsel it wasnt a tactic; rather I was missing a cable. Mr. IT Guy showed up and connected us, and the deposition began about 45 minutes behind schedule. Hardly the end of the world, if you ask me.Were on the record. Counsel gave his two-page admonition to the Plaintiff that she should wait for the entire question to be on the record before she begins to answer. Plaintiffs counsel immediately interrupted with a stupid objection to quot;telling my client what to do.quot; Defendant said it was a formality. Unfortunately for me, I misstroked quot;Id like your best estimationquot; with quot;your west estimation.quot; Plaintiffs counsel immediately began barking at me that quot;my client doesnt know what quot;my west estimation means. Are you sure youre operating the CART machine properly?quot; I tell you, it took all of my strength not to leap across the table and choke him with his tacky polyester tie. I politely said Im not perfect, but if I catch the errror, Ill immediately fix it. quot;Dont worry, Counsel. Ill provide accurate translation for your client.quot;We continued, and the day oozed by like a yeast infection on a Jerome Avenue prostitute. I only had ONE untranslate the entire day, and it was the word spaghetti. Yes, its in my dictionary. I just misstroked it. Perhaps I need to keep my iPhone off instead of playing Scrabble in between Qamp;A. As the day oozed on, she testified in response to Counsels questions. It was really smooth. Even the assh*le Plaintiffs attorney thanked me at the end of the day for quot;doing such a great job with the CART machine.quot; Some people just dont learn.I wrote 178 pages yesterday. We got thrown out of the courthouse at 4:30 since the clerk obviously wanted to go home. The deposition didnt finish, so its going to continue in a few weeks. Hopefully Ill be retired by then, because I really hate doing CART work. The added stress of having to be almost perfect coupled with attorneys who are total assh*les dont make it worth it to me.

Cell phone Interruption in testimony

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:24:42 GMT

I was in the middle of do a depo, when the deponents phone rang, he stopped answering the question and turned the phone off. How would you note that OR would you note that?

2009 v. 2012 Diamante

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:08:24 GMT

I know someone selling a 2009 Diamante for a really good deal. Is there that much of a difference between the 2009 and 2012 besides the short strokes? Can anyone give me some advice?

Would anyone like to listen to a clip of audio?

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 23:49:54 GMT

I was wondering if anyone would be willing to have me e-mail a piece of audio to them to help me figure what is said? Please let me know! Thank you :)

How to overcome a word with SKW or SKR

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:23:14 GMT

I am having a very difficult time with words lke square, shivers, squeeze, sweeper, screws, scrapped....I am sure you get the picture. It seems like no matter how many times I practice these words I still find myself hesitiating. If anyone has any suggestions that would be great.

Medical word help

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:07:36 GMT

I did a WCAB doctors depo. I am having trouble figuring out a word the attorney used while questioning the doctor. To me it sounded like nixus. Below is the question:In terms of the nixus, it didnt appear to be any discussion of it within the body of the report between the industrial and the diabetic condition. Did you look at the blood panel numbers to ensure that is indeed a correct assessment?And help would be greatly appreciated on this word quot;nixusquot;!

Would you write 9 to 5 or nine to five in a transcript when the witness is talking about work hours?

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:37:05 GMT

It doesnt look right to me as quot;nine to fivequot; or quot;9:00 to 5:00.quot;

Is it just me or have I been hexed?

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 21:57:00 GMT

So Ive been reporting for almost two years now, and I love it! However, I feel like Im doing something wrong. I have been having a horrible streak this entire year. When I started reporting, I was started off with one agency (I know, not the best idea), which would put me on calendar twice to three times a week. It was about all I could handle in the beginning, because the jobs were pretty lengthy and demanding. I soon acclimated, but then there was a slump, say, in January of this year, and its hasnt been the same since. As soon as it slowed down, I started calling more agencies, but have only been successful in getting called back by two to (occasionally) three other agencies. Everyone says the same thing, theres nothing or it fell off calendar. Not only that, I seem to have about one to two cancellations per week. I generally have about one to two jobs (that actually go through) per week. Is this about average? Another thing is, I live in what seems like the middle of nowhere, and feel I can only drive 115 miles one way, especially since gas is so expensive, and now my jobs only seem to last 1-3 hours. I know, people may say, well, then you should consider moving. I have little children and a house and am so upside down on my mortgage, I just cannot afford to walk away or sell it. I feel stuck here. So my question is, is it just me? Am I being too picky or not flexible enough? Or has it slowed down for everyone? What is the most you are willing to drive? I live in the sticks in Hemet, California.

What should I put in the record in this situation?

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 20:59:28 GMT

So an attorney decided to try and clarify a point by drawing an intersection on a sheet of paper today. I marked where he started doing that, and he subsequently would ask the witness questions pertaining to it, she would point to aspects of the intersection (I put indicating), and then he would pose a yes or no question so it was clear for the record. A few minutes later later, the witnesss attorney objected to him doing that, so he stopped.

What should I put in the record?

Do attorneys always have reading and signing waived

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:38:01 GMT

I went on a deposition and I dont think they stated in the deposition if the reading and signing was waived or not. Is that unusal? Now my agency is questioning it. Do I suppose to ask the attorneys after the witness is sworn in and is this a big deal?

What do you do if an atty mislabels exhibits?

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:13:57 GMT

The atty for a videotaped deposition marked two exhibits the same number and forget Exhibit 13. How do I show this in the transcript? Do I leave out the one he missed? Do I combine the two that are both marked the same number? Please Help!!!

Impression Writer

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:14:35 GMT

Any reviews of the Procat Impression writer? Ive heard good and bad. I would love to hear some more feedback.

Jobs in Pennsylvania

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:04:51 GMT

Is anyone interested in doing a District Justice Hearing on Friday? It is in Reading, Pennsylvania. You can charge for a travel fee.Also, is anyone intersted in taking a job on Thursday in Maryland. If you are from PA, the boss would be willing to drive you to Maryland.

Help Decipher- Medical

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 08:53:50 GMT

(What is the last medical word-- this pertains to the LUNGS)quot;The histopathology is the gold standard; the radiology, clinical, Osculatory.quot;

Help Me Decipher this sentence-Motion

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:11:52 GMT

Today, the lawyer for the insurance company put a motion on record at the beginning of the dep to be excused from the case since his company is not liable. Please help decifer the words after quot;removed.quot; I dont think quot;discharged from the notes is right.quot; quot;As such, I had an off-the-record-discussion with counsel, and we will be making a motion to be removed and discharged from the notes. Thank you. quot;

Appearance Page Question

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:24:28 GMT

When you have 3 attorneys present in a deposition, one for the Plaintiff, and one each for two separate defendants, do you itemize by defendant the attorneys or not?Example:ON BEHALF OF THE PLAINTIFF:Average Joe, Esq.ABC Law Firm, LLC(street address etc...)ON BEHALF OF THE DEFENDANTS:For Acme Realty:Susie Q. Reporter, Esq.XYZ Law Firm, LLC(Street address)For Local Grocer, Inc.:John Doe, Esq.Law Firm, LLP(Street Address ...)Yes or no?

Best way to attach photographs to original??

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:39:26 GMT

I have been given 30 4x6 photographs to attach to an original deposition. What would be the best way to do this?

Is Off the record necessary?

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:03:28 GMT

Last week I reported a marriage dissolution, two volumes.Ive worked with our client many times before.Opposing counsel gave me a really hard time from the start. Its a very contentious case with a lot of talking over each other, which I can get in short spurts - an objection, and insult, continuation of objection. No problem.When opposing counsel became flustered himself, he turned on me and admonished me that he cant see how I could possibly be making an accurate record and that I should stop them rather than not record what theyre saying.I took great offense to this, defended myself by letting him know that Im highly skilled and that if I were not getting it, Id say so. He did this to me on more than one occasion. I told him he could check my screen. At the break, he said he didnt mean to be offensive. I told him that after the third time of his questioning me, it was insulting and implies that I am not fulfilling my duties.So we didnt get off to a great start.Our client many times goes off the record without saying, quot;Off the record,quot; and the other attorney agreeing, quot;Off the record.quot; In my experience, many attorneys have this practice.So my client says something to the effect of quot;Lets take a minute. Ill go get it,quot; and walks out of the room. As hes exiting, opposing counsel says something to our client and is ignored. Opposing jerk turns to me and says, quot;Well, unfortunately for you, we arent off the record since Mr. Cohen didnt say, Off the record, so youll have to sit here and wait. You DO know that both parties have to stipulate to go off, dont you? Im not doing this to you. I want to go off, but Mr. Cohen just walked out without saying anything.quot; Obviously the man was irked that he was ignored.I snapped back that I know the Code. To me, our client did agree to go off the record. When a client says, quot;Lets take a minute,quot; or quot;Give me a second here, and Ill be back,quot; and the other attorneys get up for coffee and whatnot, to me, theyre stipulating to go off. If theres a question in my mind, I always keep writing. Often times if Im unsure, Ill say, quot;Off the record?quot; and sometimes I hear back, quot;No, were not off.quot; That usually happens when an attorney wants to go off really quick to throw a barb at the other attorney without it being on the record. Or one attorney will say, quot;Off the record, can you believe the Dodgers this season?quot; and the other party answers, quot;Its an atrocity!quot; I dont take that down; theyve stipulated in my eyes.Anyhoo, I sat there for 20 minutes with the opposing counsel glaring at me. Anytime his client would forget we were on the record and say something, I took it down; when his wife called to inquire about dinner plans, I took it down; when an unidentified woman came in to adjust the thermostat, I took it down - and I noted each time someone would leave and enter. The transcript is bizarre. But since he wasnt stipulating, I felt I had to sit there, especially since he was such a pain to begin with. He might want to report me to the NCRA!Long question longer: Do all you fine reporters only go off the record ONLY when each attorney says the words quot;Off the recordquot;? What constitutes agreeing to go off? At one point I was sitting in the conference room by myself, on the record. So ridiculous. But I didnt want to continue to lock horns with this man. He wants nonsense in his transcript, hes got it.But for the future, how long would I have to sit there and be held hostage because this freaky little man want to punish me?Thanks.Tricia

Truthfully, do you still love court reporting?!

Sun, 9 Sep 2012 11:54:20 GMT

Over this past year, I have contended more times than not with the idea of a career change. Im finding more and more that the income is shrinking monthly... okay, some months are better than others as is always the case when being self-employed. But money aside, I have come to think that quite frankly (and not to toot my own horn, but if I dont do it then who will?!) I think Im way better than this career and that theres got to be something more fulfilling out there. Something where I can actually use my brain, be creative and part of a team. I mean face it, all were doing is taking down other peoples words, their stories and their B*lsh*t!! How about my voice and what I think and have to say? Oh yeah, I forgot, I have no voice or opinions and all Im there to do is listen and hang on to their every word to make sure Ive captured their nonsense correctly! Theres no teamwork here or comradery or co-workers to bounce ideas off of. If youre lucky, all it is is an infrequent bumping into each other with a quick hello, how ya doin before your exhange is cut short by some atty ready to start and cutting you off mid-sentence! This whole idea is starting to p**s me off. Anybody else feel like this??

Maybe it is time to change and get out there and enjoy a regular 9-5 job with perks like benefits, insurance and retirement planning thats structured and regular. Last I checked, nobodys getting any younger and the clock moves in the same direction for all of us! Chalk it up to the seven-year itch or maybe its realizing that the window of opportunity can close in the blink of an eye and that the time for change is here.

Videotaped deposition

Sat, 8 Sep 2012 11:01:20 GMT

I have a videotaped deposition I would like to proof against the video. I was not provided the audiotapes. Does anyone know of a way to play the videotape using a foot pedal to control the video to play and pause it?

Reading novels to perfect your English skills.

Sat, 8 Sep 2012 10:22:56 GMT

During the slow period the end of this summer, I read a couple of books. These were from Dennis Lehane, Gone, Baby, Gone and Prayers For Rain. I would recommend these books because the stories were great and, being a story-teller, myself, Im starting to think this guy is a genious at fiction.Anyway, my question concerning court reporting is, when you guys read a novel, I guess particularly a newer novel, do you emulate the way it is punctuated? Some of the stuff in this novel, I think is punctuated wrong (with the exception of puctuation that is supposed to be a part of making the story more suspencful,) but, then again, should I assume that the more current ways that books are punctuated with the new way to do it and that is the way I should be doing it?Does this question even make any sense?Or maybe I should just do what you guys had told me to do before I only use newspapers as a source of punctuation rules.

How do I do the appearance page for this District Justice Hearing?

Sat, 8 Sep 2012 09:55:03 GMT

Hello, fellow court reporters. I hope none of you were too slow during the end of the summer (unless, of course, you wanted to be.) I just did a Pretrial Hearing yesterday. I did quite a few of these last year, but a lot of times, the attorneys didnt buy a transcript, so I would just get an appearnce fee.On this one, the person filling in for the Commonwealth was a police officer. My main question is, when I make the appearance page, do I put the police officers address in the apperance page and basically do everything the same way I would if he were an attorney? Also, is a district justice hearing the same thing as a pretrial hearing?

What if the typed is not what was really said, and used in a read back?

Fri, 7 Sep 2012 01:32:28 GMT

The court reorter read back what she had taken down but the sentence was typed to have a complete different meaning and was used in a read back to a jury in a criminal case and there was a guilty shortly there after.

Who gets delivery of the original?

Wed, 5 Sep 2012 16:50:39 GMT

I took a doctors depo today. It was just the defense attorney and the doctor. It wasnt said where delivery of the original is sent to. The defense attorney asked the doctor if he would like a copy for his files. The doctor said he would like a single-sided condensed copy. Thats all that was said. Who gets the original? Help!!! I need to send the transcript in ASAP!

What is the protocol for when an attorney asks to replace a name with Jane Doe throughout the transcript?

Tue, 4 Sep 2012 14:18:00 GMT

This is a federal case, and before the depo started (and not on the record) the attorney asks that I replace the plaintiffs names with quot;Jane Doe Iquot; and quot;Jane Doe IIquot; whenever they are uttered throughout the deposition. All attorneys agreed. The problem is sometimes they refer to the plaintiffs by name and other times they refer to the plaintiffs by quot;Jane Doe Iquot; and quot;Jane Doe II.quot; I wrote it verbatim. But as far as the transcript, when I am replacing the names, I feel like I should include brackets or something; for example, Jane Doe I. That way the record will be more accurate as to when they said the name and when they actually said quot;Jane Doe.quot; Is this the proper way to handle it or is there another way to do so?Thanks for any help!

How do i get page number to print on eclipse

Tue, 4 Sep 2012 08:08:56 GMT

I read a file into a transcript and from that point forward my page numbers dont appear or print. How do I fix that?

Help! Whats this word?!?!?!

Mon, 3 Sep 2012 23:54:32 GMT

The only thing that remains in a (sounds like) vistijual sense is the rent.

Computer recommendations for Case Catalyst

Mon, 3 Sep 2012 04:39:27 GMT

I have been out of the field for the past 14 years and am now ready to start up again. I just purchased Case 13 and a Diamanteacute;. Can anyone recommend laptops that are best suited for Case?

Is anyone looking to purchase

Sun, 2 Sep 2012 07:10:48 GMT

I have a Stentura Fusion and Case CATalyst software for sale. Excellant condition. All accessories are included; hard case, wheelie case, microphone, paper tray, tripod, and other goodies. Please e-mail me @ gpalminteri.cr@gmail.com if you are interested.

Whats the simplest CR system to learn, writer and software?

Sat, 1 Sep 2012 07:30:39 GMT

Afer 27 years of using Xscribe, Im going to make the transition FINALLY to a new system, both writer and software. Its really intimidating. Id like the move to be as easy and painless as possible. Is there a package thats out there thats easier to get up and running on than others? I do a lot of heavy work and want to avoid too much down time. Dont need all the bells and whistles. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.Old Dog!

On line Court Reporting Schools

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:23:31 GMT

I used to go to school for court reporting but life took over and I stopped. I am now looking into reenrolling into a school. I came across quot;College of Court Reportingquot;, an on line school. I need to know how reputable are these types of schools. An on line school would really suit my life right now but would not be worth it if I cant get hired anywhere with their degree. Please adviseThank you,Stephanie Marquina

Need help with wireless realtime product

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:00:05 GMT

I use DigitalCat software from Stenovations and love it. I have an Elan Mira and, unfortunately, to order to have audio sync, I have to use my softwares audio synce and have to use a realtime cable to my computer. I want to go wireless for obvious reasons, not hooking up to attys necessarily, and have been told Stenocast is the way to go for me. Is there anyone out there in my shoes with any sound advice? Thanks!Speedyfingers

Moving to another state..

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:44:35 GMT

Im planning on moving to New Jersey next year, and I know that in order to take depositions there I need to be certified. My question is: If I continue to take depositions in New York (I take telephonic depositions), how do I keep my Notary License in New York current? Can I keep it if I move to New Jersey? I dont believe I can..Any insight is appreciated. I know I can call the County Clerk and find this out, but Im afraid to ask them! :-)

Can you write off your lunch tab

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:45:13 GMT

As a freelance court reporter, if you have an a.m. and a p.m. job, and you work/edit your a.m. job at a restaurant while eating lunch, can you write off your lunch tab?I think the answer is no, but Im hoping it is yes:) Im in NY/NJ.

Witness represented himself

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:13:43 GMT

At a PI depo today, the witness showed up without his attorney and represented himself. What all do I need to know to set up the transcript because of this?

You get paid when WE get paid!

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:44:39 GMT

Is it even legal for a firm to not pay you until they get paid, and if they never do to never pay you?We are in a subcontractor status and every subcontractor I know gets paid regardless of whether the person who hired them gets paid. I did a small job for a fairly sizable firm recently. When I didnt receive pay for the job I called to ask about it. They said they CODd the attorney and he still hasnt paid. Hopefully he will soon. This firm has multiple locations around the state. They are not a one-owner type firm.So am I missing something? Is there an actual legal excuse for quot;I cant pay you until I get paidquot; in this field?Ive never signed a contract stating I would work for free if they dont get paid.Any input would be appreciated.

Proofreading on Kindle

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:36:45 GMT

Has anyone found that proofreading on a Kindle is as efficient as proofreading off of paper? I would consider buying a Kindle or an tablet for this reason b/c I hate using up all my ink and paper.Side note: Can Eclipse even be viewed on a Kindle?Thanks

Has anyone heard of this word, Rheumas?

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:58:41 GMT

This depo was interpreted, so I dont know if it was an actual English word or if it was in Spanish. The defense attorney asked the witness if he had ever been diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. Plaintiff attorney asked his client if he knew what that was, and the witness said, quot;Rheumas, when the bones ache.quot;Is rheumas a real word or am I even spelling it right? Please let me know!

The Most Arrogant Reporter Award Goes To...

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:54:25 GMT

One of the things I really hate about my job would be running into another reporter on the same assignment. I was naive enough to believe accepting an assignment starting at 8:30 a.m. would actually start on time. I was apparently a total moron to believe the attorney Id be working with had a brain larger than that of a fruit fly. I could tolerate tardiness, but stupidity is where I draw the line.I get to my job this morning downtown in NYC. Im told its a rather important case thats been in the news and that the transcript is going to be ordered daily. Great. I need the money. Its been really slow lately and Im sick and tired of taking two-hour jobs that result in about 60 pages. Hey, what can I do? At least Im getting five days while other reporters who work with me are being left off altogether.Well, I get to the offices of Lesbian amp; Lesbian, LLP, ready to report a big case about a man fired from his job for being openly gay, like me. (Okay, its not the real name of the firm, but I thought saying Eddie Munster amp; Jack Black -- while totally accurate -- would be mean.) I arrived at 8:15 so I could set up. The receptionist showed me into the conference room. Its a dingy little room with no windows, and I have to basically pin myself against the wall on the far side so no one has to walk behind me and trip over my wires. Luckly the outlet is right behind my chair. Im in, set up, and ready to go. Now for the great part...Another reporter walks in and is greeted by the same receptionist. quot;Oh, theres two reporters today? Theres another gentelman already set up in the conference room. Who hired you? the receptionist asked.quot;Im here for one of the defendants. Really, another reporter? Where is she?quot; she shot back.I stuck my head outside and saw her. Theres another reporter from another agency Ive never heard of. I decided to be umcharacteristically friendly and introduce myself, although I had a feeling Id regret it. Theres a reason I largely stick to myself in this profession when it comes to other reporters. There seems to be this unwritten rule that were all in competition with each other. Im not, nor have I ever competed with anyone.quot;Hi, Im Adam. Wow, two reporters. Who messed up here?quot; I chuckled.As soon as she opened her mouth, I could tell where this conversation was going and I immediately wished I hadnt said anything at all.quot;I was hired by Pearl amp; Associates, the defendant. Ive been on this case for three days already, and they said they were ordering. Its their deposition. Why, who hired you? she snarled.Before I could answer, I thought to myself itd be better if I just said nothing, but I didnt want to appear rude.quot;I was hired by The Emerald Firm, also one of the defendants. I think theyre first named, according to the caption Eddie Munsters assistant gave me,quot; I responded.I just stood there, nervously gazing at the wall, because I knew in the back of my mind that the attorney whos representing first named gets to hire the reporter in this situation. She was going to have to leave, but again, Ive been in the position where two reporters show up and Ive had to walk out snivelling with my tail between my legs while someone else got to stay and write all day. Nevertheless, I said we should probably wait for the attorneys to arrive so they could verbally duke it out, so to speak. Im sure someones EBT clerk just didnt communicate with the other. End result: Two reporters.quot;Well, Ive been on this case before and I came here all the way from Yonkers. It took me almost two hours to get here, and Im already exhausted from working on a transcript all night on this case. To tell you the truth, I wouldnt mind leaving because Im sooooooooooooo busy and...quot;I honestly dont have the slightest idea what she said after that, because as a general rule, whenever I hear a reporter talk about how busy they are, I immediately lose interest in anything they have to say. I mean, why do reporters have to brag about their work? Seriously, did she invent the steno machine, or did she revolutionize the way I do my job? No. I dont carry on like that and yammer endlessly about how many pages I churn out weekly. Its not cute at my age. Its not cute at any age. Still, some reporters feel they have to boast about their skills like theyre trying to win a prize.quot;I wrote 300 pages yesterday and 256 the day before. I dont know when Im going to get it all done. I have stuff I havent even looked at yet, and attorneys are calling my agency asking for me for their depos. Theres one that only wants to work with me. I just wish I could disappear. Did I tell you how busy I am?quot; she brayed.quot;Oh, sorry. My phone was beeping in my pocket. What were you saying?quot; I groaned.quot;So what did you say your name was again?quot; she snapped.I didnt even bother telling her again because I knew shed never remember it, but then she asked me what agency I work for. I was figuratively on the edge of my seat waiting for what her reaction would be when I said their name.quot;Oh, I worked with them. Theyre still around? Yeah, I remember them. I had to move on, though. Not enough work. They dangle stuff in front of you, but theyd never give me the work I deserved, like dailies, experts, roughs. They know my work. Ive been doing this 25 years -- probably longer by now -- and theyd just give me crappy jobs that werent worth my time.quot;I tell you, I felt like I was drunk listening to her. I mean, if you could dislodge your hip joints so you could bend in the opposite direction, would you actually kiss your own ass? Really, I felt like asking her this, but I already knew what the answer would be.By this time, the attorney who hired me had walked in. He saw us, two reporters. She immediately greeted him by his first name, thereby giving herself the familiar edge. When he said hello in return, he looked at me and asked what I was doing there.quot;It seems your office hired me, Counsel. I dont know why at this point. Youre obviously more acquainted with Madamme Reporter over here,quot; I humbly opined.quot;Oh, sorry about that. We did hire your agency, but we requested her. I dont know what happened here. Just bill us for your time,quot; he declared.I skulked back to the conference room and packed up. I called the agency to let them know what happened, and Madamme Reporter chimed in, quot;Oh, if thats Marianne, tell her I said hi.quot; It wasnt Marianne, but I nodded and winked back to her in the affirmative. After letting the moron in calendar know my crisis, I hung up and surried out of the office. Not a second too soon, I might add, because Eddie Munster came trolling into the lobby and smiled at me. It led me to think I either need to work out more or shave less, because she mistook me for a butch lesbian.Now Im without a job for today and going home. Perhaps Ill write a story and crawl into a bottle of vodka all the while wondering why some reporters feel they have to be so arrogant when they come across a colleague. Its my career, not the very being of my existence.

Where should the Information Requested lines go?

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:58:28 GMT

Defense atty started to say about leaving a blank in the deposition for the applicant to fill it in with the necessary information and sort of stopped midway in his sentence to ask different questions. My question is: Where should I put the Information Requested lines?Q Okay. Id like to leave another blank and please fill this in with -- do you have this information at home?A Im not sure.Q Okay. Do you know if your wife has this information at home?A Maybe she does remember.Q Okay. If you can find this information at home, please fill in the name of the health plan and the membership number; okay? Did you ever receive treatment under that previous health plan of your wifes?

How do I format a transcript with 2 witnesses?

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:56:42 GMT

There are 2 separate Qamp;As for each witness, but it was one deposition. This is my first job. Im forgetting everything I ever learned. Hah. Do I need to reinsert the beginning..certificate, I think? Thank you!

How to write yes or no @ end of question

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:42:06 GMT

Im wondering how different people prefer to punctuate a sentence with quot;yes or noquot; at the end...for example:quot;Q. And at the kitchen is where you supervised some inmates; yes or no?quot;orquot;Q. Okay. So you would have gone to a kitchen; yes or no?quot; Would you stick with a comma, or separate with a period, since its technically two different questions, or would you use a semicolon for easier reading? Ive done it all three ways and was just wondering what the preference is for others. Thanks for your help!

Post-traumatic or posttraumatic?!

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:19:13 GMT

Okay, I feel like Im going crazy. I work for several agencies and post-traumatic is always coming up in the medical terminology. One agency tells me to hyphenate it, while another tells me its one word. I look it up in quot;One word, two words, hyphenated,quot; and its not in there. I Google it, and its written both ways. Now I know I may hear many different answers on this site, but what do you guys do!? Thanks.

Are interpreted depos extra pay?

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:31:11 GMT

I know were not supposed to talk about pay on here, so Im not asking about dollar amounts. What I want to know is if I should get paid extra for interpreted depos? I dont know if anyone gets paid for interpreted depos, but wanting to find out if you do and should I? As of right now, I get paid the same with interpreted depos as I do with a regular depo.

Should I get paid for travel?

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:00:36 GMT

My agency is sending me on a depo thats 70 miles from my house to the job. I had asked them last week when travel pay kicks in...how many miles before they pay for it. The girl at the agency told me that at 50 miles they pay travel, but cant justify billing for an area that is easily covered by other reporters.I asked them today to see what they would say about travel pay because of the depo being 70 miles, and she said she wouldnt pay it because other reporters in the area could easily take it and shes trying to keep me on calendar and busy. She also said that depos in my area have been slow for the past few weeks. She said unless they were busy and didnt have a reporter to cover it and it was like me doing them a favor, then I would get the travel pay.My question is: Do you think I should be getting paid travel pay even though other reporters in the area of the depo can easily take it? I want to get everyones opinion on this!

what to do when opposing counsel hears Q. wrong?

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 11:21:39 GMT

Atty A was asking a question: ... that is an impediment to development of that property by other entities with whom Hopedale has --ATTY B: Hopedale.ATTY A: What did I say?ATTY B: Oakdale.I heard and wrote Hopedale. I think the other atty heard wrong.So, what do I do with the orginal question -- keep Hopedale? --thats what I heard and wrote. It sure makes the transcript look funny.Thanks.Vickie

Anyone done Federal Government contract work?

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:07:03 GMT

Ive been offered to help a national CR firm for tax hearings held from September - December. I am told they bid and got the contract for the work. They tell me they agreed to accept (a certain amt) per page for the Original copy. Daily Rate in court would be a little above published court per diem.Expedites are paid according to an agreed upon price between the reporter and the firm who got the contract. They are willing to pay the mandated court page rate in lieu of copy sales, since its higher than the agreed-upon contracted price per page for the Original. They tell me the daily rate for court appearance is an 80/20 split. (I get 80%)Basically,You would show up for calendar call, go case by case down the docket in hopes that someone wants a transcript of their proceedings. There is no hourly takedown fee...only the daily appearance (or per diem)I am skeptical here ...Why would they agree to pay more per page than the contract agreement was negotiated for if there wasnt a catch? I think the catch is in the copy sales. Im thinking they may have more requests for copy sales to make up the difference? If not, they would be getting only 20% of the daily appearance rate for court and thats it!! Unless there is a request for an expedite. Normal turn time for transcript is 21 days. They tell me some days there may be requests for a transcript; some days not. Opinions? Anyone else done anything like this?

Any good sites to find QA Briefs

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:57:37 GMT

Does anyone know of any good sites I can go to find Qamp;A Briefs? I REALLY need to start implementing them ASAP!

Finna...Fixing to...what do YOU write?

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:07:46 GMT

Ive been told to put quot;fixing toquot;, but I believe it should be finna. It might mean quot;fixing toquot; but they said FINNA!!Thoughts?

Is a condensed transcript/index bound behind full copy or alone?

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:33:57 GMT

When an attorney orders an E-tran and a mini/index with pdf paper exhibits, does that mean the E-tran is their hardcopy (they print it) and we only provide the condensed version with an index? And the condensed and index are bound with the Exhibit tabs/exhibits and sent to them like that?

Capitalization .....help needed

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 07:55:08 GMT

Hi, should I capitalize send the bullets to the Feds or to the feds?

condensed transcript

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 06:17:51 GMT

Is a condensed transcript ALWAYS printed on front and back?

Transcript Binding Question

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:59:44 GMT

Im just now producing my own transcripts after working for a firm for a while who produced the final product in the office. When someone asks for an E-tran/mini/index w/PDF Exhibits,I understand the E-tran part and I e-mail the PDF Exhibits. The mini/index w/PDF Exhibits ... what does that mean?Theyve ordered an E-tran and a full copy (including mini/index)Is the Full copy just like the original with Exhibits/tabs in addition to the mini/index? In the same binder? Or...is the mini/index bound separately?

What is the most professional way to handle if you cant read back the question/answer during a deposition?

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:38:05 GMT

This has not happened to me and I hope never will but again I am a new reporter and I have these nightmares of not being able to readback when an attorney ask. Ive only been on a couple depos and have not yet been asked but if this nightmare does happen, what is the best way to handle this? Thank you so much for all your comments!

What is the best way to list during the deposition spellings?

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:31:41 GMT

I am a new reporter and I use Digital Cat which may not be that popular. The deposition I went on had several names and streets that I need the spellings to but I could not find the time to stop and write them down. My system doesnt allow for any type of color coated blur (which I dont know if any software does) that i could easily just go and find during a break. Please any advice? Thank you so much for all your comments. They are so helpful!

How would I list the attorneys that appeared at the deposition

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:20:12 GMT

I went out only on my second deposition today. The witness was a no show. There was the attorney that went on the record. And then there was two other attorneys who I did get there names and their address but for some reason I didnt get any other information. And they both wanted copies. The attorney that went on record did state the witness attorney did not appear so I know I didnt need that information. Can I just list them as Also Appearing?

Assistance with Remote CART

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:53:02 GMT

I do onsite CART but have a student that will be working online as well and the student will need CART assistance. Any CART writers out there have suggestions the best way to do remote CART? I have Eclipse software. Ive seen it done through Skype, just havent attempted it before. Would love suggestions (complete with technical details)!

Expert witness testimony question...

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:28:25 GMT

If there is an expert witness being deposed and neither counsel represents this witness, is it EXAMINATION for both counsel or would the 2nd counsel be CROSS-EXAMINATION?

Help!! Cant use Case Catalyst security key in XP mode

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 05:09:55 GMT

I just bought a new computer with Windows 7 pro and installed XP mode. Got Case Catalyst installed in XP mode but cant acess the security key. It is properly programmed, but my computer cant seem to find the security device anywhere. I have read that others have had this problem too. Can anyone Please Please provide help? Im running Case version 7 on a new Dell.

Is it slow in So. Cal?

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 23:53:53 GMT

Just seems that when school starts, before major holidays, and summertime work is very slow (Los Angeles, Orange County, CA.) But is it my imagination or is everyone experiencing this trend? WCs, Superior Court work and PIs are what I usually work on. So can everybody give me their thoughts on how they perceive how slow work is?

Upgrading to Case 13

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:38:37 GMT

Okay, Im finally taking the leap and upgrading from Case 3.2 to Case 13, and Im a nervous wreck. I have been using 3.2 on my big desktop and now the desktop is about to explode, haha. I called Stenograph today and ordered the new software. Apparently I cant run the new system until I send back my security key from my old software. Has anyone upgraded from such an old system to a new one, and how was the transition? I heard I cant import my page layouts or includes because my system is too old. Im also going to be using my Stentura 8000LX with a floppy disk because I cant afford a new machine....yet. Should I just pay someone to come for the day and teach me, or do you think the tutorial that comes with it will be enough? I hate learning new software!! Any tips or help would be appreciated!! Thanks.

How to Caption Format

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:30:08 GMT

One of the names listed in the caption is FirstComp...because the caption names are all in caps on the cover and title pages (at least this is the way my agency does it), would I space the words...FIRST COMP, or would I just leave them together...FIRSTCOMP?

Why can I not view the print preview of my .ptx file from E-tran mgr?

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 20:26:31 GMT

I prepare my transcripts in WordPerfect. I save them as a .prn file. I open the .prn file in Wordpad (its always a mess and extremely difficult to fix). If I open the .prn file in Notepad, the basic format of the raw document is still intact and there is little changes to straighten up the style page.I send the .prn to the Reporters Edition of E-tran to my firm. They run it through E-tran manager. I get it back as a .ptx. It opens, but I am unable to print it with the format in which I created it. It will not allow me to Print Preview, or View Page Setup. Is it because I used Notepad instead of Wordpad? Is there any other software I can purchase that would allow me to be functional to perform this process? Ive been on tech support with Reallegal for 4 of 5 days this week. I have work to produce and am trying to keep my cool. HELP!!!

Administer deposition on written questions

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 12:10:29 GMT

I have been asked to administer a deposition on written questions and Ive never done this before. Does anyone have any tips or knowledge of this type of deposition? Also, is there anything different that I need to do in the transcript? Lastly, how would you handle the billing??? Thanks so much!

Volume I Transcript

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 20:35:13 GMT

When an attorney says were going to mark this as a Volume I, do I put anywhere on the cover page of the transcript that its a Volume I? Also, how would you format it on the transcript and where would it go, for example, under the Case No., etc.?

ARE ANY OF YOU FOREIGNERS??

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 20:45:40 GMT

Hello,I am about to enroll in school and wondering if any of you are from somewhere else, if any of you have English as a second language...and if so, how is court reporting for you?Thanks for helping,Carla

Marking a question in the transcript

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:57:14 GMT

Applicant attorney asked to have the question marked in the transcript. Is the only thing I do is write the question, page and line number under certified questions on the Index page? Do I do anything else to the transcript regarding this?

Stating how long each break took

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 22:57:46 GMT

When the depo was over, applicant attorney asked me if there was any way I could state how long each break was that was taken. I said that I do have the ability of knowing how long each break took. Do I simply put (15-minute recess.) as the parenthetical if the break took 15 minutes as opposed to the normal (Recess.) parenthetical?

Is it appropriate to ask an agency for a page-rate raise?

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 18:23:59 GMT

I have been working for a large agency for about five years now. Their page rate is pretty low, but I get all the work I want from them and then some. I have been wondering if it is appropriate to go to them and ask for a page-rate increase. Im hoping there will be some agency owners out there that can let me know what they think.

How do I handle mangled English?

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:54:01 GMT

180 pages of a witness saying reculate..which is not a word...when she meant recollect. How would you deal?

How to format an objection from all attorneys

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:20:16 GMT

I had a deposition with 5 attorneys on the phone. Before the start, I asked if they could state their names with any objections or before they spoke on the record. They just decided that quot;one objection will be an objection for all.quot;
How do you think I should format this in a transcript as far as the colloqouy? Any parenthetical?
Thanks in advance!

Depo Reporter Pay Timeline

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 21:08:02 GMT

Hello, I am a new reporter working in the depo field, and I was wondering how the pay timeline and logistics work. A lot of the firms I am working for explain that quot;I get paid for the copies when they get paid.quot; My question is, when these firms have a regular pay schedule such as every two weeks, how does that work? For instince, say I get paid a per diem for one firm, and I go take a civil depo and two copies are ordered along with the O+1. Now, figuring that I will get paid on the next pay date listed, will I get paid for my per diem and what is due for the O+1 and have to wait for the other two copies to be paid for until however long, or do I have to wait till all copies are paid for including the O+1 and only get my copy? Following that, is there some sort of time limit as to how long these attorneys get to pay the firm and, in turn, the firm pay me? All feedback is much appreciated in advance!

How do I save a transcript as a prn file?

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 18:41:54 GMT

I work for a reporting firm that uses E-tran. I have been told I have to save my transcript as .prn file. In order to do so, I have to have the generic/text printer as the selected printer for this to work.I my WordPerfect document after transcript completion. I then click, File, Print, and check the print to file box. This creates a .prn file for use with E-tran. I then have to open Notepad and open the .prn file to make any necessary adjustments before sending it to the firm. I have found that when I do this process and open the .prn file from Notepad, the file is empty. Any idea where I went wrong? HELP!!!

Passport settings

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:12:49 GMT

Can anyone share what level they have their knobs set for tension and depth? Trying everyday to get them just right but curious as to what others have theirs set on. Thanks!

Audio cancelled out by laptop fan

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:09:44 GMT

My mic seems to really pic up my laptops fan noise no matter where I place the mic. Besides turning the fan off altogether, does anyone hAve any tips to stop this?

Difficulty finding work Phoenix, AZ?

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 06:59:35 GMT

I am a single, working, mother just about to begin my studies toward becoming a court reporter for my second career. I have read the statistics about demand for CRs, the difficulties of acquiring that skill, and earning potential. What doesnt seem to wash out to me is the fact that there are so few court reporting positions advertised in the prevailing job search websites. Before I put a lot of eggs in this basket, I wanted to be sure there really was plenty of work and this would be a good investment of my time, money, and energies and a solid move toward better providing for myself and kids and getting ready for retirement. Are CRs really in very high demand and short supply? If so, why are there not more classifieds looking for CRs? And if so, does that mean CR agencies are the only way to go?I would really enjoy freelance more that official, I believe, and deeply appreciate any insight or tips you can offer!

Difficulty finding work?

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 06:58:24 GMT

I am in the Phoenix, AZ area and a single, working, mother just about to begin my studies toward becoming a court reporter for my second career. I have read the statistics about demand for CRs, the difficulties of acquiring that skill, and earning potential. What doesnt seem to wash out to me is the fact that there are so few court reporting positions advertised in the prevailing job search websites. Before I put a lot of eggs in this basket, I wanted to be sure there really was plenty of work and this would be a good investment of my time, money, and energies and a solid move toward better providing for myself and kids and getting ready for retirement. Are CRs really in very high demand and short supply? If so, why are there not more classifieds looking for CRs? And if so, does that mean CR agencies are the only way to go?I would really enjoy freelance more that official, I believe, and deeply appreciate any insight or tips you can offer!

What is the best way to prepare for the CCP WKT?

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 22:38:41 GMT

I am studying for the CCP WKT and I purchased the CCP Exam Guide from NCRA, but I dont feel like it is giving me all the answers I need. The RPR Exam Guide book did a great job preparing me for the questions I would be asked. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to properly prepare for the written exam? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

When to put Esq. after an attorneys name

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:50:52 GMT

When do you know when to put Esq. after an attorneys name? Is it a given to always put it after their name?

E-Tran question - Im a newbie

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:19:58 GMT

I am producing my very first E-tran. Counsel ordered an O+E-tran. I know the original gets it all...transcript, tab dividers w/Exhibits (if any), sealed in envelope. The E-tran is sent to their e-mail. Do I also email an attachment with the exhibits? (They have their copy, so Im thinking no?) I need to finish this print job up tomorrow. HELP!!!Also, its a reserved signature depo. I wait to send the original to the taking atty until I receive the errata from opposing counsel? Advise please?

A Court Reporters Struggle To Financial Gain

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 09:32:15 GMT

A few years back, I became acquainted with an attorney in the city whose reputation for a hardnosed warrior preceded him. He frequently took an array of strange cases, most of which he litigated without acting as counsel to an insurance carrier. Anytime Id get assigned to a case he was defending, I always knew Id be in for an adventure and lots of pages. He was quite unorthodox in his style, because hed ask questions so out of the ordinary, opposing counsel frequently would object and direct their client not to answer.I didnt expect things to turn out like this on one case I had for him, but I think the thrill of being in on the action just went to my head. When my office was called to schedule a deposition at the office of John Blank, I didnt sleep the night before. Just remembering the previous case I reported for his office, the tension in the conference room was so thick, you could have cut it with the samurai sword he displayed atop his desk. Every question was so incredibly argumentative and improper, one would think they were being inquisitioned by an AUSA getting ready to hand down a federal indictment. In reality, it was a simple landlord-tenant case, but still, I hung onto every word thinking this guy cant possibly be for real. I mean, how does he win case after case when his clients testimony is so damning? I was about to find out.The deposition was to begin at 10:15 that morning. An odd start time, if you ask me, but there must have been a reason. I arrived to Mr. Blanks office at a quarter of ten, figuring Id catch up on some work while I waited. Mr. Blank himself usually thundered into his office in such a dramatic style, often yelling at his receptionist the second he cast a shadow over her desk.quot;Lizette, did you call Counsel from Nationwide on the Miller case to discuss settlement?quot;hed bellow.quot;I left a message an hour ago,quot; shed assertively shoot back.quot;Good. Make sure to hold my calls, unless its Mr. Brown. Im expecting to hear from him before we begin this mornings depo.quot; Then he looked at me as I was in the waiting area. His demeanor unchanged as he glanced me up and down, all I was met with was, quot;Are you my reporter? Come on. Set up.quot;I closed my laptop, picked up my bag, and I walked towards conference room B which I nicknamed The War Room since so many of his depositions took place in there almost always errupting into war.quot;Oh, yeah, Ive worked with you before. Hey, good job you did on that Johnson transcript a few weeks ago,quot; he said.quot;Thank you,quot; I answered as I began to assemble my tripod.Then Mr. Blank closed the door and walked towards me while my head was still down in my bag as I searched for a cable. He told me this case, just like all his other ones, was going to be very complex and that its important I get every word the witness says since his testimony will make or break his clients case. He instructed me again to hang onto every word and not to interrupt if it gets too fast because he didnt want me to affect the flow of the testimony.quot;Just write the word out, or do whatever you do, but dont stop me if a foreign name comes up. And no, I cant spell anything for you now. I dont know what names hes going to mention.quot;I already didnt like where this was going, but I do have a job to do. I also use AudioSync on Mr. Blanks cases since they tend to go very fast. One time I glanced at the wpm counter at the top left of my screen and saw it in the 350s. I didnt think that was possible because I cant write that fast. Still, the numbers were there for a solid minute.Oppposing counsel showed up with his client, and Lizette stuck her head into The War Room to let Mr. Blank and me know they were ready to begin when we were. Mr. Blank yelled at her to knock next time she wants to say something, and he scolded her loudly and even laced his comment with a profanity. It was incredibly awkward as she skulked back to her desk with her head aimed at the floor.quot;Adam is you name, right?quot; Mr. Blank inquired.quot;Yes, sir.quot; I affirmed.quot;Well, as I said before, I worked with you a few times and am familiar with your style. I know you reporters practically rob us for these transcripts, most of which I dont even read anyway. I think youre good, though. Not too many mistakes.quot; he said pompously.quot;Actually, Mr. Blank, I dont make any mistakes. I take what I do very seriously and will not certify a transcript unless its as accurate as I can make it.quot; I repectfully claimed.quot;Good. Good. I need you to do something for me. Listen and think about it before you answer, and if you repeat it to anyone Ill deny it and youll be sorry.quot; he warned.I suddenly became scared. I dont know why, though. Hes a diminutive man with a big mouth. Im six-two and otherwise very imposing when Im not slumped behind my writer. Even though I tend to act like a flaming queen around my friends on my personal time, I could kick the crap out of someone like him with very little effort. One karate chop to the thorax, and hed be in a world of pain.quot;This witness is going to try to deny the allegations my client has made, and hes more than likely going to try to pin it on someone else. I need you to be a little creative when taking down his answer to that specfic question Im going to ask. It probably wont be until well into the afternoon, but Im sure hes going to testify that his assistant was the one to leave the ladder at the edge of the stairs.quot; Just as Mr. Blank forewarned, I didnt rush to answer. In fact, I just stared at him like he farted or something else equally disgusting. Apparently my silence was loud and clear to him. He continued.quot;His assistant is out of the country and we cant find him. If you happen to hear something different when he answers, like I left the ladder there itll help my case tremendously.quot;All I could do was stare at him. The dryness of my mouth and throat at this point almost guaranteed the first word or sound out of my mouth would be a cough. Again, my silence was louder than I thought, because here was the part that made it worse. Or better, depending on who you ask.quot;If he admits he left the ladder there, hell be conceding liability, and that together with another witness testimony will help me win summary judgment and hopefully get the case against my client thrown out.quot;My entire career flashed before my eyes as he spoke. In reality, what he said came out in a matter of 30 seconds, but it felt like 20 minutes. Thinking back on the plethora of cases Id taken out of his office, it became clear to me how he emerged the victor most times.quot;Ive been billing my client about $350 an hour for my services, and since he doesnt have insurance hes been paying me out of his pocket. He stands to lose hundreds of thousands if this makes it to a jury, and hell appreciate making it go away for a few thousand. Are you with me here, Adam?quot;quot;Go on, Mr. Blank. Youve got my attention.quot;quot;I figured I would. Will $5,000 ensure you keep an accurate record?quot;quot;It might,quot; I responded. quot;Youre also ordering the transcript daily, right?quot;quot;Of course, Adam. Of course.quot;With that understanding, Counsel and his client entered the room. My mind was made up that I was doing something that some might consider wrong, but others could call it something else. Hey, Im not here to draw that line in the sand between good and bad. Im just here to balance myself on it and dance across to the other side. I swore the witness in and we proceeded. The sound of his voice already irritated me, and I thought he was ugly. Personal attributes shouldnt have mattered, but I psyched myself into thinking I hated this guy and wanted to see him suffer. I almost started letting my disdain for him show, because my exasperated sighs and noticable faces of discontent were blinding to him as I struggled to take down his answers. I even stopped at one point to tell him to speak more clearly without his hand in front of his mouth.The next three hours oozed by with questions on liability about his accident. The man did make a lousy witness, because his answers were inconsistent and often made no sense grammatically. Mr. Blank stopped the deposition for a short restroom break, and when he left the room, opposing counsel told his client to stay calm, try to listen more carefully to the question before answering, and to stop volunteering so much information. quot;Otherwise, youre doing fine,quot; he added.Mr. Blank returned to the room and said hed only had a handful more questions on liability before proceeding to the damages portion. The next question was the one that I thought would end my career if I dropped it: quot;Mr. Browne, can you tell me how the ladder involved in your accident ended up at the foot of the stairs?quot; I got it, every word. Mr. Blank didnt even look in my direction. His face fixated on his yellow legal pad, he awaited the answer we already knew.quot;Iggy put it there without realizing,quot; was what he said. My notes reflected quot;EU/PUT/T-/THR/WOUT/RAELZ/G.quot;I was astounded that I did that. I surely thought Id chicken out at the last second. I wondered to myself if this was the reason why Mr. Blank told me not to stop them if any names came up I couldnt spell. I tried to rationalize it in my head a few times that it was an honest mistroke, that quot;Iggyquot; became quot;I.quot; There was no follow-up to the question, nor did Iggys name come up again. The rest of the day seemed to move along a little faster, and as we flew through damages, my jittery nerves began to settle. I even read back a few questions and answers as the day went along. I felt I was free and clear. As Mr. Blank checked his notes, very few of which were jotted down, he asked one more question: quot;Mr. Browne, sorry if I asked this already, but who did you say left the A-frame ladder at the top of the staircase?quot; His counsel objected as asked and answered but said it could be answered again over objection. quot;It was I,quot; he answered.quot;Thank you. I have nothing further at this time,quot; Mr. Blank concluded.As the Plaintiff and his attorney exited the conference room, Mr. Blank asked me to go back in my notes and read back the question at issue. I showed him on my screen where Id taken down quot;I,quot; and he asked to see the steno outline as well.quot;I dated a court reporter for a few years and learned a little about how you guys write,quot; he declared.There it was, page 80, line 13: quot;EU/PUT/T-/THR/WOUT/RAELZ/G.quot; I mean, I very easily could have amended it during scoping, but Mr. Blank told me this was precisely the answer he needed to make his motion. There had never been an accident report indicating anyone named Iggy, nor had there been any employment records indicating the existence of anyone named Iggy. When I nervously asked about the witness potential use of an errata sheet or the word of his own counsel hearing something different, Mr. Blank assured me his own notes reflected the witness testimony to be quot;I left it there without realizing.quot; It was good enough for him, he quipped. quot;Thank you for your excellent service, Mr. Reporter. Im stepping out to grab lunch. Theres an envelope under my legal pad. Have a good day.quot;He left. As I approached the legal pad, I felt horrible that I was essentially throwing a mans case out the window because of greed. Then I took the envelope and noticed the cash. It appears Id been bought, I thought to myself. I put it into my jacket pocket and walked out without saying a word to anyone. I proceeded home to work on the transcript with that wad of cash staring back at me. Everything Id ever worked for and believed in was at stake, but the money spoke louder and eventually prevailed. After an hour or two, I finished editing the transcript and sent the final to my agency to be billed. Itll be awhile before I return to Mr. Blanks office, I hope. The money is still on my desk at home, and itll be there until I hear somehow this case is over. I have to work tomorrow on another case. Lets hope this attorney is a little more honest.*Oh, this is a work of fiction before anyone goes reporting me.

Need parenthetical for interpreter and deponent sworn

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 07:46:12 GMT

I just did my first depo with an interpreter and I need to know how to word the parenthetical for them both being sworn prior to the proceedings. Please?

What would be a discounted rate for a transcript on a depo?

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 07:29:45 GMT

I am a new freelance reporter. What would be a good discounted rate on an original and if copies are ordered? I also would have to pay a proofread as well.

Can I solicit directly to attorney offices through out my area for small deposition jobs?

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 06:17:44 GMT

I am 43 year old just finishing a court reporting program a few months ago. Ive only went out on one job. I really only want to do small jobs until I get the experience and my dictionary is better. I would like to pass out fliers to attorneys that I am looking for small deposition jobs and rates are lower. I am just trying to find a way to obviously getting some experience. I may even consider doing some probono work if possible.

Georgia rules on transcripts

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 16:18:26 GMT

As a novice reporter seeking advice to know what Im doing in ALL aspects of transcript production, does anyone know if copies are required to have the CR seal affixed in addition to the Original sealed transcript?

Anyone worked for Capital Reporting?

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 16:11:03 GMT

Anyone worked for Capital Reporting out of DC?

Rookie question on Transcript Production...

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 13:10:37 GMT

I am about to produce my first ever trancript from beginning to end. I have all of the necessary tools. My question is: The CR seal is always on the Original transcript copy. The copy does not have the seal on it, correct?

How do you write out times when they say -ish at the end?

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 23:12:22 GMT

Dont you just hate it when someone doesnt talk properly, then it makes it hard for us to figure out how to write it right?! Well, I have one of those situations! The atty asked the applicant for a time and she said nine-ish. How do you write that one out?Please give me your feedback! Thank you :)

Electro stimulation

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:04:09 GMT

Is it electrostimulation or electro stimulation?

Comma before LLC

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:55:17 GMT

Court reporters,Do you put a comma before LLC? I know that some people do and some people dont. Do you know the correct and true way to punctuate LLC? Thank you.

Half of Its Wrong Anyway.

Thu, 9 Aug 2012 08:49:09 GMT

I remember the day I started school to become a court reporter. One of the things the teacher in the theory class said was how it IS possible to take down what people say verbatim, because unlike a QWERTY keyboard (which was the only one I knew of at the time) the steno keyboard was developed in such a way that you could type (write) syllabically upwards of 250 words per minute and capture it all. Amazed, I didnt drop out after the first two days.I spent two and a half years in school before eventually graduating. I probably could have done it faster, but like most of you (though youd never admit it), I never practiced at home. Each test got longer, and the amount of drops allowed got bigger. I couldnt believe that on a 225 Qamp;A, 57 drops equaled 95-percent accuracy and a passing grade. I guess those were the days when a five-percent untranslate rate was nothing to cry over. Now I think Id die a thousand deaths if I saw anything even half of that number on my screen.The principal of the agency Ive been affiliated with the last 14 years came lumbering into my school when I only needed one more test to graduate. She gave me a bunch of tchotchkes with the agencys name and logo all over it, telling me thered be a job waiting for me when I completed the course and could furnish her with a diploma bearing the school owners name STAMPED on it. (Youd figure such a small school with less than 100 students and even fewer graduates each year would have prompted this greedy, lazy pig to actually WRITE her name on my diploma instead of stamping it on, and crooked.) Well, I eventually did, and I got a job with them. Of course, some other shyster contacted me first and persuaded me to take a job for her agency. I reluctantly agreed.My first job was a total disaster, because I was not really prepared. I had no exhibit stickers, no software to get the job done, and I wasnt even a notary at the time. (Oh, that last part is a secret!) I remember sitting at the head of the conference room table while taking testimony of a bouncer in a bar who almost killed a patron with a pool cue. I was so nervous that I stayed on the record the entire time, even when directed to go off. I dont think anything I took down in the off-the-record conversations was too confidential; rather it was mostly jokes the attorneys were cracking at each other. I vaguely remember the witness mentioning working at a local theatre while discussing his employment history prior to the Defendant bar, and one of the attorneys said, quot;Oh, I went to a Joan Jett concert there in 84!quot; I left it on the record because I didnt know any better at the time. I wrote what seemed like 500 pages that day. It turned out to be 89.Elated that it was done, I left the office and called the agency principal whod assured me shed help me with everything I needed since I was so ill-euipped to cover the assignment in the first place. Expecting to have the support I needed, I asked her when I could come to her office for assistance in getting the transcript produced, and she hissed back at me, quot;Office? You cant come to my office! I work from home. There is no office. You have eight days to hand in the final transcript, or Im deducting a dime from your page rate for every day its late.quot; Then a dialtone. What a KUPBT, I thought to myself. I should have tossed the notes into the sewer, but I did want to make that first payheck as a working reporter. I went home and cried myself to sleep.The next phone call I made to her was the following morning to say I had no way of getting this transcribed on my own without software and that Id really appreciate some guidance on how to proceed. She begrudgingly agreed to meet me at a McDonalds near my parents house and go through my notes. This was the first time Id met her in person, and I have to say one thing: I had no idea human hair grew out of someones scalp in such a hideous and unnatural shade of red. Well, it apparently didnt because the time we spent at the table in the dining room afforded me the chance to see her gray roots as she glanced down at my notes. Shed suck her teeth, roll her eyes, make these heavily exasperated sighs of disappointment while she crossed out entire phrases and portions of questions posed during the deposition. By the time the notes were handed back to me, there was so much red I thought she wiped ketchup off her mouth with them . It turned out to be ink from her corrections. We tirelessly worked over four hours together before getting through to the last part where the attorney said quot;No further questions.quot;I stopped her along the way to comment on colloquialisms and questions that actually had been taken down verbatim, and instead of acquiescing to my word, she growled, quot;Look, I know you took it down as you heard it, but Ive been working as a reporter for 35 years, and I can tell you that attorneys dont want their questions and statements taken down verbatim. They want their record clear and to the point.quot; I politely reminded her that I learned in school to take down the testimony and the questions exactly as they were phrased, and she snarled, quot;Dont worry about what you learned in school. Half of its wrong anyway. Just crop the questions and take out the false starts so the attorney doesnt look dumb. They dont want to pay for that.quot; I stared at her in disbelief as the words poured out of her mouth...along with spittle from partially eaten french fries. She basically murdered my record and shaved off at least six pages. As our session ended (and my stomach soured from the food) she said good-bye as she reminded me once more to have the completed transcript in her mailbox by the weeks end.Overwhelmed and upset, I called the owner of my school and asked for help. She gave me her address and told me to come to her house. Very gracious of her, considering I was probably interrupting her personal life. I drove to her home, expecting to work through it WITH her, and she met me at the door and said to just give her the floppy disc from my writer and shed get it done during Wheel of Fortune. Seriously? These next words she said will stay with me forever: quot;You dont want to learn, and I dont want to teach.quot; She snatched the disc and the dog sheet from me and closed the door, saying the final would be ready in the morning. It was, and it looked good. Of course, it was heavily edited and none of the questions as they were asked appeared in the transcript. I thanked her and submitted it to the agency for payment.What did I leave this situation with, you ask? I go out of my way to mentor students and answer every question they have, no matter how silly. Were verbatim reporters who should be thankful for the education we received, and its our skill that will keep us employed a long time to come.Oh, and there was also ketchup on my notes. And a Cellophane-red hair with its gray root.

When people indicate

Wed, 8 Aug 2012 16:06:31 GMT

When someone says quot;it hurts right herequot; and points, do you put (Indicating) next to quot;herequot; without a space, or is there a space in between quot;herequot; and (Indicating)?

Has anyone heard of this word?

Wed, 8 Aug 2012 15:16:58 GMT

So an attorney asks the deponent what his mother does for a living, and he says that his mother is a (sounds like) quot;modviquot; or quot;modriquot; tech. I have tried Googling this word and I am not having any luck. The attorney asks if this is something in the medical field and deponent says it is. I have tried the medical dictionary and I cannot find anything there either. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

How do you write spinal vertebrae?

Wed, 8 Aug 2012 04:15:15 GMT

Would you write , He was a C5 quad and could no longer walk.orHe was a C-5 quad and could no longer walk.also....He had problems with his C3 - C5 vertebrae.orHe had problems ith his C-3 through C-5 vertebrae. Thanks!!

What do I write for Caption and Appearance pages when claimant and claimant rep were not present and became statement on record?

Tue, 7 Aug 2012 16:45:41 GMT

What do I write on a caption page and appearance page for an EUO that turned into a statement on the record because the claimants representative and claimant didnt show up? Do I write: Examination under oath of: Jane Doe (not present) on the caption page?Do I still write the claimant representatives information on the appearance page and just write (not present) after their name? Im sorry, so confused! Thanks!

How would you punctuate this sentence?

Mon, 6 Aug 2012 23:57:30 GMT

How would you punctuate this sentence?And when youre looking at it, youre looking at it for two reasons: to make sure that your testimony today is correct.

How long is too long to wait for pay?

Mon, 6 Aug 2012 21:59:21 GMT

My first depo I took was April 30, 2012. I didnt receive my first paycheck until August 3, 2012. Is this too long to be waiting to get paid from an agency? This is how my agency has their pay period schedule:CUT OFF IS EVERY 10TH AND 25TH OF THE MONTH. - IT IS 85 DAYS AFTERWARDS (WHEN WE GET PAID BY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES) THAT YOU WILL BE PAID.....SO HERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

MARCH 10TH CUT OFF (PAY PERIOD WOULD BE 2/26-3/10)=5/31 PAYDAY

MARCH 25TH CUT OFF (PAY PERIOD WOULD BE 3/11-3/25)=6/15 PAYDAY

APRIL 10TH CUT OFF (quot; 3/26-4/10=6/30 PAYDAY

APRIL 25TH ( quot; 4/11-4/25=7/15 PAYDAY

AND SO ON

Is this too long to be waiting? I just want to get some feedback, since I am a new reporter.

How do I format to add more space between the Q or the A and the actual answer in Case CATalyst?

Mon, 6 Aug 2012 18:31:08 GMT

My boss wants there to be more space between my Q and the actual question or my A and the actual answer. How do I format this on Case CATalyst software? This is an example of what I mean:how it is now:Q: What do you mean?how she wants it:Q: What do you mean?any and all comments/suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

Two cases consolidated on estate matter - what style should be used?

Mon, 6 Aug 2012 12:36:44 GMT

I am preparing a transcript on depositions in an estate matter. There are two styles for the case which were consolidated into one according to the deposing attorney. The first is the typical Estate of John Doe, Deceased, and the second is Jane Doe v. Jim Doe, et al. The Motion to Transfer and Consolidate states that the Movants Claim agains the estate pending should be consolidated with the pending case of Jane Doe v. Jim Doe, et al. Should I list both cases on my cover page as being the styles of the case? And how should the parties be listed (i.e. claimant, respondent, creditor). I really dont know what is proper in this matter!!

Punctuation question

Mon, 6 Aug 2012 12:30:10 GMT

I am working on a transcript and the attorney is continually asking a question such as ....The John Deere 4020 tractor. Are you claiming an interest in that?Would you punctuate as I did above or handle it differently?And he sometimes states it like this....And the Caterpillar D7. Are you claiming an interest in that?How would you punctuate that?

How do I format objections on a deposition?

Fri, 3 Aug 2012 23:58:36 GMT

I am working on a depo transcript and hope someone can help me out on how to format this. So the plaintiff attorney seemed to make the same objections throughout the entire deposition but gets tired of saying the same thing over and over, so he says on the record that he will continue to make the same objections but he does not want to keep repeating them. So as he goes along, he just says quot;same objections.quot; My question is: Do I write down verbatim what he says or would I write down the previous objections he mentioned. Is there a blurb I need to add? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

How do I handled transcript regarding an estate matter?

Fri, 3 Aug 2012 19:12:18 GMT

How do I handled appearances when doing a transcript in an estate matter when there is no plaintiff or defendant? Also, in the caption where it states that the witness was produced at the request of the ________, what would I enter there?

How do I change number of lines from 25 to 24 in Case CATalyst?

Fri, 3 Aug 2012 18:19:02 GMT

How do I change the number of lines from 25 to 24 in latest Case CATalyst software? Please and thank you for any help given!

Should I use colloquy for this witness?

Fri, 3 Aug 2012 16:10:52 GMT

I had a witness who repeatedly was trying to speak to people in the room other than the attorney. Every time he did, the attorney would let him know that they werenrsquo;t allowed to answer.

Herersquo;s an example. Irsquo;m going to make it simple, not an actual transcript. Letrsquo;s pretend in this situation the witness is talking to his wife who is sitting in the corner.

Q Do you remember where you put your keys that day?

THE WITNESS: Do you remember where I put my keys that day?

BY MR. SMITH:

Q You have to answer the question yourself, sir. If you do not know the answer, say so.

He did this like 10 times! So my question is: Do I put it in colloquy, like I did in my example? And do I need to add some type of parenthetical explaining who he was taking to??? Please help. I have to finish this tonight.

Thanks

How do I send a Case CATalyst file as a pdf?

Fri, 3 Aug 2012 11:41:27 GMT

I am trying to find out how to send a job to my boss, and she wants it as a pdf. When I open my Adobe Reader and try to open a document, I cant find the file that I need with my job in it. Thank you for any answers anyone can give me.

Passport For Sale

Wed, 1 Aug 2012 19:25:10 GMT

I am selling a Passport purchased in February. Asking $3700

How do you spell sweeding?

Wed, 1 Aug 2012 15:52:48 GMT

This is a grade checker depo (2 of them). They both used the word quot;sweedingquot; (long e sound.) I asked each of them after the depo how to spell it and they both said, quot;I dont know.quot; haha. Isnt there a rule that if you cant spell it, you cant say it?However, there was an exhibit!! The handwritten statement was as follows: quot;We were sweding in hubs and feathers within the parking lot. I was sweding across to my swed on top of curb and gutter.quot;The word is not in dictionary and Ive already Googled it. Any ideas?

Striking testimony

Wed, 1 Aug 2012 11:45:06 GMT

When a judge strikes testimony out of the record, do you physically delete the testimony out of the record???

DepoLink, good or bad to work for?

Wed, 1 Aug 2012 10:31:59 GMT

Has anyone ever heard of an agency, DepoLink? And if so, do you have anything good or bad to say about them? Thanks in advance!

time-wise...how to spell this word

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:14:00 GMT

is this spelled as quot;time-wisequot; or just quot;time wisequot;?

How do I write that something is in the upper-left corner?

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:14:29 GMT

When asking someone to write something in a specific location, do I usequot;upper-left corner of the registration formquot; orquot;upper-left-corner of the registration formquot;? Thank you, Patty

Counsel Shouldve Been a Bongo Player Instead

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:53:25 GMT

This happened several years ago to me on a job, and whenever I see this man walking through the courthouse, my demeanor changes to that of a violent maniac who wants to kill. quot;Mr. Dickstein,quot; as Im going to refer to him throughout my story, really lives up to his fake moniker.I was assigned to report on a case where a mentally challenged little girl was burned in her bathtub because the water was way hotter than it was supposed to be, so said Mr. Dickstein when explaining to me what I was going to hear that day. This was to be the deposition of the superintendent of the building who apparently tinkered with the hot water heater in the basement because too many tenants complained that the water wasnt hot enough. Mr. Dicksteins contention throughout the deposition and the case as a whole was quot;Sam the Superquot; did not follow the instructions on the water heater and cranked the maximum temperature up to 212 degrees when it shouldve been no hotter than 180.As I entered the lobby of the firm where I was working that day, Mr. Dickstein came out and introduced himself. He almost broke my hand with one of those let-me-show-you-how manly-I-am-by-breaking-your-hand-with-my-death-grip-handshake. (This is why I also as a practice dont offer my hand to people upon introduction. Believe it or not, Id rather hug someone instead, but it gets strange looks in court when Im trying to embrace Counsel. Still, its more accepable than blowing them a kiss and winking.) Mr. Dickstein told me he expected this to be an especially contentious deposition that would most likely result in several phone calls to the judge to seek rulings on objections. He told me before wed begun that Sam the Super was going to be really combative and hostile, and his attorney was going to loudly object, sometimes interrupting the questions before they were complete. Mr. Dickstein also told me that since he hired me -- THIS IS WHERE IT GETS STICKY, SO DONT ATTACK ME -- I am quot;not to go off the record unless I instruct you to do so.quot; Well, wait a minute, I thought, Im impartial, so I go off the record whenever any attorney advises me to do so. Not so fast, Mr. Dickstein shot back. quot;Even if you get an instruction to go off, stay on. Your hands will be under the table, so stay on. No one will see that youre still writing.quot; Right then and there I should have faked an illness and said I need to get a relief reporter, because I knew this day was going to suck. I was right.As Mr. Dickstein grilled Sam the Super in his alleged flagrant disregard for safety by turning the furnace into a death scorch that would melt little girls skin off their backs in the tub, Sams attorney objected and said to go off the record so they could argue without their colloquy muddying up the transcript. Mr. Dickstein said he wanted everything on the record, so it made opposing counsel think twice before saying anything derrogatory. Again. Yes, there were a few nasty remarks exchanged between the two that I was forced to take down since I was threatened not to go off the record. I felt like a prisoner trapped at the head of the table, and every time Sams attorney said to go off, I got this death glare from Mr. Dickstein to ignore the warning and stay on. I felt really uncomfortable, but I had a job to do. I also felt it was easier to take it down and just strike it later than not to have gotten it at all.Mr. Dickstein was becoming more and more agitated as the day oozed by, having to put up with objections that were getting louder and nastier in tone, and directions to the reporter to go off the record. quot;Were not going off the record! I want everything on, and the reporter has been instructed to stay on unless I tell him otherwise!quot; Well, the proverbial shit hit the fan here, because Sams attorney asked me if Id been taking down their supposed off-the-record insultfest. I nodded in the affirmative. At this point, I was instructed by Mr. Dickstein to go off the record, and when I did, I left the room to call my agency principal so I could let her know the HELL I was experiencing. She too advised me to stay on since it can always be removed later.When I returned to the room, I noticed the two attorneys were on a speaker-phone conference with the judge to seek rulings on whether or not Sams attorney was correct in directing his client not to answer certain questions. I didnt evem walk back in at the beginning of the conversation, so I quietly sat down with my hands on top of the table. Mr. Dickstein was engaged in conversation and never looked in my direction once. The call only continued for another 45 seconds or so, and when the call ended, Mr. Dickstein turned to me and said, quot;Would you read back the judges last comment, please?quot; Totally dumbfounded, I said I didnt get a word of it because I was instructed to go off the record. I even said I wasnt in the room when it began. I mean, quot;Didnt you see I wasnt even in my chair when you apparently started dialing?quot; They were so wrapped up in their fight, neither noticed I was gone.quot;YOU MEAN YOU DIDNT TAKE DOWN THE JUDGES RULING? GODDAMNIT!!! DIDNT I TELL YOU NOT TO GO OFF THE RECORD?!?!?!?quot; He slammed his hands on the table so hard that a water glass spilled over. quot;THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENT SERVICE,quot; he said facetiously. He walked to the other end of the room and slammed both hands on the table again, yelling his anger in my defiance of his instruction to stay on the record. The slamming of the hands continued until Sams attorney told Mr. Dickstein to calm down. We went back on the record for a few more questions, and Mr. Dicksteins voice was softer, and his breathing was a bit labored. It reminded me of when Dr. Banner transformed back from the Incredible Hulk, except his clothes werent shreded. Just soaked from sweatBy this point, Sam said he wasnt feeling well and couldnt continue. They adjourned for the day, and while I was quietly packing up, Mr. Dickstein -- in a much calmer tone -- said I should have listened to his direction. Instead of giving in to my urge to curse him out and punch him in the throat, I said nothing as I placed my writer in its case and fled for the elevator. I didnt even say good-bye.Dickstein called my office and said he was hesitant to complain about me because I did, in fact, do an excellent job that day considering the tensions in the room. He just wanted to make it known that when he instructs a reporter to stay on the record, they should. My agency principal, luckily, did NOT chew me out when she relayed the message, because she was given advance notice by me of what Id been dealing with. I just chalked it up to another asshole attorney.

Doc with bad grammar, etc.

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:02:25 GMT

Working on a doc who is saying so many words incorrectly. Hes even made me question what I KNOW. Ive wasted so much time looking things up because I was thinking he cant be wrong, hes a doctor; I must be wrong. Hes wrong. Anyway, in his written report and as he speaks, he is saying carpal-metacarpal. However, I am finding carpometacarpal when I research it. Are both correct? Is it okay to put it in my transcript the way hes got it? Should I change it to carpometacarpal? Are they actually two different things?

Viewing realtime record

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:34:30 GMT

When counsel views a question on your realtime screen (instead of having you read the question), do you somehow indicate that in the record?

How would you format this question?

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 16:34:58 GMT

The attorney is reading from an EMG report which has parenthesis within it. The question is..Q. Would it be fair to say you were not aware of an EMG study with an impression of quot;electrodiagnostic evidence of a moderate bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome,quot; in parenthesis quot;median nerve entrapment at the wrist,quot; close parenthesis, quot;affecting sensory and motor components.quot; It would be fair to say you were not aware of that testing until I just said it, yes?Where he says quot;in parenthesisquot; and quot;end parenthesis,quot; would you type it as the following:Q. Would it be fair to say you were not aware of an EMG study with an impression of quot;electrodiagnostic evidence of a moderate bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, (median nerve entrapment at the wrist) affecting sensory and motor components.quot; It would be fair to say you were not aware of that testing until I just said it, yes?Ive actually never had this occur during a depostion, so Im a tad rusty. :-) Thank you.

Would you be obliged to follow an attorneys instructions for this transcript?

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 16:21:00 GMT

This attorney gave me a list of transcript instructions. One, no paragraphs. Two, justify both margins, right and left. Am I obligated to follow these quot;rulesquot;? I really dont like the idea of no paragraphs. Could be confusing or worse. Also, the right justify -- I dont even know if my software will allow me to do that. Ill have to call tech support to see, but I really dont want to do it at all. Am I required to do so?

help with word - sounds like illange

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 13:30:04 GMT

Three times referenced: I noticed on the first payment letters though that sometimes the first payment letter, the illange will show one place to make the payment to, and the first payment letter says our address.No. Itll never have my address. Illange has the first payment going to GMAC.Yeah. It should say -- well, I dont even know if -- the thing is, the illange thats -- I dont even think thats required.Is this the name of a company? A term associated with mortgages and lending? Any help is appreciated!

Capitalization Question...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 07:45:59 GMT

Hello -This may seem obvious, but for some reason Im questioning myself here. Ill chalk it up to a brain fart. Here goes:Would you cap quot;sirquot; and quot;maamquot; throughout the transcript?Q: Good morning, sir. Please state your name for the record.A: Simon Smith.Q: Could you tell me, sir, your date of birth. You know, Ive always done it lowercase and am inclined to think it is, but maybe it should be capped as it takes the place of the persons name. Although, capping it does look a bit odd. A petty question, I know, but Id love to hear your feedback. :)Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Why is it that as a court reporter I constantly feel like an assh*le all the time?

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 23:06:07 GMT

Ive had situations where I really felt bad about things, such as, I was twenty minutes late for a deposition once, because I failed to follow the directions I had laid out properly, I spelled words wrong on a caption sheet more than once, I read back testimony poorly more than once, and many other things.But nothing can compare to a court reporter who who cant read well enough to know the diffence between quot;MENquot; and quot;WOMEN,quot; and Im talking about the bathroom.I actually went passed the ladies room and into the mens room, where I was so fortunate enough to run in to/walk in on the attorney who I would be spending the next three hours sitting next to.Again, I ask, is it normal that ever since I started court reporting, I feel like an assh*le all the time?

To My Fellow Reporters

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:24:31 GMT

This site is a wonderful tool. The questions and answers that we share with each other have been helpful to me, and I have printed many of the responses to use as a quick reference.I would suggest, however, that the threats and insults that have been expressed by some contributors to this site are uncalled for and just plain mean. We should feel free to express ourselves in an open fashion without fear of rebuke. We are a community of Reporters who have knowledge, experience and sometimes hilarious stories to share.

Need a scopist.

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:45:16 GMT

I am looking for a scopist to look over a Word document that was transcribed with an audio file. Any suggestions?Im in the Washington, D.C. area.

Does the state of Missiouri

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:47:38 GMT

Does the State of Missouri use steno writers and voice writers both?

Does Missouri accept voice court reporters?

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:41:42 GMT

Does Missouri accept voice court reporters into their court association and are they used in their state?

Case Cat audio on Macbookpro

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 10:37:06 GMT

I have a really bad thing going with the audio driver running on my Macbookpro Windows 7 in bootcamp. It is a cirrus mic and picks up all the ambient noise in the courtroom. My friend has realtek, somehow, downloaded into her macbook... and her audio is fabulous. Anyone have this issue? She uses Eclipse. I use CC.

Would CR Students like a Free Formatting Class?

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:00:07 GMT

I have noticed lots of different formatting questions on this forum. If Scoping Made Affordable (SMA) would provide a free one-hour class in our virtual classroom all about transcript formatting which would mainly cover colloquy, Q amp; A, where to insert parentheticals and bylines, would you be interested in attending?All of our classes are recorded so if someone could not attend it, they could always view it later. Those individuals could also submit their questions in advance so the question would be answered during that class.I look forward to your feedback.

Thanks,
Devon
www.joyfulscoping.com
drscoping@gmail.com

Would these two words be hyphenated?

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:30:52 GMT

Would frozen food aisle be hyphenated in the following sentence:I was working in the frozen food aisle. Would work comp claim be hyphenated in the following sentence:Were you told it was a work comp claim?

Short-term employee?

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 19:37:42 GMT

Q How long have you worked for (company)?A Thirty-five years.Q Oh, youre a short-term employee?A Exactly. Has anyone heard short term used this way? It really sounds like short term, but could also sound like shirt term, which doesnt make any sense. Does anyone know if short term is used correctly?

How would you write someones name who is a junior?

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 19:20:20 GMT

When someone is a junior how do you punctuate it at the end of their name? Is it John Doe, Junior or John Doe, Jr.?

They Call Me Cyrano DeBergerac with a Stentura

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 08:25:22 GMT

Im sure Ill get a flood of negative comments and lectures from other reporters who think theyre Holier Than Thou, but I dont care because I dont think Im the only one to have ever been in this situation.As a freelance reporter, I do a bulk of my work for the same two firms with whom I have an excellent rapport. Im requested by their calendar clerks because of two things: Im an excellent reporter with complete and accurate transcripts AND I can (and do) remain partial while having opinions about cases wrung out of me by the questioning attorneys.I cannot tell you how many times in the last decade an attorney has asked me what I think of their case, what I think of opposing counsel, and how I think the witness testimony ranks on a believability scale of quot;will be credible and sympathetic on the standquot; toquot;this babbling liar doesnt have a snowballs chance in Hell.quot; I do my best to refrain from making comments when asked, but sometimes you just cant help it. I might add, its the attorneys who approach me 100 percent of the time, not the other way around. Besides, whos built a career listening to this stuff anyway? The reporter.One scenario played out a little differently recently. I was hired by one of these firms to report a deposition in a case where a woman claimed to have been rear ended at an intersection somewhere in Queens, NY, not far from where I grew up. The attorney with whom I was expecting to work notified me a day or two beforehand that he would be sending his brand new associate to conduct the deposition in his place. I immediately grumbled to myself because Id met this young associate and found him to be completely scatterbrained. Now, Counsel didnt ask me to do anything unethical (in his mind), but he did tell me to make sure the young associate doesnt leave anything out. Well, how the hell am I supposed to do that?!?!?!? Apparently it was quite simple.I am a realtime writer, and though this was not a realtime-ordered session, I did situate myself near the young associate as he fumbled through his prepared script of questions. The young associate didnt bear in mind that while reading through his questionnaire, he should pay attention to the answers he was getting so he could quot;skip to number seven if the answer to five is no.quot; The young associate, a nervous wreck, couldnt string a sentence together to save his life, and almost everything he asked got an objection to the form. I silently and professionally kept the record, and during a bathroom break assured him that he was doing fine but to just slow down a bit because he was stuttering.About an hour into the deposition, he covered just about every area he was supposed to cover, asked for a break to review his notes, and said hed wrap it up in a few minutes. Again, I remained silent and impartial and professional and checked my iPhone to see if it was my turn in Scrabble. I assumed the young associate would realize he forgot to ask one very important question while checking his notes and return on the record and clarify. Unfortunately for HIM, he resumed the deposition and said he had no further questions at this time. I glared at him from across the table with a look that screamed quot;YOU IDIOT, YOU DIDNT ASK IF THE WITNESS HAD EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A PRIOR ACCIDENT WHERE HE INJURED THAT SAME BODY PART!!!!quot; The young associate stared back at me like we were telepathically locked in a conversation and told opposing counsel he needed to check his notes once more.I wrote a quick blurb on my writer that appeared on the screen, reminding him to ask this question. He saw it. I quickly deleted it. Then the next question: quot;Mr. Smith, did you ever have an accident prior to this one where you injured your lower back?quot; The answer resulted in several more questions and eventually a few more pages. I guess you could say I was unprofessional, but as we packed up and left the office, the young associate told me in the elevator I saved his ass, because his boss wouldve killed him if this information hadnt been uncovered. Okay, everyone, go ahead. Tell me Im a disgrace to the profession...

16 rounds or sixteen rounds?

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 07:14:34 GMT

Im trying to figure out should I write out sixteen rounds or should I use 16 rounds?

Longshoreman case- Help decipher the insurance name??

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:29:06 GMT

Is Aamp;H (A and H) the correct name for the type of insurance the lawyer is referring too? (Google isnt helping me on this one)Q Have you rcvd any unemployment since this accident?A I think the union gives it to you for six months.Q A and H? MR. SMITH: Hes got a lien with A and H.

Sometimes Work Is Not Worth Counsels Abuse.

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 19:14:35 GMT

Some reporters rely on Audio Sync when reporting at depositions or hearings because they dont want to miss anything that flies by. I never considered myself a fan of it because I felt it somehow undermined my ability to keep an accurate record. I mean, hey, why should I capture every word when the Audio Sync is there? Ill just listen to it when I get home. Well, after a deposition I had last week, Im a fan.There were nine attorneys all around the conference room table with the witness to my right as I sat at the head. The man was an elevator mechanic, and you could tell he was nervous because almost none of his answers were audible to anybody but me. Counsel at the far end of the table kept asking me to read back the answers, because no one could hear. Wed started at 10 a.m. and plowed right through lunch with almost no break other than to scurry to the mens room and recycle the coffee and water wed been guzzling all morning. It was tense. The witness had overseen the installation and inspection of an elevator at a building that plunged a few floors, injuring two people. Hardly the case of the century, but there was a lot of money at stake.Ive noticed throughout my career that people tend to speak a lot faster than normal when reading from documents, so Ive always appreciated when Counsel advises the witness to speak slowly and clearly for the benefit of the reporter. Notwithstanding the mans eighth-grade education and horrible grammar, he read pretty well. Well, until he started to cite something from memory and misspoke. We were 280 pages in, and when he was asked what code he adhered to when signing off on his inspection, he said A1. Unfortunately, he meant to say A1A. No, I didnt drop the last A. (Im no elevator expert, but theres no huge difference in the two codes.)The answer was given, and the next question was fired right across the table. Fearing his client was not such a good witness and was not making the case look good for the defense, Counsel asked me to read back that last answer his client nervously gave. This is the same attorney who consistently made his objections AFTER his client answered the question but told me every single time to put his objection BEFORE the answer so it looked like he was really on top of his game. In the back of my mind, I had a feeling this was going to be an issue because I knew the guy misspoke, but I still read it back as A1. Counsel for the witness went crazy and started rambling on about how the record isnt complete, that he now has to worry about the integrity of the entire transcript because quot;we have a reporter whos dropping chunks of testimony and not saying anything.quot; Everyone in the room was quiet, because the didnt want to engage this attorney whose reputation as a ball buster preceded him.I read it back a second time. It was the only word in the answer: quot;A1.quot; Seriously, how could someone mess that up? I looked at the questioning attorney (the client) and said Id taken it down as it was said. In fact, I was a little disappointed he didnt catch it since he was familiar with the code. Nonetheless, he sat there cowering under his legal pad as the attorney for the witness continued to blame me for an incomplete record. We went off the record for one of the frequent bathroom breaks, and when the room was virtually empty, I quickly put on my headphones and listened to the answer from the audio. Of course, I was right. The witness said A1. I had quot;rightquot; on my side and felt better. I quickly hid my headphones, because Id never even admit to recording anything anyway if asked.When we resumed, the questioning attorney agreed that hed simply re-ask the question to get the correct answer when Counsel said he didnt feel comfortable continuing with me as the reporter. The questioning attorney said that might be a bit harsh, as weve all been working through a long day and were doing our best, quot;especially our reporter whos read back everything asked without incident.quot; When I was admonished by Counsel to stop the witness if he was speaking too fast or mumbling, I politely reminded him that Ive been keeping an accurate record for the last 285 pages and Id only taken down what his client said. His client actually admitted out loud that he misspoke and was tired and confused. Well, that didnt sit too nicely since I was then directed to go back on the record and take this down: quot;Mr. Reporter, for the record, youre here to keep the spoken record and not to give any backtalk. If you feel you cannot do that, I will call your employer and well see if we can get someone who knows hot to do their job without giving any lip. Do you understand me?quot; Then silence. He reiterated: quot;Do you understand me, young man?quot; Shit, was he waiting for me to put myself on the record and cry for forgiveness?I took my hands off the writer and asked him if I could address his comments outside the presence of his client. He said no, but I insisted. All the other attorneys in the room were giving me glances of support, though no one would utter a word in my defense. He eventually sent his client to the bathroom or wherever, and I stayed off the record and said, quot;Counsel, I dont know who the hell you think youre speaking to like that. I dont even take that from my own father. Im 37 years old, and I AM capable of doing my job. What youre obviously not understanding is that your client misspoke. He admitted it. I know Im keeping an accurate record, because its taking all my skills to take down your grammatically pathetic and baseless objections all day while trying to show off for your client. Go ahead, talk to me like that again. Tell me not to give you any lip, and make another statement on the record lecturing me like youre my father and see what happens, you obnoxious douchebag!quot;The questioning attorney insisted the remark chastising me like a child be physically stricken from the record when we resumed. It was replaced with a parenthetical that wed gone for a brief recess. The other eight lawyers in the room all told me theyd have my back if it had gone any further. The witness returned to the room, when the questioning attorney asked if hed like to add anything to his previous response, he said he wanted to correct a misstatement he made earlier about the elevator inspection code. His answer was now A1A.If I ever see his attorney again, hell live to regret it. After all, we do have the final say on a transcript and Ill just leave him sounding like the brainless schmuck he is and not clean him up. Oh, and his objections stayed right where they belonged.

Tell the parties its depo time...

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 21:47:03 GMT

Ive come across this depo scenario in So. California a few times, so I need guidance. Applicant and their attorney are sitting down and ready to start. Respondents atty is ready to start, but is either in his/her office or some other place in the building. Im either waiting in the lobby or in the conference room ready to start. Neither attorney is getting up from their seat to ask the other if they are ready to start. The depo time comes and goes. 30 minutes pass, still no one moves from either position. My question is: am I supposed to quot;babysitquot; these people and ask them if they are ready to get off their duffs and start the depo? Seriously, am I? Today, the client attorney told the person in the front office to notify him/her as to when the applicants attorney arrived. That person did not do this task, leaving the respondent attorney sitting in his/her seat wondering when the other person is going to show up. This is really comical, but when it cuts short the depo time, everyone gets frazzled and I end up wondering if I should have been the person getting everyone inside. What should I do?

Nonce word spelling HELP!!!

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:18:37 GMT

How in the world do you spell quot;un uquot; what some say for no?? ANY IDEA?????

know the word frag?

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:38:19 GMT

Have any of you heard the statement, quot;Thats not frag, thats factquot;? I have never come across the word frag used in this manner. Any help/comments would be appreciated.

How do I change the com port for my lightspeed?

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:00:02 GMT

My computer keeps assigning my lightspeed com port to 4. How do I change the setting in my lightspeed software to 4?

Does anyone know how to close files on an Xscribe StenoRam Ultra writer?

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:19:57 GMT

Does anyone know how to close files on an Xscribe StenoRam Ultra writer?

CaseCAT help with tran and edit problem

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 16:27:23 GMT

Ok. Here goes. I was helping a friend to set up here CaseCAt for realtime to a judge. We attached the the new Cool-Gear USB adapter, picked translate, voila, it worked right the judges computer. Now, Im not a CaseCat user. My friend is totally non cumputer savvy. So we decide she better shut down computer, restart and go into CaseCat herself so shes comfortable with doing this. She thinks she started a realtime file the way she always had bf when shes doing realtime for herself. Now, I dont know if she hit something different bcause I wasnt watching -- thought we were all done with it, but now no matter what u call the new file, it automatically translates some 320 page file. We close it out, open a new file for realtime and it just keeps doing it. We even disconnected the cool-gear and it still does it. Anyone know what could have possibly been quot;clickedquot; on by accident? Shes trying out for a judge Monday and we really need to figure this out. Hopefully its something familiar and EZ to someone????

What should I charge for appearance and page rate?

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:54:29 GMT

I am recently out of school. A friend who is an attorney gave me the opportunity to do a quot;quickquot; deposition in his office. I sent him the pdf and he wants a bill. It was only 54 pages and I wasnt there long. I told him this ones on me for giving me an opportunity to do it and he is insisting on a bill, he says the client pays, its not coming out of his pocket and I deserve it. Since this was my first job can anyone suggest what I should a per page rate that is fair for my being just out of school and is an appearance fee charged. I am in westchester New York.

Construction Industry Information

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:46:10 GMT

A witness testified to this website. It is used in the construction industry to educate workers on construction sites. The site is toolboxtalks.com and it will bring you to toolboxtopics.com, but they are the same website. Click on quot;Construction Safety Talksquot; and you will find a bounty of industry terms.

EUO deposition title page

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 11:58:33 GMT

I had to do quot;examination under oathquot; via conference call and was wondering if anyone had any info on how you may have done the title page for this type of depo? THANKS!!

and a half...hyphen or no hypen?

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:15:28 GMT

Ive seen this phrase quot;and a halfquot; with and without hyphens, so how would I edit this question: Q You told me that your estimate was about three and a half months worth of treatment, correct?quot; I have never used hyphens unless it was describing a noun following it. And does the word quot;monthsquot; require an apostrophy with an s? Months worth?

Attorneys asking for opinions

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 09:32:00 GMT

Ive only been reporting a little over a year and several times now I have attorneys turn to me after the depo or case and ask my opinion on how it went or what I thought.What is a good impartial answer that you more experienced CRs give? Especially when its the ordering attorney.

What kind of title page, if any, would I use?

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 11:49:54 GMT

My agency just kicked a last-minute job my way. It states on the assignmet that a man will quot;read his reportquot; telephonically. I am not swearing anyone in as a witness.Im not too sure about the format, here. Sorry if this is a dumb question.

Do you prepare a transcript when not ordered?

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 10:43:45 GMT

If you do a hearing (for me, this is in probate court) and the attorney does not want a transcript, do you go ahead and prepare and save it or just retain the recording and the file as written during the hearing without editing or adding cover pages, etc.???THANKS!!

Reporter vs. Interpreter, the KNOCKOUT FIGHT!

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:05:40 GMT

I generally avoid taking depositions where the witness is testifying through a translator for several reasons; theyre slow, the witness sometimes speaks English and ultimately ends up testifying on their own, the interpreters accent is so thick THEY actually need an interpreter, and the most obvious -- when the reporter speaks the foreign language, it gets annoying to hear the choppy translation or the interpreter paraphrasing the witness testimony.Well, heres my tale: I was assigned a deposition with a witness testifying through a Spanish translator. Immediately I groaned since I happen to speak fluent Spanish. Theres an interpreter named quot;Mariaquot; who regularly makes the rounds in NYC as the interpreter of choice because of her availability. I guess she lives close by and can get wherever shes needed quickly. quot;Mariaquot; introduced herself to me a few years back, telling me she was a paralegal in a former life and even taught a class in paralegal studies. Whenever I see her, I smile or wave and leave it at that. Other reporters have told me shes a terror to work with. I never knew why, but I heard she routinely admonishes the witensses in Spanish before were on the record that they should wait for her translation before they answer. Its odd to me because this is an instruction given by the attorney in their opening ramble.This deposition I had with her last Wednesday was a little different, because in addition to being loud, interrupting the attorney to say their question doesnt translate smoothly the way it was asked, emphasizing translated words like quot;beforequot; and quot;afterquot; so as to prevent any confusion the witness might have, she also would engage in long colloquialisms with the witness after the question was answered, and what was spoken in Spanish by the witness was NOT what made it onto the record. It was watching a Kung-Fu movie from the 70s where youd see the actors mouth moving with totally different words coming out. At first, it was a little irritating for me to be inclined to want to write the answer as Id anticipated it would be, but when the witness testified in her native language quot;A-B-Cquot; and the answer was quot;D-E-F,quot; I requested a recess so I could say something to the questioning attorney.During recess, I mentioned this to Counsel: quot;Im not getting involved in any way, shape, or form, but I think the interpreter knows the witness because shes totally coaching him into giving you answers that will make his case sound better. Shes changing his answers, repeating things out of turn, and leaving stuff out. Im only telling you since I speak fluent Spanish and I know you dont.quot; Counsel thanked me for the heads up and assured me my anonymity would be protected in the event it was mentioned.Were back on the record, and the first statement out of Counsels mouth is quot;During the break, I was advised by our court reporter that the interpretation is inaccurate.quot; I immediately took my hands off my writer and scowled at this attorney like I wanted to kill her. Then the war began. quot;Mariaquot; looked at me and very nastily exclaimed quot;You dont know what youre talking about! Im performing my function as a sworn translator. You have no right to open your mouth!quot; I very discreetly mentioned one specific answer where quot;Mariaquot; didnt translate how the witness said he thought the light was green because I very clearly heard it in Spanish, and quot;Mariasquot; response was appalling to everyone in the room. quot;Youre a liar! He didnt say that! Dont tell me how to do my job!quot; After a small back and forth between us (which I regret engaging in) quot;Mariaquot; asked for my business card so she could call my boss and have me quot;firedquot; for sticking my nose where it didnt belong. Here I am getting yelled at by some overzealous translator who thinks shes Gloria Allred, and the two attorneys in the room, particularly the one who hired me, just sat there stonefaced while I continued to remain a lady. (For the record, I am a gay man.) Counsel told quot;Mariaquot; to relax and refrain from being so unprofessional, and the last thing quot;Mariaquot; said to me was quot;You need to mind your business, you little f*ggot!quot; before getting up and storming out of the room. Again, I maintained my composure under the circumstances. Counsel apologized for everything, saying shed bust the deposition due to the translators inaccuracies. Counsel said she herself had a hunch things werent going well when the witness said something through quot;Mariasquot; translation that didnt make sense. Counsel assured me shed vouch for me in the event quot;Mariaquot; decided to call my agency, but much to everyones surprise, I said I wasnt worried about that because the business card I handed quot;Mariaquot; contained my cell phone number and not that of my agency.My only hope is she calls me so I can ask her if shed like to mop a f*ggots kitchen floor Saturday morning.

How do reporters with Aristocat like this software?

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 09:16:14 GMT

How do reporters with Aristocat like this software? I need to upgrade very soon to my very old Catalyst, and I hear that Aristocat is very affordable compared to others.

How do I avoid any possible repercussions?

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 17:52:19 GMT

I came across a job posting for ongoing legal transcription. The company says they video tape depositions and need a court reporter that can provide a transcript of the proceeding. I would be sent a 3-4 hour audio file. I have two questions about this possible opportunity.

1. They prefer a .ptx file. Is this the format that our CAT software saves in?

2. Since the deposition has already taken place Im assuming that a cert page is not required in the transcript so how would this be handled? That would mean that the transcript is not the official record, even though they want it in the same format as if I were sitting there at the depo, right?

Sorry, I cheated and pushed through another question. :) lol

This would be a great way for me to get my feet wet until I can find a firm to call home. Any and all help/guidance is greatly appreciated.

Proofreader - what should I expect

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 13:31:42 GMT

Im a newer reporter and Im not sure what to expect out of a proofer. What is normal turnaround time? Is 48 hours unreasonable for a transcript under 100 pages? I have no idea what to expect and how to judge if the terms I want are asking too much. Any advice would be appreciated.

What To Do When Counsel Mangles Our Language

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 06:39:35 GMT

Okay, I probably should use this site for work tips and advice seeking, but I find the opinions varying a bit too much and have decided to publish a funny story instead.I routinely work with one attorney who likes my skills as a reporter and has his deposition clerk request me for all his depositions. The cases are big, the depositions are long, sometimes more than one day per witness, and they always order it expedited which translates to big bucks. Heres the bad part, though: I think hes got some mild form of dementia and tends to misspeak more often, generating objections from opposing counsel and confused looks from the deponent.I used to think it was his Olympic-level racism that precluded him from pronouncing any surname other than Smith correctly. If the doctors name is Hernandez or Lieberman, hell go out of his way to say it improperly, often calling them Henriquez or Braverman. Once was coincidental, twice was a little annoying, but every single time it was misspoken, hed just instruct me under his breath to physically change it in the record or simply take down what he quot;meant to say.quot;There was a rather large property damage case I reported on with him as the hiring attorney, and he kept referring to the date of loss as April 8 when it was October 8. The April date had absolutely no significance whatsoever to anything in the case, and after some time, most attorneys in the room realized Counsel was just stuck on April for some reason. He later told me off the record it was his daughters birthday. Every time he should have said October, April came out. Eventually I just started taking down October. Even the witness understood. Then the unimaginable happened -- one lawyer down at the end of the table objected to the form of the question because it contained the wrong date. When I read it back, I substituted October which was the correct month. The objecting attorney through a tantrum and said, quot;Mr. Reporter, have you been changing his questions this whole time? You cant do that. Youre a verbatim reporter, an officer of the court, and youre distorting the record. I take issue, and now I have to challenge the veracity of the transcript in whole.quot; Most other attorneys in the room agreed that Counsel repeatedly got stuck on April no matter how many times everyone in the room shouted quot;Octoberquot; every time it came out of his mouth. No one had a problem with me changing it except for the one blowhard at the end of the table.After a tremendous off-the-record fight amoung the attorneys over how to proceed with me as a quot;crooked reporter,quot; they all agreed that since none of the testimony elicited during the session would be incorrect because of a misspoken date, we could proceed. I felt terrible that were about 120 pages in and this happened, but nonetheless we continued. As we resumed, the first question posed to the witness was: quot;Mr. Jones, have you had the understanding throughout the testimony that although Ive been saying April 8 I meant October 8?quot; The witness answered yes. It was cleared up, thank goodness.The next question was: quot;After you were notified of the fire on April 8 --quot; I threw my hands in the air and screamed quot;October, you fool!quot;

Independent Medical Examination, IME

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:09:57 GMT

What is the responsibility of the reporter outside of taking everything said verbatim while doing an IME? I have only done one other IME in the past. I took one today and found it very difficult to write everything down that the doctor was doing as well as what he was saying. Any advice for the future?

End-stage or end stage?

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:13:01 GMT

I looked this word up in quot;One word, two words, hyphenated,quot; but I didnt see it. If the sentence is: quot;he has end stage tricompartmental osteoarthritis,quot; would you hyphenate end stage or leave it?

Diamante For Sale!!!

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:00:21 GMT

Im trying to sell my Ice Blue Diamante. Its just over a year old barely used. I cant go to school anymore. It comes with tilt tripod, charger, jet bag, original case and duet rolling case. Im asking $4,000 obo.

Giving an address on the record

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 16:54:24 GMT

When an address is being given on the record and they Number 502B (as in a suite number), would you cap number or no? Thank you!

How do I transcribe a Statement on the Record that was given before a deposition began?

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 20:28:21 GMT

I took down a deposition the other day, but one of the lawyers requested that he be able to put a statement on the record before the deposition started. How would I transcribe that? Would I start the transcript like it would be a deposition and just enter the statement on the record before I start the Qamp;A section of the transcript? I hope my question makes sense! Im confused.

Federal read on

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 20:13:40 GMT

I was reading through another reporters transcript that was videotaped and noticed that at the end the attorneys agreed to waive a federal quot;read onquot; from the reporter. Does anybody know what a federal read on is? The case I was reading was a bad faith case.Thank you for your help

Using a manual machine? Want a 400 SRT?

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:41:16 GMT

If youre a student using a manual steno machine, heres your chance to upgrade to a Stentura 400 SRT for free. Check out the new edition of The Steno Life here for details - http://www.stenolife.com/steno_life27.html Also articles on financial aid, how to study and so on. Enjoy and good luck!

How the F*ck Are You A Reporter?

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 07:37:41 GMT

Ive never posted anything here, but this topic was discussed at a meeting held by the agency Ive been affiliated with for the last 15 years. When I brought it up, most other reporters gawked at me like I was from another planet. (For the record, Im from Earth.) Please let me know if Im being unduly obnoxious or if I need to have the stick removed from my rear end. I strive for perfection, and I think my colleagues should as well. quot;I remember you told us last week at the reporter meeting how anonymity is assured when voicing a complaint or concern to any member of the liaison committee. Well, I dont want to make any enemies of my colleagues, so Ill just voice it to you instead with the same assured confidentiality.

I find it embarrassing and insulting as a ____ reporter to be in the same company with certain of us who cannot spell or proofread a transcript at an intelligent level. When taking an assignment which is a continuation of something started previous to me reporting on it, Im often sent a transcript from Calendar or Production. While its a great aid in familiarizing myself with the subject matter and learning the caption and other information, I cant help but be shocked at how some of the ____ reporters dont bother to spell simple words properly or ask the questioning attorney for the correct spelling on a name thats mentioned throughout the transcript. When I show up to a depo and Counsel advises me its a continuation, I really feel degraded by being told quot;The last reporter from your agency misspelled the street name all throughout the transcript, so please take note that Jordan is spelled J-O-R-D-A-N, not J-O-R-D-O-N.quot;

I also take umbrage with the inconsistencies with reporters transcripts in how the title page, appearance page, and colloquialisms are formatted. Were affiliated with an agency that uses one style, and there are too many of THEM (not myself) who take too many liberties in how they create their finished product. Ive seen parentheticals used by certain reporters that are not the same as the ones I was given by ____ when I first started. Ive seen index pages and certification pages that resemble nothing of those from ____ and I think some reporters could really take a lesson in how to properly paragraph and structure the sentences they write.

Ive had this on my mind for quite some time, but I never wanted to seem preachy or obnoxious. I think it all came to a head this morning when I was skimming through the transcript sent to me last night to aid me in todays assignment. (Do the research yourself so I dont have to identify the reporter.)

Email Eclipse File

Sun, 8 Jul 2012 15:34:54 GMT

How do you email an Eclipse job file to another Eclipse user without converting to an ASCII (maintaining original format)?

Are there any official reporters here that started working in court right out of school?

Sun, 8 Jul 2012 09:49:58 GMT

If so, I would love to hear from you.Ive always wanted to be an official and have maintained that focus during school. I know Ill need to provide realtime, so writing cleanly has always been important. Ive passed two legs of the RPR and am planning on passing the third in August.Would love to hear stories of reporters that transitioned from student to official reporter and any tips reporters might have on the interview process. Ive scoured the internet for tips already, but have come up with very few.Thanks in advance for any input!

Any suggestions on taking a trial?

Sat, 7 Jul 2012 18:50:00 GMT

Ive been reporting for 10 years now, but Monday is my first time actually being in court and taking a trial. Im a little nervous. Any suggestions?

What is these 2 medical words?

Sat, 7 Jul 2012 11:09:10 GMT

Below is the doctors answers to a patient with spinal issues. Is CATHODIC and CATHOSIS the correct words? A: This is what is known as an antalgic and CATHODIC gait pattern. He was using a crutch to assist with ambulation.A: And they would have to observe and palpate his lower back to appreciate the CATHOSIS and the spasm.

What is this medical term?

Fri, 6 Jul 2012 20:48:02 GMT

Has anyone heard of this medical term? The witness pronounced itas bilateral ta-reej-ya.The doctor did not know what the term meant, but she did say it was an eye problem. I searched the Internet and all of my reference books. Any suggestions? Thank you

How to transfer Eclipse and dictionary to new laptop

Fri, 6 Jul 2012 11:50:33 GMT

I have an older version of Eclipse on my laptop and I need to change over to a new laptop. I was able to install Eclipse on the new laptop but not able to back up my dictionary and files to put on the new laptop.How do I get my dictionary, user settings, and files on to the new laptop?

Sneaky court reporters

Thu, 5 Jul 2012 21:48:28 GMT

Have any of you court reporters had problems with other court reporters or bosses and/or other people in the work place?What I mean is, when I first started court reporting, I started working for a woman, Ruby. She taught me her way of doing things, and then she merged with a company.The woman running that company, Rosie, did things a completely different way. Now, Rubys rules for merging with this business were that I would do most of her work (the work that I was able to get to being I didnt drive) and that her secratary, Juliette, would proofread all my work because I was new at the time.Rosie and the rest of the company soon said that Juilette was not allowed to proof read my stuff and that Rosie would be the one to do it. She caught me with quite a few mistakes, like I did please once when it was supposed to be pleas and I think I spelled musculoskeltar musculo skeltar and other mistakes, some of which were wrong and some of which were her oppinion.I explained to her that at Rubys, Juliette would proofread my work, correct the mistakes, and never tell me what they were, so this was my first time getting corrected on mistakes. I also let her know that I was only 5 months into the career.I really trusted this woman and thought she was great and I really believed that she was trying to help me become a better reporter.Then, I find out through Ruby that Rosie is saying that Im not good and I have a bad vocabulary. I dont think much of it at first.Then, I find out that Rosie is telling Ruby that Im the only reporter in the firm whose transcripts dont make sense. Now about that: At Rubys firm, she liked you to make minor changes to the transcripts to make them make sense. Rosies rule was that you keep what the person said in the transcrip whether it made sense or not, although you could take out like a three- or four-word false start of an attorney.So, Rosie was actually telling me to keep everything in the transcript even if it didnt make sense, and then going and telling Ruby that I was the only reporter who wrote transcripts that didnt make sense.So, then a few months later I get a call from Rosie. She said, A job just called in for 3 in the afternood.This was 1 in the afternoon, and I hope I emphasised the way she told me to take it and didnt ask me to take it.I said, Well, its 1 now. Where is it?I took notice of the way she avoided the question when I asked where it was.She said, I just sent you the e-mail.I said, Will the information be in there?She said, Yes, and hung up.I got on my e-mail and took notice of the way the e-mail had not already been sent like she said she had already sent it. About a minute or two later she did send the e-mail.The job was in Red Hill, Pennsylvania. I real quick looked it up on google maps and saw that Red Hill, Pennsylvania is not accessable by public transportation.Right away, I called her and said, There is no public transportation that goes here. I cant get there.She sounded like she was trying to play stupid and she said, This is Rubys job, Sweety. (I hate being called Sweety!!!!!) She said, Youll have to call her and tell her you cant take it.Just to give everyone a heads up, I was never an employee. I was alwasy an independent contractor. I was only given one job that month from that firm, which only paid a very small X amount of dollars. There was no reason for her to think that I was on-call or anything. If I had wanted to be cocky, what I should have said was Since when did I become Rubys secratary?But I didnt. Instead, I called Ruby. Now, Ruby is real laid back. She just sounded like she wanted to find a way to get the job covered, but she wasnt mad at me that I couldnt take it or anything.Ruby said, I just heard whats going on. Rosie called me. She said that it only takes 1 hour and 6 minutes.I said, Yes, but I dont drive and she knows that.Ruby knew she knew that. Ruby said, She already told the company you would take the job.Then, Rosie called me or I called her and she kept saying real cocky, So, youre not gonna do it?I said, I have no way of getting there. I dont drive.She just kept saying, So, youre not gonna do it?She sounded like she was trying to be intimidating, but couldnt quite pull it off.So, then she just hung up.I had another problem that month with Rosie squduling me for a job and no telling me that it cancelled and swearing that she sent an e-mail.A month later, I had an incident where I took a job that was in Cumberland County, but I wrote on the caption Cumberlain County, because that was what the notice that I saw had said.I was totally wrong, because I should have wrote it the right way, but of course she used that as ammunition to get me fired, even though I never tried to get her fired when she would schdule me wrong.I had another time where I had sent in a bill which was for an appearance fee and she called me up real cocky, saying, You forgot to put the hourly rate on that.I said, It didnt need an hourly rate beacause its just an appearance fee. I said thats not the so and so deposition, its the -- She cut me off real cocky and said, I know how to read.And then she just hung up.There was another incident where she sent me an address that was for Marlton, but she wrote Cherry Hill and I almost went to the wrong place. She acted like it was an accident, but I think she did it on purpose because she knew I didnt drive. The only reason I caught that mistake was because I wanted to go on that website to get the attorneys names.After that, she would send me notices for depositions and refuse to write the locations on them. I would call her up and say, I got Mondays notice, but you forgot to write where its being held.She said, Thats because I didnt call to confirm it yet.I said, Well, I usually get the location before I agree to take the job. You should have wrote it yesterday.Real cocky, she said, I didnt have time to do it yesterday.Eventually, I realized there was no way I could stay with that firm. Has anyone had any experience with people like that during their careers?

TRANSLATING NONCE WORDS

Thu, 5 Jul 2012 08:06:54 GMT

From the witness standpoint, I dont exclude anything but cant figure the best way to transcribe, quot; emquot; example-gt; I got a copy of em lt;-or ... do you write out them even though the witness uses quot;emquot; throughout the entire depo?

Would sixth end be hyphenated?

Wed, 4 Jul 2012 14:19:29 GMT

In the sentence below, would sixth end be hyphenated? But does it do it usually when it gets to the sixth end of the scale as opposed to the three? Thank you!

Does anyone know what Medcore is?

Tue, 3 Jul 2012 19:33:01 GMT

Does anyone know if Medcore is such a thing?Deponent says he went to see the on-site nurse at his work. The atty asked him, quot;Medcore?quot;Medcore is what it sounded like he said. Does anyone know if this is the right word and if its spelled right?Thank you!

Are college degrees capped?

Tue, 3 Jul 2012 16:17:39 GMT

Are college degrees like GE Degree and Associates Degree capped? Also, would it be Associates or Associates? Thanks!

sample transcript cover pages

Tue, 3 Jul 2012 07:35:02 GMT

Does anyone have a good source for sample transcript cover pages?

How do you loosen the keys on your machine?

Mon, 2 Jul 2012 08:15:32 GMT

I recently sent out my machine to get serviced and when it came back, the keys were stiff. When I write, the keys hit the paper but dont translate on my computer, in which it comes up as an untranslated stroke. My machine is used and it didnt come with an Allen wrench. Are there any suggestions on how to loosen the keys?

How do reporters travel with their machine and carry-on bag?

Mon, 2 Jul 2012 08:13:16 GMT

I am going on vacation soon and I would like to bring my machine with me, but I also plan on taking a carry-on bag since I will not be gone for long. How do you manage to bring both on the airplane?

Reporting in Australia

Mon, 2 Jul 2012 06:41:04 GMT

Ive been looking into reporting in Australia. Are depositions taken, or is it just CART and conference reporting? Also, is it possible to make $100,000/year?

Diamante Extra Wide Keys

Sun, 1 Jul 2012 10:53:28 GMT

I am purchasing the Diamante and am on the fence of getting the extra wide asterisk key and D/Z key. I have had the regular keyboard for 19 years. I always use the asterisk along with hitting T/D, S/Z. I constantly get my fingers stuck on the asterisk. I have used loaners that had it and did like it. Im just not sure being that I am hearing some people hating them and loving them. And I mostly hear from people that had nothing but the extra wide and never had the regular keyboard so that they really cant compare. Is there anyone that has switched from a regular keyboard to wide keys and liked them or not. Being this is a major purchase I want to make the right decision and hope I can hear some good feedback. Thanks. Tricia.

Student struggling in the last class

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 20:37:16 GMT

I am in the last class, 180-225, and I am struggling. I have stuggled the entire time in school, and this is just the worst. I havent passed a test in 8 months, despite practicing. Mentally, I feel like I can do this, but my fingers just dont respond. When I am going for higher speed, my fingers get confused trying to write the current word and the next word, so I end up with garbage. I am so discouraged, and really, really depressed. Please talk me down.

Can you work with just an RPR in Illinois?

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:50:32 GMT

If one is a licensed RPR, is it also necessary to apply for the CSR before working in Illinois? Ive heard conflicting things. If so, what are the steps?

email address in transcript testimony

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:22:01 GMT

in a transcript, would you have an email address as mynameis@gmail.com or my name is at g mail dot com?

How do I find out about reporting in Israel?

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:34:56 GMT

Does anyone know anything at all about being a court reporter in Israel?

Appearance fee billing

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:09:06 GMT

I just learned that my agency charged an appearance fee for my work and did not pass it on to me. Any thoughts?

What do you do when the witness gives their address incorrectly?.

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:22:25 GMT

I took a deposition and the witness gave her address incorrectly. She stated she lived in quot;Stranton, Pennsylvania 18508,quot; which is clearly the zip code for Scranton. I even spelled it out S-t-r-a-n-t-o-n, and she answered in the affirmative. How do I show her address in the beginning of the deposition? Needless to say, the questioning attorney kept saying Stranton throughout the deposition.

Is anyone interested in taking on a retired reporter for a scoping or proofreading internship on Case Cat?

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 17:17:07 GMT

Im a retired deposition reporter with over 20 years experience. Ive taken some years off to raise a family. Ive gotten used to being home, but want to reenter the reporting field. I would like to scope and proofread. Im interested in a proofreading/scoping internship. I just purchased the full version of Case Cat, Version 13. Im new to this software, and reentering the field. I would love to be able to intern with a reporter to be able to gain experience scoping and proofreading with Case Cat. If anyone is interested in taking on an intern, please message me or email me at rhuntercsr@gmail.com. Thanks.

punctuation with the conjunction or. How would you punctuate this Q?

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:25:31 GMT

Did she ever describe whether or not the bleeding was spotting or was it constant or something else?

Has anyone heard of a case called Britt-Halendorf?

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 09:40:48 GMT

Im transcribing a depo, and the attorney objects three times in regards to right to privacy about medical questions. I think it has something to do with HIPAA. It sounds like he says, quot;Brit Halendorfquot; or quot;Britain Halendorf.quot;
Does this sound familiar to anyone? I thought it would be easy to Google, but I cant find it!Thanks so much!

Best online site to keep track of write-offs?

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 08:36:17 GMT

Does anyone have a favorite Web site they use to keep track of all their work-related expenses so when tax season comes by, everything is listed by category on a spreadsheet automatically for you? I was looking in to Mint.com, but I am open to suggestions.

Does anyone have experience transcribing movies or TV shows?

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:38:20 GMT

Im trying to find a transcription job to hold me over until my CSR test, and I started to look into transcribing TV shows or movies into script form. However, Ive been in contact with some companies who do that, and they want it in a format with the timecode, description of the scene, etc. Is it possible to fulfill this format using my steno machine, or is it counter-productive?

Baseball punctuation

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:32:40 GMT

Im doing this deposition about a fight that happened at a baseball game. Its driving me nuts that I cant decide on my own to write quot;6th inningquot; or quot;sixth inning.quot; Or, maybe to some poeple it wouldnt matter as long as it was consistent.What does everyone think?Thanks.

Do I hyphenate room and board exchange?

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:02:06 GMT

Witness is saying that at different times she lives with different brothers and sisters to help take care of her nieces and nephews. Atty asks her if she gets paid for this.Witness: No. Just basically living with them and --Atty: Oh, okay. Room and board exchange for the care?Do I hyphenate room and board exchange in this instance? I was always a good speller and punctuator. Then when I became a court reporter, everything looks wrong or I doubt myself. Thank you!

How are dollar amounts written out when someone says they make nine twenty-five an hour?

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:22:53 GMT

When someone says they make nine twenty-five an hour, how do you write it out? Do you write it 925 or 9.25 or what way is it written? Thank you!

Why should a freelancer accept court work when the pay is lower? Am I missing something?

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:32:56 GMT

Why do court work when the page rate is lower? My disclaimer right upfront is I am just beginning to see more frequently freelancers doing court work, so please forgive my ignorance.There has been a recent increase in requests for freelancers to do court work given the layoffs of officials in Southern California. The page rate for court work is lower. Maybe the per diem helps make up the freelance to official page rate? I dont know. Officials, I believe, are able to work in the court environment regarding pay because they have other benefits included in their job/pay. Freelancers are independent and must provide their own health insurance and retirement benefits.Given these differences, can anyone provide more information? If youve done court work as a freelancer, please enlighten me. Again, I dont have a complete understanding of freelancers working in court, and it feels terrible to replace an official who was laid off. Its painful to even ask these questions. Denise

The Truth About Hyphens and Commas

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 00:04:56 GMT

Q. Were teams in the 11-, 12-year-old Youth Association --A. Excuse me. It wasnt a Youth Association. Is this punctuation correctly? Are you supposed to put the dash after the 11, being it means 11-year-old and 12-year-old Youth Association?Or would it just be 11, 12-year-old Youth Association?Thanks.

For QA or for Colloquy?

Sat, 9 Jun 2012 21:58:07 GMT

If there are three attorneys present, the fourth one hasnt shown up yet, and they want to start the deposition just by the first attorney giving instructions and explaining what a read-and-sign is, would you do that in colloquy or Qamp;A? Keep in mind, the witness is talking also during this time frame and the attorney is asking a few questions, like if he knows what a read and sign is and if he had ever been to a deposition before. Thanks

Can a CA CSR take a depo in any state for a CA case?

Sat, 9 Jun 2012 12:33:18 GMT

Can a CA CSR take a depo in any state for a CA case? Supporting regulations would be helpful!

Do I cap the first word after using ellipses?

Thu, 7 Jun 2012 20:39:22 GMT

Do I cap the first word after using ellipses? The witness is giving her answer, but trails off saying so... and then she starts in again. Do I cap the first word or how would I go about punctuating it?Thank you!

How do I write out when someone says 60 seconds is when you count one thousand one, one thousand two...etc?

Thu, 7 Jun 2012 20:32:25 GMT

I just reported a depo yesterday when counsel is telling the plaintiff 60 seconds is when you count one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, and so on. Do I actually write out one thousand one, etc. or do I put 1001, 1002?How would I write it out?Thank you!

Better to Lease or Buy? (an automobile)

Thu, 7 Jun 2012 17:31:55 GMT

Do you think its more cost-effective to lease or buy a new car that will be used primarily for traveling from home to jobs? I have no experience with leasing, but Im wondering if leasing might generate a greater Schedule C income tax deduction.

California CSR test

Tue, 5 Jun 2012 13:59:40 GMT

Where can I purchase test material for the California CSR test?

Copy and paste testimony?

Mon, 4 Jun 2012 14:28:01 GMT

Has anyone run into the situation where a single witness has been scheduled for more than one deposition and the attorneys have agreed to just repeat the first 30 or so pages which covers basically his background and professional experiences for another deposition in a separate case? Any suggestions on an appropriate parenthetical to include. The attorney who noticed the deposition made a statement on the record and everyone agreed but Im wondering if it would still be confusing to someone later.

Refusing request by local police detectives

Mon, 4 Jun 2012 12:46:53 GMT

Several years ago I was sent on a job at our county police department. Expecting a deposition, when I arrived I was told they wanted me to listen in on a phone conversation between a detective and a suspect and stenographically record the conversation. As they could not legally tape record the phone call without informing the other party they were being recorded, I guess they thought this would be a nifty work-around.To make a long story short, I somehow summoned up the moxy to tell the detectives I could not ethically be a part of their plan. I wasnt sure of the legality of surreptitiously quot;recordingquot; the conversation, but it certainly didnt feel right to me. I called the agency, explained the situation. They had no one else to send, so the police had to come up with another plan. Has anyone else been asked to do this? How have you handled it?

New Jersey Public Hearings

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 18:55:50 GMT

Please advise if you have information on where there are openings available for a stenographer to take down nightime public hearings; city meetings in North or Central Jersey.I am looking for available work in this area.Thanks.

Did I format the exhibits correctly?

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 12:40:28 GMT

Hey everyone,Maybe Im thinking about this waaay too much and making it complicated, lol. But I just want to make sure Im doing this right.I had an attorney that marked a stack of papers as one exhibit. His exact words were, quot;At this time, Id like to attach the contents of the adjusters file as Plaintiffs Composite Exhibit 1.quot; Then I put, quot;(Whereupon Plaintiffs Composite Exhibit Number 1 was marked for identification.)quot;The adjusters file had seven different types of documents, insurance policy, assignment of benefits, disclosure and acknowledge form, ect. So then the attorney wanted that separated into seven different exhibits, 1A, 1B, ect. The taking attorney would say, quot;Id like to attach that as 1Aquot; Then the copy attorney said, quot;The entire file was Exhibit 1, and now you want the policy separated as 1A?quot; Taking attorney said, quot;Yeah. Just for reference.quot; That went all the way up to 1G. Each time that happened, I would put in the transcript, quot;(Whereupon Plaintiffs Exhibit 1A (or whatever letter it was) was marked for identification.)So an attorney can mark something twice? Ive never had an attorney mark something as a composite and then mark it all again separately.On my exhibit page, I formatted it like this:

E X H I B I T S

Plaintiffs Exhibit Number 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Plaintiffs Exhibit Number 1A. . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Plaintiffs Exhibit Number 1B. . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Plaintiffs Exhibit Number 1C. . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Plaintiffs Exhibit Number 1D. . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Plaintiffs Exhibit Number 1E. . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Plaintiffs Exhibit Number 1F. . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Plaintiffs Exhibit Number 1G. . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Is this the way you would format it? Thanks!

How to write objections

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 07:40:05 GMT

What is the correct way to write these objections?If there is a list of 3 or more.... MR. SMITH: Objection, foundation, specualation.orMR. SMITH: Objection: foundation, speculation.MR. SMITH: Objection. Foundation. Speculation.________________________________________What if the objects are longer?MR. SMITH: Objection, lacks personal knowlege, assumes facts not in evidence.orMR. SMITH: Objection: lacks personal knowledge, assumes facts not in evidence.orMR. SMITH: Objection. Lacks personal knowledge. Assumes facts not in evidence._________________________________________________or what if there are only two objections?MR. SMITH: Objection: asked and answered.orMR. SMITH: Objection. Asked and Answered.orMR. SMITH: Objection, asked and answered. Please help!!

Any advice on transcribing personal telephone recordings?

Sat, 2 Jun 2012 18:42:01 GMT

I agreed to take on extra work from a CR firm. Im transcribing audio from person telephone calls. Its been a very frustrating day... Theres a lot of mumbling, slang, ebonics, talking over one another, yelling, people talking in the background, things that dont make sense, all with the crappy audio quality... There are spots where I just listened to the same few seconds over and over, trying to decipher the order of words, if they are acutally words, slang, nicknames, etc.If I cant understand a word that is probably a name or nickname, is it still acceptable to put: (unintelligible)? I feel like Ive put so many unintelligibles throughout the transcript, and it makes me nervous because I wonder if attorneys who are used to that lingo/slang/accents will be wondering why I didnt understand that part. Im also nervous about transcribing something incorrectly, and often times the context of the conversation isnt helping me. Everything is so vague and in code because its about drug dealings. I feel so helpless right now! How much effort should I be putting into trying to figure this out? If I consider the hours Ive spent on this, and the page rate, probably one order, Im working for free and wasting valuable time... So Im just looking for guidance on this. I have a lot more files to go through, and Im ready to send to a scopist or just give the work back... Hey, anyone interested!? I doubt it, but Id never turn away help on this. Oh, also... if anyone has done this and used a special cert. page, could you please let me know what it says? Thanks so much, guys!

Can I simply release a work comp depo transcript to now a third atty coming in on the case on a separate civil matter?

Sat, 2 Jun 2012 08:47:40 GMT

Is there some procedure or step I need to take to cover myself when releasing a work comp depo that I did over two years ago now to a different attorney whose requesting a copy b/c he now represents the defendants on a civil matter? I know in court its all public record and absolutely sell those transcripts, but is it different with depos? I do know that defense counsel at the time of the work comp depo has since settled the case and the file is closed. Im not sure if I can just release the depo transcript and bill the copy (I sure want to though) :)Thanks a bunch! This just happened late Friday and theyre requesting it on a rush basis. It was too late to call the California CSR Board. Youre input would be greatly appreciated!

Jobs to hold over until that wonderful CSR.

Fri, 1 Jun 2012 13:49:35 GMT

Im in Qualifiers and located in Los Angeles, and I need to start bringing in money before I take the October CSR (I WILL be taking it: positive thinking!). I feel transcription would be a good alternative, since I would still be on my machine. Does anyone have experience doing this? Any good places to start looking for transcription jobs? Any specific things agencies look for when they are thinking about hiring a transcriptionist?

Microsoft Word needed?

Thu, 31 May 2012 12:44:50 GMT

I recently bought a computer, and I am about to start working as a court reporter. My laptop does not have Microsoft Word/Excel etc. on it.Before I spend $100+, is getting Word even necessary for any reason as a working reporter?

How do you control the room with 20 attorneys?

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:14:58 GMT

Hi, Ive just been assigned to an all-day asbestos depo, and Ive been told there will be 20 attorneys present and some of them will be appearing by phone. In the past, Ive had maybe 7-8 attorneys in a room and they were all physically there. This is my first big one. How should I handle this, from the time I walk in until the time I leave?! Lol. When I have multiple attorneys, I have a seating chart, but Im not sure with this many attorneys if that will help me out completely. When everyone is in the room (or on the phone), before its about to start, can I ask that if anyone has an objection or needs to say something, that they first identify who they are every time? Usually I can remember who is who, but I dont think I can remember 20 new names and faces. Also, if there are a lot of objections at one time, can I tell them to identify themselves and go one at a time? I know it might take a few seconds longer to get it, but I need to make sure I have all objection and know exactly who said them. Do you think the attorneys will get annoyed?If you guys have any advice about this, whether its big or small, PLEASE let me know! Thanks in advance!

Help ASAP-Case question

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:27:41 GMT

I switched to a new computer about 3 days ago. Everything was fine. I went from Windows Student 2007 to Windows Premium.

Im not sure what specifically the problem is. Sometimes when Im done for the night, I dont close the document or Case. Sometimes its still there when I go back and sometimes its not. This particular transcript, Its closed down on me twice...saving the file as (1), (2), etc.

Today, it was fine. Went into the saved document (1), got into the transcript, started to work, and then it just went into Case-not-responding mode. When that happens I have to go into Task Manager and shut it down. This has happened to me a lot in the past. It did it again today, but when I tried to go back into Case and into the document, it said I didnt have access to the document. I now have 3 SGNL files that have been saved, but it tells me I dont have access to any of them.

When I try to go into the depo itself, any one of them, it says there are 2 recovery documents, the first save one is 5-22-12 file name(1).SGNL, the second on is 5-22-12 file name(2).SGNL, and the third one is 5-22-12 file name.SGNL(1).

I try to go into the original file and this is what it says in the box: quot;There are 2 auto recover files for this transcript. The first is C:\CAT4\user\dleahudson\5-22-12 file name(1).SGNL.SGSAV.rdquo; I click the OK button.

The second screen is ldquo;Access to C:\CAT4\user\dleahudson\5-22-12 file name(1).SGNL was denied. Unable to open the existing file: C:\CAT4\user\dleahudson\5-22-12 file name.SGNL. I click the OK button and Im back to the Case file view.

When I click on the first saved SGNL (1) file, the ldquo;Save Recovered file asrdquo; box comes up and says itrsquo;s saving it in my user filehellip;thatrsquo;s good -- and I see the file in the list of files to choose fromhellip;I donrsquo;t click on ithellip;the file name of the first saved file is already listed in the ldquo;file namerdquo; box. It says: ldquo;Save as Type:rdquo; (Text Files (*.sgnlgl)mdash;thatrsquo;s the only choice -- so I click the save button and it says that file already exists, do you want to replace it. I click yes, and it saves it as the same file, Irsquo;m assuming, because I canrsquo;t go into that transcript either.

The (2) is the same as onehellip;

Then therersquo;s the other (1) which tells me that itrsquo;s not associated through Windows and try opening it in another program, etc., I tell it to open in another program, it lists them, but no Case in the list to choose from. I donrsquo;t click on the choice to open the transcript from the web. I just hit the cancel button and Irsquo;m back to square 1.

I know this seems long and drawn out, but I tried this on Yahoo Groups and they told me to go into more detail when I post it on the Facebook Group. I hope I didnrsquo;t go into too much detail.

I dont have a contract, so donrsquo;t want to call support.

I hope this all makes sensehellip;Irsquo;ve been cutting and pasting because I went to the Yahoo Group first.

Has anyone had this problem before, and if so, how did you fix the problem?

Tks, Dianne

How do you juggle working for more than one firm?

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:31:11 GMT

I currently work for only one firm. Id like to either start taking work from another firm and work for them both, or leave the firm Im with now and work for one who can consistently keep me busy. When starting to look for more firms to work for, do I need to tell my current firm that Im looking to work for another firm, e-mail the owner or scheduler? They did hire me full time and know Im only working for them at the moment. They will probably wonder why all of a sudden Im taking time off to take other jobs if I dont tell them, right? Ive heard of firms getting nasty with reporters if they want more work from other firms. And how would I work out my schedule? For example, do I tell Firm A that I can only work Mon, Wed, Friday and Firm B on Tues and Thurs? How does all of that work?Any other advice on this subject would be appreciated. Thank you.

Is the Passport really Eclipses first try at a writer?

Sat, 26 May 2012 05:58:55 GMT

Hi Everyone!I am a student who is on Eclipse. I had all but decided on the Passport writer for when I graduate since I love Eclipse but yesterday I had a demo of the Diamante and absolutely fell in love with it. My biggest concern about the Passport is if it really is the first attempt by Eclipse to create a machine. I dont care how long it was in development, I dont want to spend thousands of dollars to try their prototype which is bound to have lots of issues? I didnt want to write them off if this wasnt true, however. Ive done some research on the internet and statements are made about the Passport that its the writer weve all been waiting for and first new writer in years but I cant find anything definitive that says it is the first and it came out on such and such date. Does anyone know if it is the first, have their been other generations of it, and when did it first come out?Thanks!

Free, downloadable .mp3 files of practice material on Facebook!

Sat, 26 May 2012 05:54:33 GMT

Hello Everyone!I just found this excellent forum and wanted to let all the students know about my Facebook group, Court Reporters in Training. It is a group I created when I started court reporting school about two years ago. It contains links to hundreds of audio recordings of drills and theory lessons from my class. Some are very short, some are longer but they are all available to any group member for free. Ive already done the work to put them on there so if you need something new to practice to, please feel free to join the group and download anything you want. It is also a forum for students to ask questions. New this month... Im in medical/legal dictation class so all the recordings for that are going up as I take the class! Just search for the group on Facebook and request to join! Thanks!

blurb when the questioning attorney leaves the room

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:02:30 GMT

Very contentious depo... at one point the witness (who was also opposing counsel in the case and made most of his own objections) got into it with co-counsel on the Qing side, though it was during the other attys examination. The examining attorney got angry with the witness and announced he was leaving until the witness was done with his speech, to which co-counsel said quot;thats finequot; and the witness continued his response after the examining attorney left the room. Its all pretty clear on the record, and at some point, co-counsel went to get the other atty back. Do I need a parenthetical (Whereupon Mr. so-and-so left the room), or do I just let the record speak for itself?

Are CR salaries going down because of national CR firms?

Fri, 25 May 2012 05:34:03 GMT

I am doing research for my local CR association. If you would answer me with general comments (and not tell the page rates--cant do it publicly) on this site, that would be great, things like are you getting paid, what percentage of a decrease have you seen, if your transcript has to be in quicker than the norm. I would also look forward to hearing from reporters privately via email on what state youre in, what your rates are if you work for a local agency, and what your rates are if youre working for a national agency that would be great (fstfngrs@yahoo.com). Thanks for the help in researching, and have a wonderful long weekend!!

How do I mark an exhibit that was marked after the depo was over?

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:25:20 GMT

Should I put: (Exhibit D marked after conclusion of proceedings) ?And I should put it after the (Deposition concluded at 5:00 P.M.) blurb?Thanks!!

Do you delete attorneys false starts?

Wed, 23 May 2012 06:07:37 GMT

When an attorney starts a question, then rewords and starts over without saying quot;strike thatquot; or quot;excuse me,quot; do you delete off his false start or leave it in the transcript with dashs? example: Q: Where do you -- what is your house number? ORQ. What is your house number? (false start removed)

Lifelong Student...it feels like

Tue, 22 May 2012 18:20:06 GMT

Ive been in school for an embarrassing long time. I admit its my fault, due to life and lack of practice. Now the time has come to either finish or divorce...not really but really! I have now commited to finishing, but Id like a realistic estimated time of completion from people who have done this already. Im in 160. Its now end of May, If Im not in at least 200 by December I think I will quit......is this a realistic goal?

I just bought the Stentura Fusion (refurbished). My paper notes are very light- any suggestions to make them more readable?

Mon, 21 May 2012 04:36:30 GMT

I just bought the Stentura Fusion (refurbished). My paper notes which I still rely upon during my classes are very light- Any suggestions to make them more readable? The seller says the cartridge has to settle down from shipping, but it has been a month since I received the machine. Thanks!

Is executive committee capitalized

Sun, 20 May 2012 13:54:18 GMT

Im having Capitalization issues today... Im working on a job about the On Leong Chinese Merchants Association. The organization in Philadelphia has a Board of Seven, which the witness is referring to as the Executive Committee.... Would executive committee be capped? I have it in my transcript 32 times!!

First steps to becoming a real-time reporter??

Fri, 18 May 2012 22:01:03 GMT

I know theres lot of awesome real-time reporters out there. I havent been reporting for a long time, but I would reeeeally like to start getting comfortable or training in some way to become real-time ready, but HAVE no idea where to begin. Should I go to a seminar of one of the great ones (Anita Paul or Mark Kinslinbury) and start there? Should I purchase a conflict-free theory? Should I practice and test for my RPR? Should I practice from hard copy? Where do I BEGIN is my question??? Yes!! Im mortified to just go out and do it like some ppl might suggest because even now when I take a job, I might drop here and there. I dont want to be a sucky real-time reporter.Id really like to hear what other reporters have done or wished they couldve done differently to be real-time ready... Thanks a bunch!rrcsr :)

How do you handle several phonetic pronunciations of the same word?

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:29:18 GMT

If someone pronounces the same word several different ways, how do you write that? This is the situation: Q. Where do you go grocery shopping? A. Well, we call it Weeyez (phonetic). You can say Wees, Weis, Wise, whatever you want to call it. We call it Weeyez.The correct spelling is Weis, but she pronounced this store name all four ways. Would you do it the way I did it? Would you put (correct) after the correctly spelled one? Would you do it a different way? These type of situations always stump me but this is the worst one yet Ive had to deal with. Thank you!

Is the word claimant always capitalized?

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:49:02 GMT

Is the word quot;claimantquot; always capitalized? For example, The Claimant went to his last visit on November 1st.

Why is audio sync not playing?

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:09:06 GMT

I have used Case Catalyst and audio sync and never really had a problem. When I try to play the audio file while editing this particular file a screen pops up that reads quot;There is no audio at this location in the file.quot; I know I was recording. It plays at other areas of the file. Has anyone had this issue?

Does anyone who has gone to California School of Court Reporting in Santa Ana, which has closed its doors long ago, have any idea of the class course titles they offered when they were last open? Better yet, can you refer me to someone who knows?

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:19:08 GMT

This would be so helpful as I am looking to switch careers after 20 years of court reporting (my back cant take the prolonged sitting). I have my certified copy of course completion and it lists the subject, classroom hours and grade, but it doesnt identify the course name, i.e., Legal Termonology, Court and Deposition Proceedures, Professional Practices amp; Ethics, etc.Maybe even those who went to quot;Southernquot; California School of Court Reporting would have a close-enough class curriculum. Im sure they were similar. Thanks so much.

Blurb for 911 call?

Mon, 14 May 2012 19:38:30 GMT

A recording of a 911 call was played in this depo, and a recess was taken immediately afterward, during which I informed the questioning attorney that I could only partly discern what was being said in the call (picture typical hysterical 911 call.) I asked if he wanted what I had transcribed into the record. After the break, he and all other counsel stipulated that because they all have the recording, it will not be transcribed or submitted as an exhibit. I was going to put a blurb something like this: WHEREUPON AN AUDIO RECORDING CONTAINING PARTIALLY UNINTELLIGIBLE DIALOG WAS PLAYED. Or should I just say quot;Whereupon an audio recording was played by Counselquot;?

Quoting text messages

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:42:56 GMT

I cant believe this is the first time Ive encountered this, but it is... I have an exhibit which is a photograph of a cell phone screen with a text message displayed that says quot;Hi mom what r u doing.quot; The attorney quoted this text in his question. Should his question read like this: -- showing the single text message that says, quot;Hi Mom, what are you doing?quot;I wouldnt put the text shorthand, would I?

Has anyone heard of Blue Cross/Blue Shield Centra State?

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:13:12 GMT

Hey everyone,Im trying to figure out what this witness said. Both the witness and attorney had a strong accent, and the attorney asked him who his health insurance was through. He said the name of it, and I heard either Centra State or Central State. The attorney asked if it was through the union. Witness said he thinks it is, because it says Blue Cross/Blue Shield Centra State or Central State. I asked for clarification and thought I would be able to find it online. Next time Ill ask for the spelling just to make sure I have the right word! Any idea if its Central or Centra State or even something else? Thank you in advance.

How do I transcribe a dollar amount as one word answer?

Sat, 12 May 2012 16:43:33 GMT

How would I transcribe quot;16.50quot; as a one word sentence? It is a dollar amount, but dollar is not actually spoken. I know we spell out numbers that start a sentence, causing my confusion.

What do I do when the witness tape records the deposition?

Fri, 11 May 2012 21:46:04 GMT

I had a deposition recently where the witness (in pro per, of course) was fiddling with a device under the table as the deposition was already in progress. The defense counsel thought she was turning off her phone, but I could see she had a handheld digital tape recorder. 1. What would you have done in that instance?2. Also in another scenario: what if they just set the tape recorder on the table and announce they want to tape record? How do you handle that?Thanks for the input.

How do you write a persons height?

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:54:23 GMT

I usually write it exactly as the person spoke it. So if they said quot;five feet six inches,quot; I would put 56quot; because that reads better to me, but if they just say quot;He was about five-six,quot; I write it that way. Does anyone do it differently? Im not quite sure Im correct on this.

What is the best material to study for the CCR?

Wed, 9 May 2012 17:31:28 GMT

I just passed my WKT for the RPR but I am also interested in becoming a Certified CART Provider. I purchased a book from NCRA, but there doesnt seem to be a ton on just CART providing. Also, there are no practice questions like the study guide the RPR/RMR. Does anyone know of a good book/study guide to prepare for the CCR WKT?

Does anyone have advice on taking hearings?

Wed, 9 May 2012 17:17:26 GMT

My firm told me they are going to start having me do hearings, and I want to know if anyone can offer advice?? I know they are fast, but thats about it. Is it like a depo where I ask the taking and other attorney if they want the transcript, or are hearings different and only the taking attorney gets it (if he chooses to order it)? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

How do I indicate a physically ill witness?

Tue, 8 May 2012 18:25:26 GMT

Does anyone have a suggestion for a parenthetical to indicate a physically ill witness who coughed and cried out in pain periodically throughout the deposition?The attorney for the witness told me to indicate it in the record, but I asked the attorney to describe it for the record instead.Thanks for any suggestions.

writing email addresses in transcripts

Tue, 8 May 2012 18:01:01 GMT

just curious how everyone else writes this... its been a long time since i graduated from school and they didnt teach us these things back then. I had an attorney ask a witness about a text message he sent that was forwarded to an email address. (and this is just an example of what she said...) quot;Q. I see here your text was forwarded to D-J-O-N-E-S at McCabe Connors dot com.quot;the answer may be obvious, but does everyone else just put the obvious, djones@mccabeconnors.com or do u write it as i had it in my notes? i know i may get the quot;were verbatim reportersquot; response. just curious. thanks :)

What do you do when an attorney says strike that?

Mon, 7 May 2012 19:21:52 GMT

When an attorney says strike that, you dont actually take what he said before out of the record right?Also, I had a situation where the deponent started talking about her conversations with her previous attorney. As she was saying it, both her attorney and the other attoney kept saying, no, no, no. We dont want to know about any of that. I had taken down part of what she said while the attorneys were interrupting her, so they asked me to read back what I had gotten down. Then they both stipulated that that was to be stricken from the record. So do I actually take out what she said?? It wouldnt make sense if I took it out, because I would have to keep the colloquy of when the attorneys agreed to have it stricken from the record. It wouldnt make any sense if I took out what she said.

Checkup/check-up

Mon, 7 May 2012 09:44:02 GMT

Q: Do you know why she was going to see the doctor? A: I guess just to have a check-up, was all she was saying. Just an ordinary check-up. Which one is correct? Checkup or check-up. I prefer check-up, should I just roll with that? Thank you, all.

Has anybody ever bought a steno machine from EBay?

Sun, 6 May 2012 06:47:12 GMT

Has anybody ever bought a steno machine from EBay? If so, do you concider EBay to be trustworthy with your steno equipment.I decided to get rid of this Stentura8000 that Im renting and buy a Stenture 400 SRT; that was the type of machine I used throughtout school and it never gave me any problems. I hate things that are high tech. EBay looks like it has some pretty good prices, but has anyone used them?

Is it legal for an attorney or a witness to make a copy of a transcript?

Sat, 5 May 2012 23:43:15 GMT

At a depo the subject of copying transcripts came up. I informed them that that is illegal. The deposing attorney was dumbfounded. He said, quot;You mean, if I pay for the original, I cant make a copy and send the copy to my expert witness?quot; I told him no, that I think that that is illegal. Am I right? He wanted me to send him the Code info on that. I sent an e-mail to the CA Board of Court Reporters to find out, but havent heard back from them. Anyone know about this and/or know about the Code?

How do you format this interpreted depo?

Sat, 5 May 2012 23:29:23 GMT

Heres the thing: The witness kept answering in English. Sometimes it was the whole answer, sometimes just part of the answer, sometimes in the middle of the answer. The interpreter interpreted, but when the witness spoke in English, he would also say what he said in English, only not always exactly the same. I just wrote down everything. But how would you put that in the transcript? I know youre only supposed to put quot;INTERPRETER:quot; when the interpreter is talking to someone else or asking a question, etc., but I cant think of any other way to put it when his repeat of the English response isnt exactly the same. What a nightmare. Any ideas would be appreciated :)

Two Witnesses at Once

Thu, 3 May 2012 13:20:30 GMT

Heres the scenario: Corporate designees depositions and attorney decides to have both sworn in so he can ask his questions and whichever witness knows the answer can answer (!) My question is, any suggestions on how to format a transcript for this situation? Im thinking A (MR. JONES) then A (MR. SMITH), which will get pretty tedious typing in for 200 pages of Qamp;A. Maybe A(MR. JONES) followed by just A. until the quot;answererquot; changes, then use A (MR. SMITH)? Or maybe insert quot;BYquot; lines as you might do when questioner changes? Thanks for your help.

Do you have an interesting steno story?

Tue, 1 May 2012 12:35:44 GMT

Have an interesting story related to stenography? I want them! For the next 18 months, well be filming For the Record, a documentary about court reporting. We already have some great stories, but can always use more. For details, check out - http://archive.benchmarkemail.com/stenolife/newsletter/For-the-Record-Announcement

For updates, you can also Like our Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/For-The-Record-Court-Reporting-Documentary/215663378536748

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And please....SHARE!!! More sharing means more exposure for court reporting. And thats the goal.

Feel free to email me your stories - Marc@CourtReportingMovie.com

How would you write aka in a sentence

Tue, 1 May 2012 09:58:10 GMT

How would you write aka in the following sentence:I agree that this has an aka.

How to write wise

Tue, 1 May 2012 01:47:55 GMT

I dont mean how to write wisely, I mean how do I write words that end in quot;wise,quot; like if somebody says quot;number wisequot; do I make it one word or two? quot;Numberwisequot; or quot;Number wise?quot;

How to do you write et cetera?

Tue, 1 May 2012 01:42:50 GMT

When you write the word quot;Et cetera,quot; do you capitalize the E? That is how I was taught in school. Some people say to leave the E lowercased and cap the C. Or do you just not cap at all?

What is it like working with a scopist and how do I find a good scopist?

Tue, 1 May 2012 00:26:47 GMT

Now that Im on my 15th month of reporting, I sometimes think I could really benefit from working with a scopist. The main reason for that I think would be just to have somebody that I can trust for occasions when I get an expedited or daily medical deposition that is hard. Also, if I get slammed with work, I wouldnt have to turn any down if I had someone to help with the scoping.If I start using a scopist, obviously, Im not going to be able to give him/her full time work, but I dont know if thats what scopists expect.Does anyone here work with scopists; and if so, how do you know if you can trust them? Where is a good place to hire them? What percentage of work do you use scopists for? Does it really result in bringing in a higher income?I have the feeling it would benefit me, because my strong point in court reporting was always writing on the machine. Im good at transcripts too, but I dont excel at that the same way I always did in school when it was just writing on the machine.

Is my accountant correct that I should go incorperated?

Tue, 1 May 2012 00:20:37 GMT

I hired an accountant to make out my taxes like everyone on Readback.org suggested and it ended up being a great idea. Thanks everyone. By the time she wrote everything off, I actually ended up getting a little bit back instead of owing like I thought I would.My questions in about going incorperated. My accountant actually said that I have to do that if I understood her correctly.Is anyone else incorperated and does anyone know exactly what that would mean to a court reporter?

how many shares should I get?

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:53:19 GMT

Might be a silly question, but if I am the only person in my S-corp, does it matter how many shares I get? The site says standard is 2000. Should I go along with that or just get 1 share. Does it matter since its just me? Will it cost me more if I go with 2000 shares? Thanks in advance. And I tried to call the website and the lady just told me I can get 1 share or 2000 its up to me. lol I m like well, that doesnt answer my question.

Do you like to save money?

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:34:29 GMT

Scoping Made Affordable (SMA) is offering a Two-for-One Training Sale through Tuesday, May 1st for court reporting graduates.Youll love our virtual classroom experience from the comfort of your home.Go to www.joyfulscoping.com to find out how much you can save while building your editing skills in a schedule that always works for you!!

transcription work referral

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:47:24 GMT

is there a recommended online transcription company (medical or legal) that provides quality audio recordings? i think this will be a great way to supplement my income but dont want to get stuck with poor quality recordings to struggle with.thanks

How do I install TurboSquish 1.0.A?

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:41:10 GMT

I am still using Cheetah TurboCat 6.5 software. I dont have installation instructions for the TurboSquish floppy 1.0.A disk. Can anyone help? I am soon to retire and I dont want to buy new software but dont want to mess up the software that Ive been using for many years, which is the Cheetah TurboCat 6.5. It still get the job done, and in realtime, too.

incorporate, llc, s-corp, c-corp, E O

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:34:40 GMT

I am very confused. A new company I signed on with wants me to be incorporated, but I am confused on all the terms and whether some of them mean the same thing or not.Are there different ways to be incorporated, hence the llc, s-corp, and c-corp?I know what Eamp;O insurance is, but does that link in with being incorporated? Is it the same thing?Should you only worried about being incorporated if you make over 60K?Please help! lol I have to fill out these W-9s and am not sure which boxes to check or what to sign up for.

Opening Statements in the index?

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:08:08 GMT

I took a court trial in Alameda Superior Court. Its been a while, so I was wondering, do I include the Opening Statements in the index? Also, what about the exhibits? The court clerk has them. Do they give me a copy or the original to attach to the transcript?Thanks!

Does anyone have a good brief for away? Thank you!

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:55:11 GMT

Does anyone have a good brief for quot;awayquot;? Thank you!

Whats the best way to network as a upper-speed student?

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:25:33 GMT

I started school in Oct. 10 and have gone through my program quickly. The hardest part has been trying to complete all of the academics on top of practice, volunteer opportunities, and (just recently) starting to attend functions held by my state association.
I was working the first year of school and have a five-year-old son, so it was difficult for me to get out and meet people during that time. Now I am in 225 and just finished my last mock required for internship and am scrambling to make up for lost time.With only one quarter left in school, what is the best way to start making connections and, more importantly, building relationships with others in the field? I am going to be interning soon (in a few weeks) and I wish I had better connections/more of an idea of whos who, if you know what I mean.Again, any advice is appreciated! Sorry Im so long winded!

Switching software as a student?

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:11:42 GMT

Hello! Im so happy to have stumbled upon this site.I am a 225 student getting ready to purchase my professional machine/software. I currently have a Wave writer and Case Catalyst. The writer I am most interested in is the Infinity Traditional by the Neutrino Group, and I am very, very curious about Eclipse software.Ive heard great things about it and Im especially interested in the quot;translation magicquot; technology. This may be something that is offered with the professional version of Case Cat and Im just not aware of it, but Im curious to know how the software chooses the correct homonyms and ?conflicts? I dont think I have any conflicts in my dictionary, but I still want to know how this works.
What is the best way to look into different software? I guess the first step would be to call Advantage Software and see if they offer a quot;trial runquot; where I could possibly try the software for a few weeks or a month and see how it works.
Also, if I do decide to switch to Eclipse, what is the best and most efficient way for me to learn the software? I saw someone post recently about going to another state for a week for a training session on Eclipse. What about webinars? Is there a book that accompanies the software that I could use to teach myself?
Any advice is appreciated! Thanks! :)

Whats the newest way to educate about Ethics First?

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:56:17 GMT

Hot off the presses from NCRAs Ethics First, trifold brochure: http://ncra.files.cms-plus.com/GovernmentRelations/EF%20Brochure.pdf

Protege and Student version of CaseCAT for sale

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:59:33 GMT

Okay! Who wants to buy my student machine so I can go to Vegas next week and train on Eclipse? $600 includes shipping from CA. It is a Protege and it has a rolling backpack, paper tray, manual, everything that came with it. I also have the student version of CaseCatalyst and the training book available. Email edwardsaltadonna@yahoo.com if you would like to have the machine that took me to 200:)

Need info about steno key sticking on my writer.

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:16:34 GMT

I have an Elan Mira A3. My final S has been sticking. Took about 280pgs today with lots and lots of extra quot;ssquot; on sooo many words. Has anyone else had this problem with the Elan and if so is there something I can do? It happened about a week ago on one job. Then again today. Thanks in advance.

Exhibits not Verbally Marked on the Record

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:44:34 GMT

In my deposition the attorneys agreed before we started to attach the first three exhibits. For example, the Notice is Exhibit 1 and they never reference it or even talk about it. Where would I put the blurb for the Exhibit? Does it go at the beginning of the deposition? I thought we were taught to put it at the end, but she does attach Exhibits 4 - 6 later in the depo so it would be out of order. Does that matter?

Elan Mira G2 for sale

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:24:38 GMT

Elan Mira G2 for sale...still under warranty until August 2012. Includes battery, realtime cable, charger and hard carry case. Writer has wide DZ key and asterisk key and leather keypads. In excellent condition...perfect for new reporter or as a backup. Asking $1,800, including shipping...sells for almost $2,200. Please email lazkroert@gmail.com.

How to write colloquy

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:24:06 GMT

What is the preferred way to write colloquy and then a by line if the speaker is the same? For clarification and example (and I will try my best to explain), during a hearing the questioning attorney, Mr. Smith, has a lot of Qamp;A of a witness and is interrupted with an objection. The parties discuss, and exchange colloquy. Now, here is my question. If Mr. Smith, answers the judge, which would be colloquy, and then goes directly into Qamp;A again, do I format Mr. Smiths response to the judge as colloquy, and then a by line of Mr. Smith to go into Qamp;A so, in essence, Mr. Smith has been identified twice in a row? (MR. SMITH: Thank you, Judge. BY MR. SMITH: Q. Sir, state your name.)Or do I just go directly in to a byline and put both Mr. Smiths response to the judge and the question to the witness will follow? (BY MR. SMITH: Q. Thank you, Judge. Sir, state your name.)

Header switching from direct to cross

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 09:30:53 GMT

Lets say on page 10 the examination switches from direct to cross. Should the header for page 10 say direct or cross? Also, what if theres a page that has three different kinds of examination because one was quick?

Todd, please help!

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:33:49 GMT

Somebody answered a post that I had made a response to a long time ago, and now I am getting emails about that response every four minutes! It sends me an email about that same response. I have like 200 emails. Im sure its just a glitch, but can you please make it stop? LOL Thanks so much!

Stentura 8000 LX Professional Writer with Wide Keys For Sale

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:43:36 GMT

Stentura 8000 LX Professional Writer with Wide Keys For Sale
Includes: Stenograph Carrying case, Stenograph StenoPro Traveler with StenoPro Tote, Users guide, EasyLock tripod, Paper Tray, 19 brand new steno pads, brand new pack of 25 extra floppy disks, extra battery pack, power cord charger, real-time cable with USB to Serial Adapter and Lubrication kit with Allen wrench adjustment tool. Machine is in very good condition. Asking $1800.00 plus shipping or OBO. Please inbox me or email me at aruvalcaba82@yahoo.com. Thanks.

How to get agencies on reporters side?

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:35:56 GMT

The April 2012 JCR magazine on page 38, column 2, paragraph 2, suggests that reporters have their agency give them the notice of deposition, previous work products, transcripts, etc., to prepare our dictionary so we can write cleaner. I WOULD LOVE THAT! So how can we get agencies to be on our side and give us that kind of info? I often go on jobs with no notice of depo info or go on a Vol II (or III) or to an expert depo with NO word lists, no caption. These attorneys have often worked on this case for months or even a year or more, they have the answers to interrogatories in front of them, they know an answer before they ask the question. And here I sit, the keeper of the record, without a clue. When I have asked agencies for some background, the calendar people are too busy and Im often rebuffed. I believe they think Im inadequate if I ask for background information. Any suggestions?

Sleeping witness

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:07:20 GMT

Okay. So this is an odd one. I was supposed to take the depo of a 99-year-old witness this past week. I took his daughters depo first. After she was done, she went to wake her father. They could not get him to wake up. He was in a deep sleep. Poor guy suffers from sleep apnea. Anyway, they went on the record and said theyd cut him a break and reserve the right to depose him at a later date, blah, blah. I was just putting it together now. Im putting in the covers, but what kind of cert would go with this transcript? I certainly didnt swear him in. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

When one att is covering for another...

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:01:25 GMT

How do we handle the appearance of an attorney who is only covering for another attorney? The attorney whose case it is was unable to appear and the firm sent someone else in their place. I see the original attorneys name on the service list. Do both their names go on the appearance list?

should I charge attorney appearance fee?

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:14:26 GMT

I am green to reporting. I sat in on a hearing the other day and was scheduled for one attorney. Another attorney grabbed me at the last minute and asked if I could also be the reporter on his case and he handed me a notice along with his card. I agreed.Since he didnt have any of my information, I sent him an email with my phone number and email address as well as the company that I was working for.Should I have only given him MY information? Also, he asked me if there would be an appearance fee. I told him not this time, but to let me know if he ever needed it written up.Have I done the right thing here or not quite? lol I have a feeling not quite. Any advise would be helpful. thanks

How to write up a hearing

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:32:05 GMT

I have just finished my first day in court at a hearing. After I interned the other day, the firm asked me if I could sit in on two hearings the next day. I thought it would be a great to get my feet wet now and went ahead and took the job.Although I was very green, everything went fine. My question is, now that its all done, what do I do? I know how to mirror the notice and how to write and punctuate the transcript, but what comes after the actual words spoken in court? Is it the same as a deposition with the 2 certification pages?Should the firm that asked me to take the job provide me with how they like their transcripts set up, or is the same throughout the state of Florida?And she said nothing to me about payment. Do firms usually write checks out to people who do their overflow work? So many questions. uggh

How do you charge for an 0 1

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:12:47 GMT

I know that an 0 amp; 1 is an orginal + copy, but does that mean I get paid for the original plus the copy?

Collaboration - CR and legal transcriptionists

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 05:35:44 GMT

Is there any practical collaboration between court reporters and legal transriptionists?Truly and accurately yours,Alan Kelly at VerbatimIT

How do I format this CNA?

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:27:01 GMT

I had a weird situation happen today. I went to the attorneys office, who happened to also be my deponent. He was running late and asked the taking attorney (who is my firms client) if we can wait a little while. The taking attorney said that was okay (he was appearing via telephone). An hour later, the deponent still wasnt ready. The taking attorney called his office and asked to speak to me. The attorneys assistant told me they were no longer waiting and for me to send them a CNA. I said I would do that, and she said that she wanted what happened to be in the CNA. They thought it was only going to be postponed for ten mins or so, not an hour. The deponent wasnt too happy because he was in fact there. His assistant said she explain to the taking attorneys assistant what was going on, but I wasnt in the room when all of that went on. He was just dealing with other clients and thought the taking attorney understood it would be a while.I only have a generic CNA where I just put in the name of the deponent, place, date, time and I send it off. Even though the client told me to do the CNA, I do feel like I would be lying because the deponent was there. He just wasnt ready. Even though she told me what to put in the CNA, I wasnt there to actually hear the conversation, so I feel a little bit uneasy putting that in, espeically if it wasnt true.How would you handle this? Just do a regular CNA? Tell the story of what happened in the CNA?Thanks!

sending out first deposition transcript on my own

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:56:45 GMT

Am I suppose to have a letter that goes to the witness with instructions for depostion reading, etc... In other words, What do I send out along with transcript? Case name, date? Instructions? And if so, what instructions?Thanks

How do I punctuate this sentence using a proper name and / Copmany abbreviation?

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:28:28 GMT

Jim Brown/ADP noted that the equipment had not passed inspection.

Diamante vs. Impression writer

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:21:22 GMT

I am looking to buy a new writer and am interested in both the Diamante and the Impression. Can anyone recommend one, either by ownership or anything they have heard about it? Thanks so much!

Anyone ever had to testify in federal court about their transcript?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:06:18 GMT

so here is a new situation for me: i got a call from the district attorneys office this week asking me to come in and testify to verify a transcript for a deposition i took 5 years ago. has anyone ever had to do this before? any advice or things i should know or ask the da in advance of my testimony? im a little nervous about testifying.apologies for the lack of capitals, but im writing on my blackberry and it wont let me for some reason.thanks in advance!erika

Should I feel obligated as an independant contractor to take jobs in court?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:13:54 GMT

Basically, I am a new court reporter. I have interned at the court many times, but it is not where I really want to be right now. I realize that working in court will make me more marketableto firms, but Its really not where I want to be right now.If I am working for 4/5 different firms as an independant contractor, is it okay if I decline to go to court? I am willing to do as many depos as they want, last minute, weekend, whatever, but I just dont want to go to court. lol Not now at least.Should I tell firms this up front? Should I not mention it all and just decline when they give me a court date? Or should I just get over it and go to court? Thanks in advance for all answers.

comma usage at the beginning of a sentence

Mon, 9 Apr 2012 17:13:41 GMT

Im having such a hard time remembering comma rules! :( How would you punctuate these?

quot;And, then, prior to that, did you have another motor vehicle accident?quot; quot;And, so, then, what was the conversation about?quot;

Am I over punctuating these?

What is this word (MJ)?

Mon, 9 Apr 2012 15:25:15 GMT

This is what the orthopedic said: quot;If he had subjective radiculopathy that wasnt documented by MJ or nerve conduction study or numbness . . . quot;Any ideas? Is it MJ? Is it some kind of test? or did I hear him wrong?

How do you do an adoption consent?

Mon, 9 Apr 2012 05:58:12 GMT

HELP! Ive been asked to do an adoption consent, and I have no idea what Im going to be expected to do! Ive never done something like this before. All the info I was given was where I needed to go, and I also need to bring my notary stamp. Has anyone done this before? Am I taking down something, or am I just notarizing the paperwork? Thanks you!

How do you mark exhibits that were previously marked in another deposition/EUO?

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 12:01:18 GMT

I had an EUO where the attorney referred to exhibits that were previously marked in another EUO. There were 15 prevously marked exhibits. She also marked three exhibits in this EUO. Is this the proper way to list the exhibits? EXHIBITSExhibit No. 1 *Exhibit No. 2 *Exhibit No. 3 *Do that all the way through Exhibit 15, and then for the rest of the exhibits, list it how you normally would:Exhibit No. 16 50Exhibit No. 17 52Exhibit No. 18 61 I hope that example makes sense, Lol.Also, this attorney chose to retain all of the exhibits? Is that always the case for EUOs, or did this attorney just chose to keep them? Thanks in advance for the help!

Do you attached Service of Affidavit with CNA?

Sat, 7 Apr 2012 08:17:38 GMT

Hi,The witness didnt show up for the depo, and the attorney gave me a Service of Affidavit and said to send it with the CNA. Does that mean that I mark the Service of Affidavit as an exhibit, or just do nothing and send it with the CNA? Also, does the other attorney get a copy of all of that? He didnt say he needed it, but I dont know if he automatically gets one. Thanks.

IMPACT 2000CR STENO TRANSLATOR MACHINE .

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 10:35:55 GMT

DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT THIS STENO MACHINE;IMPACT 2000CR STENO TRANSLATOR MACHINE.PLEASE LET ME KNOW.DIANNAxxxx

How do I choose a used writer?

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 19:53:14 GMT

I am looking to buy a used writer. I am not working much right now and would like to save some money by buying used. At the same time, I bought my previous writer, a Stentura 8000, used. I had so many problems with it. Help!

Duties of a scopist?

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 12:26:54 GMT

Ive rcently tried a new scopist and it ended notso great. I would like others input on your expectationsof a scopist. Within five hours of getting my work, I gotthe emails below from her informing me what I need tocorrect and how I should write better. I have my meritand my CRR and have been reporting for 30 years. Iwrite under 1% consistently. I thought we hire scopiststo clean up our stuff? Any input to the below emailswould be appreciated._____________________________________SCOPIST:I have a question about how you write your steno when youwant Exhibit No. and how you write it when you want exhibitnumber. I dont know if you need to make a correctionfor your personal dictionary or not. When it should beexhibit number, it is coming out Exhibit No. (kpeubgt tpnumb)It could be you are shadowing.____________I responded by saying it is just one of myquot;conflictsquot; I amworking on._________________________________SCOPIST:No, no, no. Its an easy fix. It just takes a conscious effortthe next time youre writing. Take a post-it and put it on yourmachine. One change at a time. I write Exhibit No. SBIT.You cant confuse it for anything else. Its a no brainer.It works every time. Constantly changing it is time-consuming.Give it a try. It will be second nature in no time._____________________________REPORTER:Trust me, I have sticky notes all over my desk withthings Im already working on. Usually it comes out correctbecause Ive globalled quot;the exhibit numberquot; and quot;anexhibit numberquot; etc. Its a work in progress and willbe forever :0)The one crucial thing Ive noticed is the lack of speakerIDs, specifically Ms. Hunter. It comes out as THE ATTORNEYQ. I cant spend tiime going through and putting in the bylineQ or Ms. Hunter. There have been very few in there. Itssomething that should be written. They occasionally maynot be put in there b/c of speed or whatever the reason, butit appears its a conscious effort not to put them in there. They are absolutely required. Maybe its just this hearing, butit does not appear to be difficult.__________________________________________REPORTER:Maybe this isnt a good fit then. I write as good as I can atthis moment (tho Im always working on things) but mythought is that is what Im paying a scopist for is to correctwhat I dont do right. If I wrote perfect, I wouldnt needa scopist. If its too much work for you, go ahead and justsend it back and Ill pay you for what youve done so far.Like I say, if I didnt have corrections for a scopist tomake, I wouldnt need one. My untran is generally under1% and I consider myself a pretty good writer, but maybeyou are used to top top notch gals! Sorry it didnt work out._______________________________________SCOPIST:Lets not get dramatic about this. I will complete thescoping. Scoping is to make correction, not for the scopistto do the job of the reporter. I reported for 30 years andwhen we became computerized, I used a scopist. If ascopist has to spend time ad nauseum putting in whatthe reporter has an obligation to put in, then the sameamount of time is spent inserting bylines and coloquy (sic) asif the scopist was fixing the untranslates. Its like gettingup in the morning and brushing ones teeth. It is a giventhat it is done. I started this business when there wasonly typewiters and dictaphones and we had to dictate.By the time 1997 came around, I didnt have one conflictin my notes and I could write for the computer and ascopist. I will complete the transcript if you would likeIt is not difficult. If you want the $1 per page rate, I cantspend time putting in bylines and colloquy and capping anduncapping the word Exhibit and the like. Its the same amountof time spent. This is elementary theory. Im just trying toget an understanding of your writing skills and habits. IfI dont ask, the (sic) I wont know. I hope you understand._____________________________________________I then responded with an email telling her to go to - - - -! I explained that there was not a speaker ID problembecause it was the same examiner the whole time, so shesimply had to job global it in for the byline. Anyway, is this how scopists are supposed to be/act or did Iencounter a piece of work scopist that is condescending andthinks her job is to explain to me minor problems? This wasa contested medical matter with seven attorneys on it.I explained to her that if the worst she could criticize meabout is exhibit no and Exhibit No. , she has a real problem. This particular lady is out of Georgia. Has anybodyexperienced a scopist like this? What are our quot;dutiesquot;and what are a scopists? Also, in the 49 pages she sent me there were appoximately 30mistakes (not minor) ones. I dont feel I should have topay her the full amount because she promised me she wassuch a good scopist that I could practically push print and itwould be out the door. She apparently doesnt know how tospell or scope either. Thoughts?Thanks!

Diamante Bluetooth Question

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 12:09:48 GMT

I was looking to buy the $135 Wireless Realtime Kit from Stenograph, but I am hesistating because it comes with 2 adapters; one adapter for the writer and one for my laptop. My laptop already has internal Bluetooth capabilites so I prefer to not have to worry about losing that second adapter if I can do without it.Has anyone bought a Bluetooth for the Diamante outside of Stenograph, ei. Best Buy, and had it work seemlessly? If so, please recommend the brand and save me some $$. Thanks

What are the procedures for EUOs?

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 11:32:04 GMT

Hello, I had my first EUO today. What exactly are the procedures when taking an EUO? I noticed that my firm charges a little bit more per page, but I thought that was because usually the deponent doesnt have an attorney. In my EUO today, there was actually an attorney who was present with the deponent and they wanted to read and sign the transcript. My firms policy is that if the attorney wants a read and sign, they are purchasing the copy. (It seemed like that was only for depos though) They cant have a read and sign and then not want a copy, because they basically get a copy for free because its a read and sign.

At the end of the EUO, I asked the attorney who was with the deponent if she wanted a copy. When I asked that, the taking attorney jumped in and said when I send her the transcript, she will send it to the other attorney and that things are done a little bit different with EUOs. Like I said before, I thought the rates were higher because its usually one attorney there. Is this the normal practice with EUOs, the other attorney gets a copy and doesnt have to pay for it whether or not its a read and sign?? Thanks!

Oh, for you guys who freak out when people have grammatical errors in these posts, Im typing this on my phone and might have a few! Nasty comments arent needed!

Who pays for a nonparty witness transcript?

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 05:29:36 GMT

When you have a nonparty witness appearing pro se and they decide they want to read and sign the transcript, who pays for this additional copy?

SCOPISTS DUTIES RETRY

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 23:22:51 GMT

Not sure why my margins were weird!? Im new here so forgive me!

SCOPIST:

I have a question about how you write your steno when you want Exhibit No. and how you write it when you want exhibit number. I donrsquo;t know if I need to make a correction for your personal dictionary or not. When it should be exhibit number, it is coming out Exhibit No. (kpeubgt tpnumb). It could be you are shadowing.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

REPORTER:

Trust me, I have sticky notes all over my desk with things Irsquo;m already working on. Usually it comes out correct because Irsquo;ve globalled ldquo;the exhibit numberrdquo; and ldquo;an exhibit numberrdquo; etc. Itrsquo;s a work in progress and will be forever :0)

SCOPIST:

No, no, no. Itrsquo;s an easy fix. It just takes a conscious effort the next time yoursquo;re writing. Take a post-it and put it on your machine. One change at a time. I write Exhibit No. ldquo;SBIT.rdquo; You canrsquo;t confuse it for anything else. Itrsquo;s a no brainer. It works every time. Constantly changing it is time-consuming. Give it a try. It will be second nature in no time.

SCOPIST:

The one crucial thing Irsquo;ve noticed is the lack of speaker IDs, specifically Ms. Hunter. It comes out as THE ATTORNEY: Q. I canrsquo;t spend the time going through a transcript putting in the by line Q or MS. HUNTER. There have been very few in there. It is something that should be written. They occasionally may not be put in there b/c of speed or whatever the reason, but it appears itrsquo;s a conscious effort not to put them in there. They are absolutely required. Maybe itrsquo;s just this hearing, but it does not appear to be difficult.

REPORTER:

Maybe this isnrsquo;t a good fit then. I write as good as I can at this moment (tho Irsquo;m always working on things) but my thought is that is what Irsquo;m paying a scopist for is to correct what I donrsquo;t do right. If I wrote perfect, I wouldnrsquo;t need a scopist :0) If itrsquo;s too much work for you, go ahead and just send it back and Irsquo;ll pay you for what yoursquo;ve done so far. Like I say, if I didnrsquo;t have corrections for a scopist to make, I wouldnrsquo;t need one. My untran rate is generally under 1% and I consider myself a pretty good writer, but maybe yoursquo;re used to top top notch gals! Sorry it didnrsquo;t work out :0(

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SCOPIST:

Lets not get dramatic about this. We are professional people. I will complete the scoping. Scoping is to make corrections, not for the scopist to do the job of the reporter. I reported for 30 years and when we became computerized, I used a scopist. If a scopist has to spend time ad nauseum putting in what the reporter has an obligation to put in, then the same amount of time is spent inserting by lines and coloquy as if the scopist was fixing the untranslates. Its like getting up in the morning and brushing ones teeth. It is a given that it is done. I started this business when there was only typewriters and dictaphones and we had to dictate. By the time 1997 came around, I didnt have one conflict in my notes, and I could write for the computer and a scopist. I will complete the transcript if you would like. It is not difficult. If you want the $1.00 per page rate, I cant spend the time putting in by lines and colloquy and capping and uncapping the word Exhibit and the like. Its the same amount of time spent. This is elementary theory. Im just trying to get an understanding of your writing skills and habits. If I dont ask, the I wont know. I hope you understand.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are a scopists duties?

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 23:11:19 GMT

Hello:I have recently tried a new scopist and it ended not so great. I would like others views on what a scopist should do and what is required of me as a reporter. I am attaching the chain of emails between myself and her. She was sending me stuff within 5 hours of getting my job, trying to correct me and informing me it wasnt her job to fix certain issues. I have been a reporter for 30 years, am a great writer, have passed my merit and realtime test, and write less than 1 percent. What am I paying for a scopist for if this is what they are like? And the attitude was so shocking that a scopist would even say those things to anyone.Any input would be appreciated.___________________________________ Scopist:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reporter:

Scopist:

The one crucial thing Irsquo;ve noticed is the lack of speaker IDs, specifically Ms. Hunter. It comes out as THE ATTORNEY: Q. I canrsquo;t spend the time going through a transcript putting in the by line Q or MS. HUNTER. There have been very few in there. It is something that should be written. They occasionally may not be put in there b/c of speed or whatever the reason, but it appears itrsquo;s a conscious effort not to put them in there. They are ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED. Maybe itrsquo;s just this hearing, but it does not appear to be difficult.

Reporter:

By the way, there was only one speaker during the whole exam, so you would simply job global the byline after the colloquy and the examiners name would appear each time. Simple solution. Its not like you didnt know who was doing the examination. This was a matter with 7 attorneys and medical material. I was doing my best. It still translated out at .08, despite that.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scopist:

Lets not get dramatic about this. We are professional people. I will complete the scoping. Scoping is to make corrections, not for the scopist to do the job of the reporter. I reported for 30 years and when we became computerized, I used a scopist. If a scopist has to spend time ad nauseum putting in what the reporter has an obligation to put in, then the same amount of time is spent inserting by lines and coloquy as if the scopist was fixing the untranslates. Its like getting up in the morning and brushing ones teeth. It is a given that it is done. I started this business when there was only typewriters and dictaphones and we had to dictate. By the time 1997 came around, I didnt have one conflict in my notes, and I could write for the computer and a scopist. I will complete the transcript if you would like. It is not difficult. If you want the $1.00 per page rate, I CANT SPEND THE TIME putting in by lines and colloquy and capping and uncapping the word Exhibit and the like. Its the same amount of time spent. This is elementary theory. Im just trying to get an understanding of your writing skills and habits. If I dont ask, the I wont know. I hope you understand.

Note: For such a great scopist, she has two typos in the above email :0)

thanks!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is this word? (Escobedo)

Tue, 3 Apr 2012 16:34:06 GMT

This was a orthopedic doctors depo. The doctor said, quot;Well, you could call it a guess. I think its a best-reasoned, medical opinion. And thats the problem with escopedo. Thats the whole thing thats wrong with escopedo. When youre against it you call it a guess when youre for it you call it medical opinion and its a difficult problem dealing with the way the law is written.quot; Anybody have an idea what quot;escopedoquot; is?

How do I get the file number for a job on my Flash writer?

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 16:28:06 GMT

HelloI have a used Flash writer and needed to know how to find out when I start a new job what the file number for that job is? My employer has a Stylus and she is able to locate it on her writer and document it for her records, she would like me to do the same.
I contacted ProCat and they wont help me unless I pay $200 first for a license tranfer fee, and I simply cant afford that right now.Any help would be appreciated.Thank you,
Elisabeth

How to handle opening/closing statements/jury instructions

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 12:37:02 GMT

I am in CA and on my appeal notice, it has the dates for the opening/closing statements and jury instructions but I am not sure if I am supposed to transcribe unless specifically requested. Any help would be appreciated. I left messages with a couple of local reporters but havent heard back from them yet. Thanks!

Court Reporting in Hawaii

Sun, 1 Apr 2012 11:23:19 GMT

Is anyone court reporting in HI? I am heading back after being on the mainland for a while and wondering how business is. If anyone has any input on how the page rate is and work load or anything, I would like to hear. Thanks.

Who knows how to write this legal term?

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 23:07:18 GMT

Obviously, I dont trust the internet, so Im going to ask you guys instead. The term is quot;Presepe to Strikequot; or quot;Presipie to strikequot; or maybe presaepe or something like that.Does anybody know how to spell presepe or what it means?

Why Is Honesty In This Business Unheard Of?

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:11:08 GMT

Seriously after almost many years in this business, Im so disheartened by feeling ripped off by my own agency, a big agency which made millions and millions of dollars in profit last year! Do you think they got there by notifying every court reporter everywhere of every copy sale that came in after the fact? (*n.b. - business cards have agency phone number and email address so not likely for the reporter to actually be informed!) No. Do you think they got there by being honest about the wheeling and dealing theyre doing with the reporters work product behind the reporters back? Roughs, finals? No! Do you think they got where they are by making false representations to me that they knew I could never prove to be untrue? Yes! Hey, what I dont understand is, if we are the ones who are doing all of the actual interaction with witnesses and attorneys and were the ones doing the physical taking down of the spoken word with all of the difficulties inherently involved with that and the millions of neurons firing off within OUR bodies in order for that to happen, how come were the pawns in this huge game? And not the masters of it? Why arent we organized and frikking demanding as hell for honesty and integrity??????Why dont we actually have some way of proving when agencies and thier business reps are distributing things behind our back for free, or making deals that benefit themselves and the agencies, but not us? Oh, copy us on that rough because we have a deal in place for this one firm that well post it to our website for their whole firm to use? Oh yeah?How come Im not entitled to an extra royalty on that kind of distribution - especially if youre collecting a royalty on it? Oh, your website, you drummed up the business, yeah, yeah, well, guess what, its STILL MY WORK PRODUCT!!! How come we cant have any kind of way to prove for certain when lawyers are sharing our work product? How come an agency owner can state that another part of the company is definitely not charging twice for realtime and rough draft and a business rep from the same company says that other part of the company definitely is charging separately for rough draft and realtime? (as in the case of east coast jobs taken in CA, where CA reporters somehow let agencies get away with only paying for realtime and they idiotically supply the rough draft for free, even when it requires four hours to clean up that rough draft... and even though I wasnt involved at the start of that policy, and even though Ive objected to it all along, I AM one of the idiots who have gone along with it and just let it pass... but let me say Id be entitled to at least $50,000 right now if I were to have been properly paid on those jobs just over the past five years!!!!) Im so sick of this feeling of always suspecting that Im being played. I work very, very hard. I make very, very good money. But that does not mean that Im NOT ENTITLED to being paid FAIRLY and SQUARELY for every single solitary thing that an agency does with my work product? NO IT DOESNT!How can we figure out a way to let agencies quot;buyquot; our work product and pay us for every single solitary aspect of that product that they want to sell? (Copy business reps on my roughs- are you frikkin kidding????)And how can we figure out a way that lawyers will NEVER be able to unethically distribute our work product behind our backs?Yeah, Im angry. Its time we all woke up and realize that we need to take back what is our own. Why isnt our work product a copyrightable commodity? Whats the law on that, does anyone know if this issue has been pushed before or how far? What if there were a way to embed an electronic signature within our transcripts, and that electronic signature carried with it an embedded tracking code, so that we would ALWAYS know exactly who, what, when, and where, and wed have a way to force honesty upon the land.... somebody give me an answer because Im so sick of this feeling I have in the pit of my stomach....

Do you pay your taxes as a monthly bill?

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:18:56 GMT

I was talking to a fellow court reporter today who suggested I pay the IRS monthly instead of quarterly. I try to save 30% of each paycheck, but there never seems to be enough leftover for bills, and I have to dip into my savings. He said Ill have to pay an extra fee for not paying it quarterly, but apparently its not uncommon for court reporters just to make arrangements with the IRS if they dont have the money. Do any of you do that or have experience with doing that in the past?

Independent contractor vs. c-corp

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:23:57 GMT

What is the difference between an independent contracter and a C-Corp? And being a new freelance reporter, what would be my best bet to use when filing my taxes next year? Thanks!

Should I put in every UM in this situation?

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:55:46 GMT

I normally do not put in quot;um,quot; when the witness in answering, to me its the same with not putting in every quot;okayquot; by the attorney when witness is giving a long answer, but I feel that I need to on this transcript. Heres a little bit of background and why Im wondering if I should put in every quot;um.quot; Before the depo, defense attorney asked how long applicant attorney had been an attorney, who was extremely insulted by question (applicant attorney was a contract attorney for depo) and refused to answer and got very hostile. Go into conference room, things are okay. The problem I have is for 85 pages the witness started every answer with quot;um,quot; and continued to us quot;umquot; in the answer. Witness even stated a few times on the record he felt that it was a trick question, which both attorneys assured him was not. Defense attorney even told applicant attorney a few times to not testify, let the witness testify. The last 40 pages are a nightmare with all the quot;ums.quot; It was so bad that I was about ready to scream and would pound on my machine everytime he said it. Im just afraid that if I dont put in every quot;umquot; it really wont reflect how the witness was, in my opinion, calculating his answers, and the defense attorney may want every quot;umquot; in there. What does every one else think?

NYC-225wpm student looking to sit in on a dep

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:38:34 GMT

Hello, I am a student almost finished with 225 and would like to intern with a working court reporter at their depositions.I am very professional and have sat in before so I am aware of how a depo is run. I want to pick up some more hours before I start to go out on my own, perhaps with your agency. Please write back, and I will email you directly. Thank you, CCC

To hyphen, or not to hyphen?

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:22:16 GMT

It comes up daily in my Workers Compensation depositions, and I looked it up in the book quot;One word, two words, hyphenated,quot; and its not in it. I Google it and it comes up both ways.Is it work-related injuryorwork related injury? I believe it is hyphenated, but I just want to make sure Ive been doing it correctly. :-)

Looking for a mentor? We have one!

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:36:07 GMT

Just wanted to announce that www.CourtReportingMentor.com is launching today. It does exactly what the name implies - finds mentors for court reporting students that intend to go into court reporting, CART and captioning. This is the first website to ONLY focus on mentoring. If you are currently a student or a working professional, I hope you see the value and sign up today.
Thanks!
Marc Greenberg
www.CourtReportingMentor.comPS - The new edition of The Steno Life is out today too!!

Would you make it an answer symbol or The Witness?

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 12:11:53 GMT

So the witness in a depostion was an attorney representing himself in the nonparty deposition. After being asked a question, he answered objection to the form of the question or asked and answered. Would you have it as an answer symbol or put in colloquy The Witness????

Are you required by law to give old firm an ASCII and audio of all jobs you did for them?

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 17:47:00 GMT

I stopped working for a firm, and they said they need an ASCII of all jobs I did for them and they also want my audio. Am I required by law to do that? Is each state different? They owe me a lot of money (about 5K), so if I decide or find out I am required to give them all of that, I want all of the money that is owed to me first. I also did not have any written agreement with this firm. Any suggestions on what I should do? Thanks everyone.

If court reporters ignore their taxes, will they go away?

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:04:31 GMT

If the answer to this question is quot;no,quot; then can somebody help me understand how I go about doing my taxes as an independent contractor, because Im confused. I know its called a 1099, but thats about all I know. I know its approximately one third of our earnings, which luckily for me wasnt a lot this year, so I shouldnt have much of a problem paying it off, I just dont know who to pay.I know that we can write a lot of our equipment off, but does that mean we have to pay first and then get the money back, or does that mean we only have to pay what we didnt write off?Any help would be appreciated.

sic. or (phonetic) ?

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:10:48 GMT

I have a situation that occurs almost daily, and I feel like I need some clarity. Being that I take phone depositions and its difficult to interuppt a doctor in the middle of dictating his report in to the record, there are several times when I hear another doctors name mentioned, i.e. today would be Dr. Carr, and I clearly heard what he said, but I know theres always a million ways to spell last names.Now, my boss tells me in that situation that I should put Dr. Carr sic. instead of Dr. Carr (phonetic.) Of course I have to do it how she prefers, but Id just like to know if shes wrong or right, because my understanding of using sic. was if you know theyre mispronouncing the word or they said something incorrectly. I can clearly hear every word that these doctors say, so shouldnt I be using (phonetic) as to how Im spelling it?

Eclipse users...Urgent...please help

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:54:32 GMT

If someone could please help...I have a mock trial transcript due asap and, long story short, I just finished school and only have the student version of Eclipse...no student support available...expired. Unfortunately, my laptop completely died on me. I was lucky enough to get the files out of the hard drive. However, I tried downloading my old, VERY OLD, student version onto another computer and I can only edit. The minute I go to convert to .pdf I get an error that reads quot;Invalid optimized paragraphquot;...this is my stuck point.Is there any chance I can send the file to someone and you can convert it to pdf for me and email it back???...or if there are any suggestions out there of what I may be able to do, that would be great too.I would GREATLY appreciate it.Thank you

Inaudible, okay?

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:13:37 GMT

Is it acceptable to write an inaudible parenthetical if you and your audio didnt catch what was being spoken during a deposition?

What do we do if the attorneys take the exhibits after the deposition.

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:01:54 GMT

This week I got into some minor trouble because the attorney had kept the exhibit from the transcript and I just assumed he wanted to retain the exhibit, but then my boss called and told me that that was supposed to be attached to the transcript. The firm owner simply attached it to the transcript and sent them back out.But I found out that on the appearance page I was supposed to put quot;retained by counselquot; or something instead of the page number that it was marked which I didnt know before.If the attorneys want to retain the exhibits should we have him/her sign a paper or something do you think?

how do you puncuate a small question within a question?

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:53:53 GMT

How to puncuate a question within a question or a question within a statement? Which is correct or are both acceptable?For example: He went to the store, correct, early that morning?He went to the store -- correct? -- early that morning?For example: Dawn was very upset, correct, after the argument, and she drove to the store.Dawn was very upset -- correct? -- after the argument, and she drove to the store.

What is your state assn. doing about unethical practices by natl firms?

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:19:57 GMT

Does anyone know if their state court reporters association is doing anything to try and curb the unethical practices of national court reporting firms? Every week were reading about unethical practices -- free originals, court reporters not getting paid for all copies over a certain amount, insurance companies telling defense counsel that they can only use XYZ Court Reporters for all depos, etc., etc., etc.

What to do when an attorney is typing whats being said at a depo during proceedings?

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:30:56 GMT

Hello, I am a newly-licensed reporter, and my dad is a videographer in the central valley in California. Today he came across an interesting situation that I am very curious about how to handle correctly. My father explained that during the entire deposition one of the attorneys was typing on her personal laptop everything that was being said, as of making her own personal record, and that it was quite obvious what she was doing. Apparently, she was even so bold as to constantly ask for questions to be repeated. The reporter at the deposition made no comments and no actions were taken against the attorney. Im just curious what I should do, if anything, should I come across this situation later. Thanks!

Should I match my practice to the test Im going for?

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:40:43 GMT

I have always thought that my practice should match the test Im going to take. To clarify, I do practice all types of material-- LITs, JCs, QAs. But if Im going for a testimony speed test, then I focus on QA dictations. If Im going for a JC test, then I practice mostly JCs. However my teacher says it shouldnt matter, that writing is writing. That said, I can tell you that practicing more QAs than LITs, for ex, does not help me pass a LIT speed test. Id love to hear from you all out there as to what you think amp; what you do! Thank you...

What stipulation page should I use?

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:32:54 GMT

What stipulation page should I use when a case is filed in one state and youre taking a deposition of a witness in another state?

Is it normal to not charge the hiring attorney if there are three opposing attorneys?

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:57:25 GMT

I was just told that there is a firm in Philadelphia that wont charge the hiring attorney if there are three other attorneys who all buy transcripts. Now, my firm wants to do that also. I did an 0amp;4 last week and I was told to not charge the hiring attorney, but to charge a little more for each additional attorney. It comes out to less than I would have got. Is this normal?

Do court reporters with a lot of years of experience still get nervous?

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:50:29 GMT

I guess all court reporters are nervous in the beginning because of things like being asked to read back or the equipment failing or maybe just getting intimidated when multiple attorneys ever the room and youre just wondering if youre going to be able to keep up with all of them.My question is how long does this last? Ive been reporting for 14 months now. I dont get as nervous as I did on my first month, but there will be times where my heart will start fluttering or I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach over stupid things.Like sometimes Ill look at the computer screen and for a split second think the realtime isnt working, but then Ill see that it does.Or anytime a witness says, quot;Can you repeat that?quot; I always get real nervous, because thats when I know Ill be expected to read back. Ill get nervous even if I know that I can read it back with no problem. Its just like a reaction. The witness says, quot;Can you repeat that?quot; And I cant help but get the fluttery heart.And everytime I walk out of my house to go to a deposition, I always think, quot;Did I forget something?quot; quot;I keep feeling like I forgot something.quot;Although, in 14 months I never did forget anything. I guess thats because Ive always been petrified to. Although, sooner or later I probably will.Does that happen to other people? And when will it stop?

Have any of you reporters ever know a Stentura8000 to work when it is turned off and unplugged?

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:40:23 GMT

I had said in recent questions that I had a machine mess up on me and I was thinking about starting to use a manual machine as a back up. I decided not to do that. But this weird thing happened.I have an old Strenture8000 that had broke about six months ago and I never got it fixed because I did a rent to buy program at Acculaw instead. I started playing around with that. Its so weird because I had it turned off and it was unplugged and I had the ribbon in and steno paper and I was actually able to write on it as if it were like a manual machine. Its weird because Im not able to do that on my other Stenture8000.I know I was never able to do this on any other machine before. Usually, you can write on the paper, but then it wont move up.Has this ever happened to anyone before or am I like a miracle person? Maybe this is like on Happy Days how Fonzi hits the music box and it starts playing out of nowhere.

What do other freelance reporters do for health insurance?

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:47:26 GMT

Hello!Im currently trying to figure out what is the best way to go. I reeeeally need health insurance. Im not married yet, so I need to find out how my fellow collegues do it. I recently went to the DRA Convention in Monterey and got a flyer advertising health insurance, but Id like to know if anyone has dealt with Mr. Potter himself. Has anyone heard anything on his service, professionalism or, perhaps, purchased health insurance through this company before?I dont want to get stiffed .... Thank you in advance!rrcsr

Manual Stentura 400 SRT Question

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 08:53:15 GMT

Hey all, if anyone could answer this question it would be greatly appreciated.Im a court reporting student and, as the title says, I have a Stentura 400 SRT. I am getting my software soon and would like to be able to take tests without connecting my machine to my laptop. Is there any sort of adapter or anything that will allow me to do this, and if there is could a link be provided? Ive seen other machines with a disk slot but mine doesnt have this.Thanks!

Recruiting Certified Court Reporters for Depositions in NY NJ

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 21:28:48 GMT

Hi. I run a boutique legal staffing agency that deals with NY and NJ law firms. Recently a client asked me to assist him in finding Certified and experienced Court Reporters for a major employment litigation matter requiring a very large amount of depositions to be taken, in the next several months. Where do I locate qualified certified court reporters in the NY and NJ area?
If you are interested in being considered, or if you can recommend any certified court reporters, please send resume and pay rate to: docreview @ verismols . com Thank you. Maurice Pianko

What is the procedure when taking a deposition with an interpreter?

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 12:19:21 GMT

Hi guys,Ive never had a depo with an interpreter before, and I have my first one this week. The deponent speaks spanish, and I have just a few questions:1.) What is the oath for the interpreter?2.) I swear in the interpreter first, right?3.) Do I need to interrupt the proceedings if the deponent starts speaking in English? Do I tell him I can only take down what the interpreter says?4.) Is there anything else I should know about this type of depo? Thanks! Thank you!

Would you capitalize these...

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:39:20 GMT

Some reporters have already posted questions about when to cap and when not to cap, but Im still not 100% sure what to do in these cases. I feel I want to cap the following titles, but once you start, you cant stop and some of them dont need to be capped according to the dictionary.A. The executive vice president of risk would report to me, the chief-- or our VP of finance, director of finance, our director of information technology, our VP of sales, our VP of operations, and a couple of people that would run our warehouse and our outsourcing division, and also our director of human resources.** It seems these should be capped, am I right? **And the guy testifying is the president of the company, so would I cap president? Thanks for your help on this!!

What are manual writers like?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:18:10 GMT

Im about to buy myself a manual writer so that Ill always have it as a back-up for when my real machines messes up, which it does frequently. Does anyone have any oppinions on how they are or what it is like going to a deposition with no realtime?

What are Court Reporting Conventions like?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:14:36 GMT

Ive never been to the court reporting convention and this year its coming to Philadelphia, which is my city. Ill die before I miss it. Has anyone here been to the conventions who can tell me what theyre like? Thank you.

What does it mean when my Stenture8000 says this?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:11:07 GMT

I think my Stentura is broken because its hardly working. On Tuesday on a deposition, it was still working, but the keys were making weird noises.On Wednesday on a deposition, it continued to make the same noise, but then it went into this mode where it has the numbers from 1 to 6 and says something about trying to re-boot, but to push 1 twice to cancel. I kept doing what it said, but then it kept saying something about not reading the disc, which is weird because there was no disc in there. Then, it completely turned itself off. I couldnt even use it with just paper notes. I had to completely rely on audio to do my deposition.Does anybody have any clue what that is, because I have not clue at all?

Have you ever heard of this said in a stipuation?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:35:37 GMT

At the end of my depo today, which was taken in two cases, one in Orange County Superior Court and one in Federal Court (Bankruptcy Court), when reciting the stipulation, one of the attorneys said, quot;It should be signed under penalty of perjury, the State of California and in the United States of America.quot; Has anyone ever heard of this? Is there some special wording for the witnesss signature that should be added here? Of course, this is an expedite....Thanks!

What is the requirements for Read and Signs in Minnesota?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:24:34 GMT

If the witness chooses to read and sign and has 30 days to do so, do we need to hold on to the Originals for 30 days? Or can I just ship everything out, and have the Attorney attach the errata sheet? Thanks!

How scary is realtime reporting?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:59:40 GMT

I have been dying to ask this question, but was too embarrassed to ask. I know I would probably get more work if I did realtime reporting. Ive been reporting since 1986. I have yet to even buy the new equipment, Im still on Case 3.2, haha, but I really want to take the dive. I dont even use audio Im so old-school. Of course I will start by just realtiming for myself without attorneys hooking up, but my question is: Have any of my fellow reporters ever had an incident where an attorney said, quot;I didnt say thatquot; or quot;What does this say?quot; I write well. My translate percentage is usually 98 or 99 percent, but of course on some hard jobs it will be like 96 percent or less. I write phonetically, always have. I was never good at learning briefs. How do you get over the fear of an attorney reading your work as youre writing? I cant tell you how many times Ill write a question, and then realize he said quot;whenquot; instead of quot;whatquot; and make myself a note right after the question. I am so impressed with realtime reporters, and I want to know how you overcome your fear, and if you ever wrote something and the attorney says something about what youre writing. I am so glad I finally had to courage to ask this question straight up! Please be kind!! :)

Do you have business cards?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:55:58 GMT

Hi,My question is... if you work for multiple reporting firms, how do you format your business cards? Im guessing you would either need separate cards for each firm you work for (although this seems kind of a costly way to go and youd have too large a quantity of cards) or... do you somehow have just a basic card with your name and, I dont even know what contact info it would have? Keep in mind though, Im not at these deps reporting for myself per se, Im there b/c the agency requested me to be there. Are any of you fellow reporters in the habit of working here and there and if so, what, if any, business cards do you distribute to the attys? And they do ask for the cards and it seems so unprofessional when you dont have any. Any ideas? Thanks!!

What is the current avg. rate for remote scoping for daily copy?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:34:21 GMT

Inquiring about rates for a scopist who provides daily copy remotely.Thank you.

I am already a certified court reporter but I am considering going into captioning. How do I go about this?

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:54:14 GMT

I am already trained and certified to be a court reporter, but I am having a really hard time finding a job. I thought maybe I would have better luck on the job front if I went into captioning, but Im not sure how to go about being trained for this. I live in Michigan and I dont think there are any captioning schools nearby. Does anyone have any advice? I am very discouraged and frustrated to have gone through school, passed all the tests, and spent so much money on equipment and software, only to find that there are no jobs.

What do I do if I didnt get the spelling of a name?

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:03:16 GMT

A witness stated a name that I cant find through the internet and I didnt get the spelling at the deposition. Is it okay to put a blurb next to the name that indicates phonetic spelling?

Do I add a blurb if no verbal response was given?

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:59:34 GMT

On one of the attorneys questions the witness just nods his head in response and the attorney keeps on questioning. In the transcript it looks like I am missing an answer.Should I add a blurb that the witness nodded his head?

Want a USB high gain microphone?

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:39:02 GMT

http://www.martelelectronics.com/1277.htmlI bought this microphone and it works great. I used it for a few weeks and decided to get rid of the laptop I was using it with. I dont need an external mic for my new laptop. Its plug-and-play and still in its original box. If youre interested, make an offer. Trckkpony@aol.com

Do you make corrections yourself or let your proofreader make them if they are on the same software as you?

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:41:04 GMT

Hi,Do you let your proofreaders make the corrections themselves if they are on the same software that you use? I like the idea that they can do it themselves, but I would still go over the transcript! Are the corrections in a different color so you can at least tell what was changed? It would save me so much time if I didnt have to look over the sheet they give me with the corrections and then having to do it myself. But what do you guys think about that?

Reporting an applicant credentials committee interview

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:00:52 GMT

Has anyone ever reported an applicant credentials committee interview? Im a freelance reporter and have only been working for 8 months. Any tips anyone could give me about this that may be different and that I need to know? I would greatly appreciate it!

What is this questioner called?

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:43:05 GMT

I took an Examination Under Oath. The caption only reads In Re so-and-so, Insureds. No respondent or anything. The questioning attorney, Im assuming, is defending the insurance companies. So is it taken on behalf of the defendants? The insurance companies are not listed as defendants.

voir dire blurbs?

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 12:53:46 GMT

Can someone please give me the correct blurb when its jury selection and voir dire during the selection? Im assuming I dont have to transcribe that portion of an appeal I have due but I have never done a civil appeal before. Also, is it 28 lines or 25 lines per page for civil?Thank you so much

appeal extension request

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 12:42:32 GMT

I was wondering if anyone has tips on asking for an extension for an appeal transcript thats due soon. I need to ask for another month at least because I know I will not be able to meet the current deadline. Do I fax it or email it to the appeals board? Thanks

sic the attorney for a non-word?

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 09:23:36 GMT

A very smooth, well-spoken attorney had this exchange with the witness:Q Do you believe that they cohabitate together?A Yes.Q Do you understand the term quot;cohabitatequot;?A Yes. It means living with someone else.Now, I know that cohabitate is not a word. I will occasionally use sic or (as spoken) on a witness, but I kind of hate to use it on the attorney. I dont want to call attention to his error, but I also dont want anyone to think I didnt know it was an error. I generally will clean up for attorneys if, for example, they use quot;aquot; where it should have been quot;anquot; or something of that nature, but I dont feel like I should change this to quot;cohabit.quot; Any thoughts?

When to stop the discussion on the record.

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:27:42 GMT

Im working on a deposition now where the attorneys decided to stop and reschedule the deposition because the skype was not working properly (I already told this story.)At the end they never tell me to go off the record, but they talk for a few pages about rescheduling the deposition and like their availability and things like that. It doesnt seem like this stuff should stay on the record, but Im afraid to take it out.Im having a problem transcribing this depostiong, concidering I was the one handeling the skype. I was in and out of my seat the whole time and my recorder picked everything up; the problem is, I dont know what is on or off the record.

How does your proofreader go over your transcripts?

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:31:03 GMT

Hello everyone,Ive heard that proofreaders can make the corrections themselves if they use the software you are on. Can you explain the process of doing that? Exactly how to do you send them the file and how do they send it back for you to review? Are the corrections in a different color? ( Im on CC)I guess Ive been doing things the old way! I send an ASCII and she sends me back a sheet with page and line numbers where the corrections need to be made. Sorry in advance if this is a dumb question. Im still trying to figure things out as a new reporter!

Scopist/Proofreader Recommendation

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:24:19 GMT

If anyone needs an excellent scopist or proofreader (he does both), Id be happy to recommend one. He has a BA in English, graduated from court reporting school, worked freelance for about a year but decided scoping/proofing was more suited to his lifestyle. I used him while I freelanced but am an official now and dont need extra help. Feel free to contact me if youre looking for someone!

How do you format this?

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:42:53 GMT

When a nondeposing attorney asks the deposing attorney a question about his question -- for example. MR. JONES: Q What was the design of the store? MR. SMITH: You mean the layout or the actual -- MR. JONES: No, I dont care about the layout. I just want to know how it existed when you worked there --Do you make Mr. Jones answering Mr. Smiths question first by putting him in colloquy, or do you just put it all in the question to the witness? In othe words, he is answering Mr. Smiths question first and then he continues his question to the witness. How do you format that?Is that question as clear as mud??

Should I be reproofing my work?

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 20:36:57 GMT

I reread a transcript that was sent back from my proofer and found quite a few punctuation errors as well as a couple other errors such as week/weak.Is it common practice to reread a transcript after you receive it back from your proofer or should I find a better proofer? This seems so time consuming to have to reread hundreds of pages per week.

Should I reproof my work?

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 20:31:20 GMT

Reproofing transcript

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 20:30:16 GMT

I reread a transcript that got back from my proofer and found quite a few punctuation errors as well as a couple other errors such as week/weak.Is it common practice to reread a transcript after you receive it back from your proofer or should I find a better proofer? This seems so time consuming to have to reread hundreds of pages per week.

Has anyone been to CR school in Ohio? or PA, KY, WV, VA, or MD?

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 13:59:02 GMT

Hello all,I am taking the plunge this fall and enrolling in CR school! I currently live in New Jersey and have been doing my research for about 6 months now. Ive made a spreadsheet comparing a bunch of different schools, and have found that Stark State College and Cuyahoga Community College (both in OH) have what I think Im looking for. They are both reasonably priced (by comparison) as well. Has anyone out there attended either of these schools?Like I said Ive been doing research, but most of the schools out there seem to be for-profits which Id rather avoid. I dont want to be too far from NJ, and I am really hoping to find a community college in one of the above states... I just want to move out of NJ while its still feasible for me to do so.Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

Is it tee shirt or T-shirt??

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 10:33:23 GMT

I am stumped. Dictionary has it both ways.

Do you leave jokes and small talk in the transcripts?

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 02:06:45 GMT

When the lawyers are talking and then the conversation turns into jokes and small talk, but the lawyers never say quot;Off the record,quot; but the words have absolutely nothing to do with the case, do you leave that in the transcript or take it out?Sometimes when Im listening to my tape recorder and the attorneys laugh, I almost go to put quot;lolquot; in the transcript because Ill figure the reader isnt able to tell if someone is saying it in a joking form or not. But then I remember quot;lolquot; is only for social networking.

What are good books for a court reporter to build vocabulary?

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 00:37:00 GMT

Since I started court reporting, I dont think Ive read even one book, because any reading I do is on transcripts. I want to start reading again, but I want to read books that will help my vocabulary. Regular books just arent challenging enough for someone in our profession.Does anyone have any suggestions?

Is it normal to get behind on your transcribing?

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 23:58:16 GMT

I was just remembering in October, I was so busy with work that I fell behind. There were atleast two transcripts that were handed in a month after the deposition date, so they were two weeks late. There were also a couple of lawyers who were complaining about the transcripts being two or three days late.Does that happen often to reporters, especially new reporters? Or am I possibly the only reporter who ever did that? lol.At least, the attorneys of that job were cool about it.

How much information does your agency give you before a deposition?

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 23:53:16 GMT

Is it normal for the agency to give the court reporters things like caption pages, the witnesses names, the opposing counsels names? Better yet is it normal for them not to give that information? Also, is it normal to be given a job and not be given the location right away?

What is the most amount of hours you spent writing on your machine in one day?

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 23:49:05 GMT

So, far, my highest amount of hours of writing on my steno machine would probably be eight or nine. That was in April of last year when I had a case that I had to travel from Philadelphia to Salem, NJ, which was three hours for me. I had to do that two days in a row and each day was 8/9 hours. I think there were about ten witnesses. That stands out in my mind as my record so far of the most amount of witnesses in the shortest period of time. It was a nice paycheck.What is everyone elses record of the most witnesses or the most amount of time?

How do I put in a transcript that the witness yawned?

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 15:02:49 GMT

I am a brand new reporter and during my first deposition, the witness yawned twice. After each yawn, she said quot;excuse mequot; and then answered the question. For the transcript, it definitely doesnt show the right meaning without any sort of parenthetical:Q. So who helped you dress after the accident?A. Exucse me. My mother.Should I do:A. (Witness makes noise.) Excuse me. My mother.I am lost. Does anyone have a suggestion??? All help is appreciated!

Is it O2 in NJ District Court or O1?

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 13:16:29 GMT

Just wondering whether NJ District Court, which I believe is Federal, would be an Oamp;1/2?

Should readback.org send the weekly recap email?

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 21:12:21 GMT

Prior to October 31, 2011, readback.org sent out weekly recap emails containing that weeks top questions and answers. After that date I stopped sending them because a glitch in the software caused multiple emails to all go out at the same time and a lot of people got angry.Well, its been a number of months since that fiasco and Im writing this question to my fantastic users of this site...Would you prefer/not prefer me to resume sending the weekly recap emails?Thank you for your feedback either positive or negative in this regard!

How do you charge your appearance fees?

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 16:19:17 GMT

If you take a deposition that is only ten pages, do you charge your average appearance fee or do you charge your appearance fee and a page rate for the transcript?Like if your appearance fee were 45 dollars, would you charge 45 dollars or would you charge 75 dollars, if the page rate were three dollars?

Who would be responsible if a court reporters equiptment was stolen along with all the traces of the transcript?

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 22:40:31 GMT

When I had first finished court reporting school, my mom and her boyfriend stole my laptop and sold it for drugs. I called the cops and the cops were worthless, like a lot of Frankford cops are. They did absolutly nothing.I had been planning on doing my first deposition that week. Of course, I was unable to do the deposition and I lost that job opertunity all together and ended up working in a fast food restaurant for the next year while I saved up to buy the equipment back.The thing I always wonder is, what if I had taken the deposition before they stole my stuff?What if I had taken the deposition and the information was on that laptop and they sold it for drugs? I would never have been able to turn that transcript in. The machine I was using didnt have a floppy disc drive. It was a Stenture 8000 and I think the disc drive thing was broken at the time. I also didnt have a digital recorder at the time.I always wonder if I would have been held legally responsible or if the poeple who stole it would have.Like what would happen if a reporter got mugged on her way home from a deposition and all of the equiptment got stolen?

Do I cap the the? Do I not cap the the?

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 21:59:49 GMT

If retardedest was a word, this would probably be the retardedest questions you court reporters ever saw on readback.org, but when it comes to phraes like quot;The Tacony/Palmyra Bridgequot; or quot;the Philadelphia Court System,quot; am I supposed to capitalize the quot;thequot; even if quot;thequot; is not part of the proper name?Example:the city of PhiladelphiaThe 69th Street Terminal

How to get out of the freelancing and into judicial.

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 21:54:08 GMT

What is it like being a judicial reporter? Better yet how do you become one? I know who to call in Philadelphia and I also know its not easy to get in the Philadelphia Court System at the present time; but what if I was willing to relocate? Any suggestions? Would it even be a good idea to give up freelance for judicial?

Anyone intrested in buying ProCat Stylus II?

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 17:51:35 GMT

Used for one year and a half.

How to indicate a witness flipping back and forth from Spanish to English?

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 13:09:42 GMT

How would you indicate in the transcript when a witness constantly switches between speaking Spanish and speaking English? When a witness who is supposed to be using the interpreter gives an answer in English, I always just put a parenthetical like (In English). But this witness would switch back and forth mid-sentence through the whole 150 pages. Im doing something that looks like this:

quot;A (In English) Two years. And he asked the --

(Through Interpreter) -- how do you say? Whats the name? Whats their name, the -- a judge. (In English) A judge. (Through Interpreter) Whats the name? The judge told him -- told him, Ted -- quot; You get the picture. I feel like its important to indicate because it was a very difficult depo for all involved. And for the record, all the attorneys did their very best to get her to stick with Spanish, and it was just impossible. What a mess.

whose fault is it in court reporting when something goes wrong?

Sun, 4 Mar 2012 22:48:46 GMT

On Monday, I was asked to take a deposition using Skype. The most important part of this story is the fact that I was asked to be the person to provide the Skype and to use the Skype.Now not only had I never used Skype before, but I also dont have a camera in my computer. And, again, I dont know how to use Skype.I told my boss I didnt want to take it because I dont know anything about Skype and I dont have a camera in my computer.On Tuesday, she goes out of town and and has the people in the office tell me that the skype deposition is set up for Thursday. I told the people in the office I told the boss that I wasnt doing the Skype deposition and I didnt know how to use Skype and I didnt have a camera in my laptop.Fast forward to me on my way to do the Skype deposition. lol.The poeple in the office had the IT department make me a skype account and install a camera into my computer and also show me how to use Skype. So this is what I had to spend the entire day of Wednesday doing. I had to go into the office; get the camera installed; learn as much about skype as I could. Then I went home and practiced it.On Wednesday night, the boss called and said that I needed to ask teh IT department to show me how to use multiple people using skype. I said, quot;Too late; I was already at the IT department.quot; So, again, I went on Skype and tried to figure that out. I saw that there was abotton where you could hit to add a person. The only problem there was that I couldnt use the video part of skype because I have bad internet service.Thursday morning I go to the deposition. I got there 9:20; it wasnt supposed to start until 10. The first thing I find out is that they dont have wiifi and they claim to have told the boss this. I had to install skype and the camera into the lawyers computer with three lawyers in the room staring at me asking me how much longer everything was going to be. At about 11, I finally figured it all out and got it all done and told them we could use skype. Then I find out that we couldnt do video because you need a premium account to do video. The lawyer did not understand this because he knew nothing about skype and I was trying to pretend like I knew about skype. He was like, quot;Well, maybe its time you got one.quot; I just let that go.The attorneys agreed to do it without video and we started the deposition.That brings us to the third problem, which is the simple fact that you cant do a deposition with Skype. I mean, you can, but it just keeps messing up and its not a secure line. Well, the attorney was unaware of this and I think he thought it was my fault that the thing kept messing up.Finally, they just dicontinued the deposition and rescheduled another one. The hiring attorney was nice to me, but he said for me to tell my boss he is very angry and to send him a deposition and not a bill.I still dont understand why a court reporter would provide skype; I dont understand why they would even use skype for something as important as a deposition.Do any court reporters have any stories similar to this? (if thats even possible?)

What command to use in CaseCAT when putting a line through a word/name

Sat, 3 Mar 2012 10:44:14 GMT

Hello there,Im wondering if anyone who uses CaseCATalyst is familiar with how to put a line directly through a word/name appearing on the title page of a transcript. So for instance, a party was first in the case and then the case is amended but the name of the party is still on the pleading, theres just a line through that partys name. Any ideas on what commands to use to achieve this? Thanks for your help!

CNA Rates in Florida

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 19:07:09 GMT

Is there a standard rate thats charged for CNAs in Florida or any other state? Some states have multiple page CNAs, and some states have one-page CNAs. Ive seen all kinds of different things on some of the other blogs. Just wondering if Im doing things correctly.

Are you looking for a free alternative to speed building resources and self-evaluation tools for court reporting skill development?

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:56:24 GMT

At absolutely no charge (yes, FREE), ev360 Infinity will be offered to a limited number of students, working professionals, and court reporting graduates as a tool to assist them with writing their own future. ev360 Infinity is one of the many, many tools and resources that CCR students receive as part of their enrollment. They understand that quality teaching, curriculum, interaction, and program delivery remain the most important elements to help them meet their goals. No matter what your goals are, let ev360 Infinity help you reach them.

Highlights of what ev360 Infinity can do:

- Quick and Simple self-evaluation practice resources.
- Presently there are 17,934 1-5 minute jury charge, literary, and two-voice audio and text libraries pre-loaded into the system.
- Mark, dictate, and create new practice libraries directly into the ev360 Infinity system.
- Share your skill development creations with other users.
- See instantaneous accuracy results that will allow you to evaluate your writing.
- Integrated variable speed player speeds the dictation to 120% of its dictated speed.
- Creations are downloadable to an mp3 player, an iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
- Creations can be accessed multiple times for text display skill development practice.
- Generate a variety of output documents to help focus on writing and transcription errors.
- Generate alphabetized keyword list for each library item to assist in preparation for practice sessions.
- Re-record the audio dictation that is already in the ev360 Infinity at any time.
- Modify master scripts and change other options such as availability and download permissions.

If you are interested in additional information and obtaining free ev360 Infinity access, please email me at jeff.moody@ccr.edu

How do you get clients?

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:05:25 GMT

Hi,I always hear reporters talking about their clients, but they still work for a firm. Are you supposed to get your own clients, or does your firm assign them to you? Isnt that what the firm provides? If not, how do you go about getting your clients? When you finish a depo, do you just ask the attorney to please ask for you next time? We never talked about that stuff in school. Thanks!

I have xscribe 2001

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:40:13 GMT

Anyone interested in buying Xscribe 2001 software. Have all disks for downloading system, all original books and new software key.

Officer testimony word help

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:39:31 GMT

Hi folks,I need some help with a word. Here is the context. An officer is about to testify, his attorney steps in and asks that opposing counsel agree that this is not a waiver of his quot;pitchusquot; rights. Any idea of the spelling of that word? Thats the way it sounded. Thanks!

Mentor needed in South Central Pa

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:11:26 GMT

I have been in search of a mentor in the South Central Pa area for several months now. To my surprise, court reporters arent even responding back to my emails and faxes. I have even visited 3 court houses, and have distributed over 30 requests. I am attending CCR online, and they require a mentor to proctor my speed assessment tests at certain speed levels. It will not take much of anyones time and this has been explained in my letter and attachments. I have my own equipment so that is not needed of the mentor. If no one is willing to take the time to help a student in need, I will not be allowed to continue on in the program. I am very disheartened that no court reporters in my area have responded. Im shocked to be honest. I am near the Harrisburg, York and Carlisle areas if someone reads this, and knows of an active court reporter willing to help a student out. Thank you so much.

Has anyone ever done a depostion using Skype?

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:28:28 GMT

Im not too familiar with Skype at all. Somebody asked me to do a deposition using Skype I guess to replace the video conferencing. Can you use Skype on the same laptop that you are working on with the steno machine?Even if you can, I dont know that I want to do that.I dont have a built in camera in my laptop, so my boss said she would have the company provide me with a different laptop, but I still dont know who to use Skype and I dont even know why the court reporter would have to provide this.Is it even possible for the court reporter to work the Skype and do the deposition at the same time?I just dont like the sound of this altogether.

Does anyone have any suggestions for resume writing?

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:18:04 GMT

Ive been out of reporting for ten years. Ive raised my kids, and want back in the field. Purchasing new equipment and software was easier than trying to put together a meaningful resume. Im working on regaining my speed and learning the new Case Cat system. But this resume is really stumping me. Im clueless as to what to do with the time I wasnt reporting. I did other part-time work in another field on and off, but nothing in the reporting field. If anyone out there has any idea what to do in a situation such as this, or has had experience they would like to share, I would really appreciate it.

Do I have enough information to go to this prison deposition?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:19:50 GMT

I have a deposition squeduled for 10 on Tuesday. I was given the address. I was not given either attorneys name. I was not given the witnesss name. Is that enough for the people to know where to send me. Also, what is it like going in a prison? I was never at one before. Thanks.

How to write military time...

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:15:20 GMT

Im doing a deposition of a corrections officer, and he was saying 1400 hours, etc. Now he said twenty hundred hours, do I write it as 2000? It looks like two thousand. I know in military there are no colons, so is 2000 right? Thanks in advance!!

How do you punctuate when atty reads from ungrammatical text on the record?

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:40:31 GMT

Throughout the whole transcript that I am currently editing, the atty is reading statements from a manuscript that the witness wrote and there are spellings errors, word usage errors, punctuation, etc. Without using quotes all over the place, is it best to use (Verbatim) or (Reading) when a portion is read that has quot;mistakesquot; all over the place? Any other suggestions?I dont want it to look like they are my mistakes or the attys, but someone with exhibits would clearly know.If (Verbatim) is best, would it be best behind words that are spelled wrong, etc, or just at the end of the read portion.There are numerous parts in the trn where he reads one sentence and does not ask a question, but waits for the witness to explain. I think having (Reading) after each would get cluttered, so maybe nothing is needed because the context is clear there. So I am mostly concerned with how to acknowledge these obvious grammatical errors that are being read into the record without using quotes. Thanks!

Thee or the in quotes or a bold the?

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:16:37 GMT

When an emphasis is made in testimony with the word quot;thee,quot; do you write quot;thequot; in bold print or put it in quotes or do you write quot;theequot;? (I was looked at as thee lead guy in the department.) (I was looked at as quot;thequot; lead guy in the department.) (I was looked at as the (in bold) lead guy in the department.) The speaker actually pronounces it with the long quot;equot; sound. Thank you, fellow reporters!

Has anyone taken a job before where the attorney was not an attorney?

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:01:27 GMT

I am transcribing a job now where the plaintiff is defending herself. She is a very intelligent doctor, but not an attorney. Im confused as to what address to even put on the Appearance Page. Should it be her work or home address. And when it comes to her kind of studering, due to lack of knowledge of the law, do I keep all those dashes in or take them out?

CAT(s) Assistance

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:08:45 GMT

How many of you have your cats providing CAT assistance while you produce your transcripts??? :-)

how do i format a title page for a motion calendar hearing with multiple case numbers?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:52:33 GMT

hello, esteemed colleagues. i am doing a trx for a bankruptcy court motion calendar call. there are multiple case numbers with multiple corporation names, etc. how do i list these on the title page without it getting too convoluded and hard to read? i have searched for examples on the Web but have found none. :-( any suggestions? thanks!

Should I clean up a rough before I send it out?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:30:02 GMT

I know that a rough is exactly that a rough! But there were some parts where the witness was a lil fast and I know for sure I dropped here and there, and in one page I dropped about 2 questions. Should I go through the transcript before I send it out? How about my untranslates, do I global those?This is my very first rough order :/ Thank you!

Anyone interested in covering a job in NJ tomorrow the 22nd?

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:53:20 GMT

If you are interested in covering a deposition tomorrow in NJ please email your information to careers@silkdeposition.com.Thanks

Going paperless!

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:54:27 GMT

The big day! I procrastinated - mostly quot;afraidquot; to go paperless, being a paper writer for 31 years! Today I use my new Diamante which I purchased (please, no snickering) November of 2010. I would appreciate any helpful hints about anything relating to use of the Diamante and notes storage, etc., by anybody else on paperless writers. Thank you!

Does a lightweight steno USB keyboard exist?

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:34:54 GMT

I recently discovered Plover, the open source steno program that allows you to use a qwerty keyboard as a steno device: http://plover.stenoknight.com/The idea of having a lightweight alternative to lugging around a heavy steno machine is intriguing to me. If input devices can be developed for video games, like this one -- http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G13-Programmable-Gameboard-Display/dp/B001NEK2GE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8amp;qid=1329780461amp;sr=8-1 -- why not an inexpensive USB keyboard for stenography?Has one already been invented?

scanning exhibit - charges?bv

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:11:12 GMT

Could you please tell me how you handle scanned exhibits?Do you charge for the scanned exhibits?I dont have office staff, so I took them to be scanned at a local store. Im talking over 150 pages.They did a great job and put them on a flash drive for me so I can no send them to the attorneys. I just dont know how to charge for them.Any suggestions would be welcome.Thanks.

How often do you change your microphone battery?

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:21:08 GMT

I just upgraded to a more expensive microphone because I was getting a lot of background noise with my USB microphone. This new mic plugs into the headphone jack and is battery-operated. How long does the battery last? Is there a way to tell how low the battery is? Has anyones microphone every died during a deposition? Should I change it regularly every month regardless to be safe? Every two months? Thanks!

State requirements to work in Florida

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:49:55 GMT

Do reporters need to have any certifications to work in Florida? Im thinking about moving down there but would certainly like to continue working. Thanks

Is there freelance work available in Raleigh area for a good reporter?

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:15:38 GMT

I am a freelance court reporter with 26 years of experience and am planning to move to the Raleigh, NC, area. Can anybody point me in the right direction which agencies to contact? I have an RMR and CRR and do realtime every depo. I own a small agency now and have no interest in any ownership now or down the road. I just want to work as a reporter. Great references available. Help, please?

how many back ups...

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:39:55 GMT

When paper notes are not used, how many electronic back ups are required? I know this question might seem weird, but I just took the CSR Pro Pract Exam today, and Im just going by memory. The answers to chose from were either: 1, 2, 3, 4....any thoughts?

Administering oath

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:37:18 GMT

When a depo in California is being recorded by video and stenographically, who administers the oath? If both the videographer and report administer, what order do they do it in? Thanks.

Is it plain X-ray or plane X-ray?

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:15:20 GMT

The doctor said, quot;Plane X-rays just show bone; the MRI shows the soft tissue.quot; I thought it was quot;plane,quot; but looked it up to verify and apparently I am not the only one that questioned this. This are no clear answers on the web and was wondering if I could get some seasoned reporters to answer this. Thanks!

Why do briefs starting w/ and in Briefs Enc. use SKP

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:20:39 GMT

My Briefs Encountered software has a huge assortment of briefs beginning with quot;and.quot; I am curious if the SKP is quot;andquot; in a particular theory. Before I adopt something, I like to understand what the logic is behind it. So is it just an arbitrary thing , and not linked to a specific theory? Which is kind of a funny thing for me to say considering that a lot of what theory is IS arbitrarily choosing certain letters to indicate something! PB = NI am a student in my second semester FYI

Doctor depo - how do I write cc

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:32:57 GMT

I took the deposition of a doctor today, and I have to get it in tomorrow, and since I rarely take them, I have a question for my fellow reporters. How do I write cc?A The orders state Amiodarone 900 milligrams and 500 cc of DFW at one milligram a minute for six hours. Is it cc or ccs (thats how she said it), and I know ccs looks silly. Should I leave it as cc, since its implied quot;ccsquot;? Thanks in advance!

can used steno paper be recycled with regular paper?

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:23:10 GMT

I was told a few years ago that used steno paper couldnt be recycled because of the ink that is used. Does anyone know if this is still the case?

Thank you fellow court reporters and students

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:57:38 GMT

Thank you ALL who assisted in answering my question months ago regarding what was a good online program to attend, and hands down it was the College of Court Reporting. This school and its faculty is the best thing to happen to me! What a GREAT school and it appears everyone is on the same page, and all they want is for you to be the best court reporter you can be. They are not interested in say, basketball or fly fishing or ridiculous classes that add up to just wasted time and of course funds. I will always be grateful not only for this website, but more importantly the viewers who steered me in the right direction for obtaining what will ultimately the best career choice I have ever made. Thank you all again!!!!

How do I obtain employment with student equipment?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:39:33 GMT

I am a recent graduate and am wondering if I would be able to find work using my student equipment. I have a student writer and software. I do know that the software is inadequate as it only allows me 50 pages and is not very customizable.I have tried applying for loans, but have been denied because my credit is not yet in the best shape. (I am working on that) I currently have a Stentura Protege and a 400 SRT.I welcome any and all suggestions.

Would you note this appearance of someone on the phone?

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:17:29 GMT

The deposing attorney told me his client would listen to the deposition on the phone but would not be participate. The attorney asked me not to include him in the transcript. I did write the name of the person listening on the phone for my personal glossary. The individual on the phone did not speak, and no one in the room addressed this individual, although they knew he was on the phone. Im not sure whether I should include this persons name on the appearance page with a parenthetical of (Via Telephone).Any suggestions? Thanks for your help.

Question for New York (Manhattan, Long Island) Reporters:

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:13:59 GMT

Whats the going rate for a proofreader? Been doing my own scoping/proofing for over 25 years, so I have NO idea!

40 thousandths of an inch or 0.040?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:13:13 GMT

What is proper for a transcript if the words are being spoken: quot;40 thousandths of an inchquot;? Should it be shown as 40 thousandths of an inch or 0.040quot; or something else? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

How do I close the gap on my drops?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:51:20 GMT

How do I close the gap on my drops? I am a student. I am in the qualifiers, and I need some help. Thank you.

How to treat a portion as confidential?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:49:33 GMT

so in this transcript Im working on, the attys want a portion of the transcript marked as confidential. This is exactly what the atty said :quot;Madam Court Reporter, were going to mark this portion of the deposition transcript as confidential and well let you know when we cease the confidential part.quot; any suggestions on how to do this? do I literally take out the confidential portion and bind it separately? if so, should I start at page 1 or continue with what would be the next page? also, is there a parenthetical I should use? sorry so many questions, but Ive never encountered this before. Thank you for your help! :)

What do I do if an attorney wants portions of a witnesss testimony stricken from the transcript of a videotape dep?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:36:24 GMT

I took a videotape deposition of a doctor (for the defense). The doc mentioned reviewing records of workers compensation on the video record, so obviously I took down what he was saying. Plaintiffs counsel waited until he was finished his somewhat lengthy answer to ask to go off the video. He said he wanted to object to the doctors answer and to ask that the words workers compensation be struck. The defense counsel started to agree with him (and annoyingly they spoke over each other; but anyway..) the pltfs counsel asked defense counsel if it could be taken out of the transcript. DC said it was okay by him to take it out of the transcript. Now, if you can follow that mess, is this to be regarded the same as if an attorney says, strike that? Im thinking no, and it should be treated more as like a move to strike? But then he said it can be taken out of the transcript. Ah Im so confused!

WCAB medical term help

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 21:39:29 GMT

Hi folks,Im working on a doc depo for workers comp. I need help with a word. It sounds like they are saying rizectomy (spelling is my own). I have found it online, but not in relation to disc procedures which is what this ladys issue is. Here is the context: Q. Is it like a microdiscectomy? A. He might do that. He might shrink it with a heating element. IDET. Q. Rizectomy? A. No, not rizectomy. No. Those are not good.Anyone heard of this term? Could it be correct as spelled?
Thanks in advance!

Short sleeve dress or short sleeved dress?

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:06:24 GMT

Is the spelling short sleeve dress or short sleeved dress? Better yet, is there a hyphen anywhere in there?

Layed off or laid off?

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:01:43 GMT

This is something only a court reporter would know.Is the spelling layed off or laid off?Thank you

Anyone have any advice on stacking issues?

Wed, 8 Feb 2012 07:21:44 GMT

I have a Mira A3 and have some stacking issues when it comes to my question and answer banks and the previous stroke. I am constantly defining to fix some of these issues, but I was curious if anyone else has experienced this and found a modification in their machine or writing change that corrected the issue for them for the most part. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Has anyone used the five week CSR Prep Program?

Wed, 8 Feb 2012 01:29:50 GMT

Has anyone used the five week CSR Prep Progam? If so, is it a good toolto prepare yourself for the CSR Exam? Thanks Rosalina 40

Freelance reporters, Are you a LLC, S-Corp, or get your checks written to your name?

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 17:22:31 GMT

Fellow Freelancers,

I just began reporting last year and Irsquo;m trying to settle into this career. Irsquo;m trying to think of any and all reasons why I should keep my court reporting income separate from my regular checking/savings account. Irsquo;m meeting with my tax specialist soon.

Does you agency write your check out in your name? (then you obviously pay your own taxes)

Do you have a LLC set up that your agency writes a check out to?

Do you think therersquo;s a reason to have a LLC?

Can someone come after you for an error or omission? Irsquo;ve seen that insurance you can buy.

Are there any other reasons to have a LLC?

Your help is much appreciated! Also, have any of you gone to a tax specialist that specializes in court reporting? Was it worth it?

swear in heading

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 13:58:07 GMT

A little kid was testifying, and I asked counsel if I should swear he in -- the kid was a bit rowdy and hyper and pretty much all over the place. Counselor told shook her head no. She then just tried to get his attention and just began with opening instructions, such as quot;do you promise me to tell me you dont understand my question?quot; Do I even put in a heading?

Parenthetical for attorney reading from my realtime screen?

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 20:08:59 GMT

Last week in a trial, one of the attorneys asked me a couple times to read back the last question but then read it himself as I was scrolling up to it and continued on with the questioning before I had a chance to read it back. All well and good, but it looks weird to have him asking me quot;on the recordquot; to read it back and then no parenthetical indicating I read it and then the continued questioning. Suggestions? (Whereupon, Counsel for the Defendant reviewed court reporters record.) ????

Best gift for a court reporting student?

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:11:37 GMT

What would be a great gift for a court reporting student?

Intern Question Help, Please.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 12:51:28 GMT

Hello, All.Im completing my internship. There are questions that I have to answer. The question is as follows: quot;Knowledge of the methods of indexing exhibit symbols on an information sheet. Describe the actual conditions and performance.quot; Can anyone tell me what this is or what this question is referring to? Any examples would be helpful. Thanks.

Anyone out there with Ulnar Entrapment Syndrome?

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 16:16:27 GMT

Hello,Just wondering if any reporters have this syndrome and how they deal with it. Is surgery worth it? Not sure if an elbow brace is enough.Thanks

A couple of workers comp questions

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:30:23 GMT

Hello, all!
Couple of questions. Is it weightbearing or weight bearing? Also, is it quot;zero percent whole person impairmentquot; or quot;0 percent whole person impairmentquot;? I was taught to write the word in digits with percentages, but it looks a little odd with it being a zero.Thx! Shanna

what is proper for readability?

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 11:28:32 GMT

Is this appropriate: Q. Before the 8th, did the name quot;Dr. Petersquot; ever come up? Are quotes used in this instance okay? The atty did not say quot;quote,quot; and sometimes other references are made to particular words. Example:Q. When you say, quot;they,quot; who are you refering to?How does everyone else write it? Thanks in advance for any feedback!

NCRA tests- no printing?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:06:09 GMT

As of this year, we may no longer be able to print and proof a hard copy of our NCRA tests as they will most likely be taking place online through RTC going forward.Does anyone else have any concerns regarding not being able to check your work off a print-out before submitting your final test to NCRA via the internet?

Should I still be practicing?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:10:57 GMT

Is practicing on your machine suggested even though you are a working reporter?

Do some reporters not use a scopist and scope all their own work?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:07:22 GMT

I am a new reporter who has been working just under a year. I have had my fair share of messy jobs that I am embarrassed to show to anyone else and hold back from using a scopist. I also am scared that he or she wont do the job as well as I can. By doing this, I have had to turn down other jobs because I am left scoping my own work and I have added stress to myself.Is this a common fear or do some seasoned reporters scope everything themselves?

Any reporters producing their own transcripts?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:58:42 GMT

Hi Folks,Are there any reporters out there that have their own personal clients where they print, bind, and deliver their own transcripts? If so, where would one get that training? I have a friend who works for a law office, and she mentioned that she may be able to throw some depositions my way, but I wouldnt know exactly how to put them together. Just wondering if anybody would share how I would go about and learn the production side of things.
Thanks!Shanna

Did I do the right thing when the attorneys were talking over each other?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:01:40 GMT

I had a deposition today where it was just me and the deponent in the room and the two attorneys were on the phone. While the deponent was in the middle of answering a question, one of the attorneys objected to the question. At that time, the deponent still proceeded to answer the question while the attorneys were in a very heated argument about the objection. I had three people speaking on top of each other, and I spoke up and said that I can only take down one person at a time and asked if I can have the deponent repeat his answer. I also didnt get every word that the attorneys were saying, so I said I can read back the last thing I have. The taking attorney got upset that I only took down half of what the deponent said. Even though the deponent completed his answer, it was while the two attorneys were yelling at each other. I did have my audio, but I dont like to rely on it. I dont even think it would help me because they were all speaking on top of each other.Am I just a really bad reporter because I couldnt get everything down and Im not doing my job properly? Did I do the right thing by not taking down the rest of the deponents answer and telling them I could only take down one person at a time? This attorney made me feel like Im not good at my job. In school, they DRILLED into our heads that we dont need to do anything to make these attorneys upset. They also told us in that type of situation, we MUST get down what the deponent said! So should I have just not spoken up and just taken down the rest of the deponenents answer? I do go out of my way to try and make the attorneys happy, but I felt that I had to speak up in this situation. What would you all have done if you were the reporter?

Is it supposed to be your Honor or Your Honor?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:17:00 GMT

It seems that the old-fashioned way to write it would be Your Honor, but now people are starting to lower case the your. I really dont see any reason to do that, however, because were supposed to talk about the Judge in transcripts as if he/she is God. Technically, he/she -- or make that He/She -- is the God of the court room.How does everyone else do it?Your Honor or you HonorHis Honor or his HonorHer Honor or Her HonorJudge or judgeI gues, quot;Yo, person in the front of the roomquot; is out of the question?

So they would have been like about one years old. How would I write one years old

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:16:02 GMT

Q. So they would have been like about one years old

So they would have been like about one years old. How do i do one years old

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:14:02 GMT

Q. So they would have been like about one years oldHow do I write one years old? Thats how attorney said it.

Stenomax - Out of business?

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:29:10 GMT

Stenomax - does anyone know if they went out of business? Their website no longer exists.

Are dresses acceptable in court?

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:16:39 GMT

I would like any and all opinions please! I am asking if dresses are acceptable attire in court. I bought two dresses, one black and one black and gray, from Walmart a couple of weeks ago. They are knee-length, wide strapped, and they are not low-cut (they go to the neck). I bought pantyhose and black tights to go with them. Do you think they would be okay for court? Thank you!

How to make my USB to Serial cable compatible with Windows 7

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:05 GMT

I have had a Dell computer for 5 years and it is running slow. Recently, I purchased an HP laptop, but I cant get my USB to Serial cable to be read on the new computer. It is the comm port that is the issue. My installation CD was made for Windows 98 and slightly higher versions. The cable itself works just fine, and I went back to Radioshack, who was the maker of the cable, to see if they had an updated CD. They dont but suggested me to download a converter for Windows 7 . I am still unable to get my machine to be recognized in CaseCatalyst. Does anyone have instructions or advice on how I can fix this problem so I can use my new computer?

I need a caption for a district justice hearing

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:46:24 GMT

An attorney just ordered a transcript of a district justice hearing, but he didnt send over a caption, he just told me the case name and number and that stuff. I dont know what to put at the top of the caption page.I have one template that says, quot;In The United States District Court, For The Eastern District Of Pennsylvania.quot;Does anyone know if thats the right one?Thanks

Lets talk about money

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:51:33 GMT

Lets talk about what really matters in court reporting, which is becoming writing on a wealthy persons steno machine.A lot of court reporters will tell you that money isnt the only thing that matters in the career, that other importers things are learning new words and working with attorneys and being in a legal setting, but I want to do all those things while being loaded with cash.So, what are some of the things court reporters should know that can take them from 5 digits to 6 digits?Any feedback would be appreciated.Thanks, Amanda

How long did it take everyone to complete court reporting school?

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:47:36 GMT

Everyone talks about court reporting school like it was the hardest thing theyve ever been through. I dont know that I agree with that, but I still wouldnt say that it was easy. I even heard that it has a 96 percent drop out rate. I dont know if thats true or not.My questions is how long it took everyone else to graduate.It took me 3 and half years. During that time, I had to skip one semester for carpal tunnel and another semester for financial reason.I appreciate anyones feedback.

Would you use dashes in this sentence?

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:44:09 GMT

How would you fellow court reporters punctuate the following sentence. Im always curious as to how other court reporters do this stuff.Did Mr. Defendant, in your opinion, did he appear aware and in control of the events?orDid Mr. Defendant -- in your opinion, did he appear aware and in control of the events?Its just a matter of dashes or no dashes.Thanks, Amanda

What would you be if you werent a court reporter?

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:41:42 GMT

This is just another attempt at figuring out what types of people are court reporters.If you had never gone into court reporting, what do you think your second career choice would have been?

Would you use hyphens in this sentence?

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:39:45 GMT

This is basically a he said she said situation.orThis is basically a he-said-she-said situation.Which one is better?Thanks, Amanda

My Diamonte Stopped Writing to my Case Catalyst

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:25:23 GMT

Today, while writing on my Diamonte it stopped writing to Case Catalyst. Everything was plugged in, lots of power, just stopped.I closed out the file and saved it. When I tried to open a new realtime file (it was just for me) a dialogue box popped up saying , Talking to Writer. I continued to write without Case Catalyst and saved the file to a USB drive. Later on, I merged the first file with the second file without a problem. I also use a digital recorder that is independent of my writer and computer just in case something like today ever happens.I tested my Fusion writer with the Netbook by writing a test RT file, and it was fine. Its time for a cleaning anyway. Has this happened to anyone with their writers and Case Catalyst?

Can you suggest a proofreader and tell me how much they charge per page?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:24:48 GMT

Hey everyone,Im trying to get information on what proofreaders charge per page. Can you tell me how much they charge if Im doing the corrections and also how much they charge if they make the corrections? If anyone can suggest a great proofreader for me, I would really appreciate it. If you would prefer to send me an e-mail with your proofreaders information and prices, my e-mail is JSmith73@email.com. Thanks in advance!

Does anyone know of agencies that have phone depositions?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:21:59 GMT

Im a court reporter with several years of experience, specifically with Workers Compensation phone depositions. Im looking for extra work as its been really slow in NYC recently.Does anyone know of any firms that have Workers Compensation phone depositions? Or any phone depositions, for that matter?Any help/advice you give is greatly appreciated! Thank you.

Issues with answering questions

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:45:54 GMT

Is anyone else having a problem clicking in the answer box? Just curious. Thanks.

What is plural and what is possessive for Witness?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:34:26 GMT

I know Im supposed to know this stuff but it always gets confusing.How do you write, quot;The witness testimonyquot; if youre talking about one witness and again if youre talking about more than one witness.If anyone could give me the same example for quot;Nurses assistants,quot; that would be greatly appreciated.Thank you.

When the attorney makes a statement, how do I do the Examination Index?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:31:52 GMT

When the depostition cancels and the attorney decides to just put a statement on the record, how do we make the Examination Index? I cant put the witness names, because there were three of them and I dont know which one was going to testify first.Am I supposed to put the name of the attorney who gave the statement?

What is a docket number?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:24:57 GMT

What exactly is a docket number and what does it mean on the caption page? Are all docket numbers only 4 numbers?

Do you use a comma when starting a sentence with so?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:22:36 GMT

When you guys start a sentence with quot;so,quot; do you put a comma after the quot;so?quot; Or do you try to just not start sentences with quot;soquot; altogether?This might seem like a stupid question, but things like quot;soquot; really matter in court reporting.

What is the difference between PC and LLP?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:20:30 GMT

This is something I always wonder when Im making the appearence pages and I figure, as a court reporter, I probably should know, although I dont think Ive ever asked before.So, what is the difference between an LLP a and PC?

Why do floppy disks hate me?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:59:03 GMT

I dont know if its the floppy disks that hate me or the disk players in my stentura, but it always seem like they mess up on me.My first Stentura, the disk player broke at a job. That was only like the 4th or 5th job I ever took.This next Stentura that I bought a couple of months ago, I put the disks in and the machine says something about it cant read the disk or use another disk, but I used several of themWhat am I doing wrong?

What is the preferrable way to write triple A batteries?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:20:08 GMT

Should triple A batteries be written out or should it be AAA batteries?

Insurance for our writers

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:14:30 GMT

Can anyone suggest best coverage/lowest price for insurance on our writers/computers, etc...? Does anyone recommend going through your home insurance, NCRA insurance, or something else?

Insurance for our equipment

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:11:56 GMT

Can anyone suggest best coverage/lowest price for insurance on our writers/computers, etc...? Does anyone recommend going through your home insurance, NCRA insurance, or something else?

Is the Facebook login for this site broken?

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:02:06 GMT

I just noticed that whenever I try to login to this site using my Facebook credentials, it doesnt work. I was wondering if anyone else has been having this or similar problems? Please let me know and I will investigate further if need be.Thanks!!

What do I do when the witness says the name of a doctor and the attorney repeats it wrong?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:05:04 GMT

The attorney was asking the witness about her doctors. The witness said Dr. Jones. When the attorney said, quot;So, you were treating with a Dr. Cittone . . . quot;Should I just assume the witness said it correctly and the attorney repeated it wrong?

Would you guys do this as a by-line, question, colloquy or what?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:38:16 GMT

If an attorney is in a Qamp;A process and then askes the arbitrators if he can show the witness his photographs, then asks the witness to look at the photographs, and then asks oposing counsel if she wants to see the photographs, do you put the attorney and witness talking in by-line/question or would you make that a colloquy?Example:MR. ATTORNEY: Do you mind if I just use the colored photos? I have black and white ones here that arnt very coloruful.THE CHAIRPERSON: Sure.MR. ATTORNEY: Thank you.

BY MR. ATTORNEY:

Q. Im going to ask you to just take a look atmdash;mdash; it looks like a threemdash;page sheet or a fourmdash;page sheet. Eight photographs. Just take a look at those eight photographs.

MR. ATTORNEY: Counsel, do you want to see them.MS. COUNSEL: No, Ive already seen them. Any suggestions or examples would be appreciated.

Preparing for RPR literary...frustration!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:19:34 GMT

How does one prepare to pass a RPR literary test? I am a working reporter (depos), but in school, we were tested on jury charge and Qamp;A, and I knew how to prepare for those types of tests. Literary tests were given in the lower speeds only. Every time I practice with RPR tapes, the multi-sylabic words still blow me away and I become very discouraged. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how to practice this type of test? I do use hard copy and I use a tape recorder with lots of practice tapes, especially NCRA RPR practice tests. I like those tapes that have progressive speed takes on the same material. That way I am able to practice over and over, building up speed as I do that, but I only have them in Qamp;A, not literary. Please, help me find out how to practice for literary. I know if I can accomplish this, it will turn everything around for me. I want to take the RPR this year with confidence, not trepidation. I hope someone can help me. Thanks in advance.

What is a certified question?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:15:58 GMT

The witnesss attorney instructs the witness not to answer the question. The deposing attorney turns to me and says, quot;Certify the question, please.quot; What I usually do when a witness doesnt anwer a question is just put an asterisk by the quot;Qquot; in teh transcript and then note it in the index. But is there something else I should do when the attorney says, quot;Certify the questionquot;?

Can anyone suggest a tax consultant in NYC, preferably someone who has experience with other reporters ?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:07:01 GMT

In need of a tax consultant in NYC who has experience in our field.

What is the smartwriter like?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:58:36 GMT

Ive noticed a couple people talking about how they wont give up the smartwriter or how they miss the smartwriter. The thing about it that sounds good to me is because I always think the least technical this stuff is the better. Can anyone tell me how the smartwriter works?Thanks.

Whose responsibility is it to get the work out, the firms, the scopists or the reporters?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:29:48 GMT

What do you do when you take a deposition and then the firm sends the deposition to their scopist, but then too much time passes and you still havnt been given the final deposition to proofread? Im talking about after over a month passes. Is there criminal charges that could be filed against anyone, I mean for obstruction of justice; and, if so, who would be liable?

Can they stipulate to change the record?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:32:47 GMT

I recently did a meeting where the two attorneys were discussing confidential student information and they didnt want anyone to mention the students names. They wanted them to be referred to by their initials instead.

A couple of times throughout the meeting names were mentioned and at the end they stipulated to having those areas of the transcript changed to reflect just the initials instead of the actual name that was said.

Can I do that? Can two attorneys just stipulate to changing anything in the deposition? How far do stipulations go with regard to my responsibility to record the meeting/deposition/hearing verbatim?

Where do I get stenopaper?

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:27:14 GMT

Does anyone know of places that I can get steno paper besides Acculaw? Actually, does anyone know of anywhere in Philadelphia that sells stenopaper, or even NJ, so I dont have to order it?

tractor trailers?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:11:44 GMT

Which is right, tractor-trailers or tractor trailers? Tractor trailer or tractor-trailer?
The search I am doing is coming up both ways. Thanks!

Regarding the use of quotes......

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:41:02 GMT

I would like to know how everyone uses quotes. Ill give an example.....Q What did Dr. Smith say? A He said, well, the scar looks good, and youre healing nicely.Would you quote quot;Well, the scar looks good, and youre healing nicely?quot; Also, what if an answer goes like this:A The doctor said well, Im gonna fix it where its not, you know, gonna bleed anymore.Now we know the doctor didnt exactly say it that way, so do you quote it? I get confused on when to use quotes when I know its really not an exact quote. Any help is appreciated :)

What do we do when the attorneys start arguing about staying on the record or going off the record?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:26:00 GMT

I once had a deposition where an attorney started flipping out because his opposing counsel was objection to everthing he said. The hiring attorney said, quot;If he cant answer, he cant answer. Just stop objecting.quot;Then, he stood up and said quot;This is not a speech!quot;Well, the point is at first the opposing counsel wanted to go off the record, but the hiring attorney said, quot;we stay on.quot;So, I stayed on because both attorneys didnt say to go off.After somemore arguing, the hiring attorney said to go off the record and the opposing counsel said to stay on.So, again I stayed on because they didnt both say to go off.The hiring attorney said that he wasnt paying for this transcript beacuse I wouldnt go off the record when he said to. Then, he stormed out.Did I handle this right or wrong? If I was wrong, what should I have done.I appreciate anyones help.

How much editing is too much?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:19:17 GMT

I know of court reporters who say it is our job to make the attorneys sound smarter. And example would be change quot;If you dont mine me asking,quot; to quot;if you dont mind my asking.quot;Or, quot;I just want -- I just wanted to knowquot; to quot;I just wanted to know.quot;Basically, they say you dont have to put every quot;Okayquot; or quot;ohquot; or quot;ummquot; into the transcript. And some say we dont have to put the words before a dash even if a witness is the one speaking.How does everyone do it? Ive been wondering about this for a long time.If the witness sneezed and said quot;Excuse mequot; would you put that in the transcript?I guess the question is what do we keep in and what do we take out?

Is it rude to flaunt our talent?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:14:50 GMT

As court reporters, were great when it comes to grammer and punctuation and spelling and we always continue to get better. We always pick up on misprints, but do you think it is rude for us to correct other peoples grammer? That is, anybody who were not teaching or trying to train.

Ever heard of these medical books?

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:00:40 GMT

Has anyone heard of a medical book that sounds like Titan Ellies or a medical book by Schwartz (and/or) Sabbits? Any help is greatly appreciated!

How to do collequy

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:28:23 GMT

I was reading this court reporting handbook where they give example depositions, which were from New York.In it, they would do the collequy where they would have a Q and then the opposing attorney objected, so that was in collequy. Then, the next thing was an A.I thought you could never have an A without a Q. Shouldnt the next line have been WITNESS:?

Anyone on Eclipse?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:51:56 GMT

How do you make line 1 as your header on a 25-line page? Also, as I was trying to get into the header thing to make line 1 as my header, I messed up my font. What fonts do you folks out there use when editing/scoping?

Looking for Production help

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:07:32 GMT

Court Reporters Clearinghouse

LOOKING FOR OFFICE HELP IN OUR HOUSTON OFFICE:
Seeking self-motivated, energetic individual ndash; detail oriented a big plus.
Experience helpful but not mandatory. Training will involve scheduling of depositions and production of transcripts.
Part-time and/or full-time position available.
Send resume to: paula@crcnational.com All responses will be confidential.

What if the witness misspoke?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:49:35 GMT

I realize Im not supposed to edit the witness, but I do not want to get corrections back. I listened to my audio and he clearly misspoke, but I know when he reads it, hes going to fix it and its going to look like my mistake. Should I fix it or should I put in a sic? Although the sic doesnt really seem proper. I dont know what to do...quot;They can elect to purchase our damage waiver. Its not insurance; its just an agreement between the rental sic that well basically waive our right to collect on damages.quot;

dont got, aint got,

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:39:21 GMT

Quick question. I need this clarified. I learn one way in school, then I start working and learn the opposite.When you have a witness who speaks improper English throughout the entire deposition, not just a couple words here and there, would you change quot;It dont come to that address,quot; quot;I dont got any of those papers,quot; quot;Like I said, it aint got nothin to do with me.quot; In my opinion, the correct way to handle this is to not change anything. That is what the witness said! Its accurate. My job is to be accurate. But Im being told to change dont to doesnt and so on and so on. Can I get any help with this? thanks.

A while and awhile.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:32:00 GMT

Yes, I get totally confused. Will someone please give me examples?

Audio Files are the Property of the Reporter

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:00:24 GMT

This is in response to the many posts that have appeared concerning audio files and whether anyone has the right to request or demand our audio files. I found on page 21 of the January issue of JCR this item. It refers to regulations issued by the Judicial Conference of the United States. I think this is what concerns us the most. quot;A reporters backup tapes are the personal property of the reporter...quot;Please read this article which starts on page 20. It speaks directly to this issue regarding audio files, backup tapes, etc.

Is there any way to use catalyst 9 for windows 7

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:59:08 GMT

I just had to get a new computer. The new one has Windows 7, and my last one had Vista. It is not reading my security device. Has anyone figured out if it is possible to use Windows 7 with Catalyst 9, so I dont have to spend ANOTHER $500 upgrading my software?

Does anyone else use semicolons?

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:23:42 GMT

Im wondering if other court reporters use semicolons; and, if so, when and what for?

Are we supposed to be concidered legal professionals?

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:19:10 GMT

Our we, as court reporters, supposed to be concidered to be of the legal profession or are we more like just the stenography profession, not exactly in a legal career? I mean, CART and closed captioning dont really have anything to do with the law. I once had someone tell me that if I keep working hard as a court reporter, I can work my way up to be a paralegal. I had to explain that court reporters and paralegals have nothing in common, not to say one is more important than the other.I had another person ask me what TV station I was reporting for. I just ignored that question.So, my question is really are we with the legal profession or are we more of our own denomanation (if thats the write word)?Yes, I spelled write that way on purpose.

How much proofreading do we do?

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:16:33 GMT

How many times would everyone say they proofread a transcript after it has been scoped?Assuming, hopefully, that everyone does proofread.I know that one proofread definitely isnt enough, but how much is enough?

Andrea Microphone

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:02:49 GMT

How to I set up my Andrea USB microphone to work with Case Catalyst?

How do I put a Catholic priests name who is a monsignor?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:40:40 GMT

I took a depo today of a Catholic priest. They did not ask him to state his name on the record. They did, however, refer to him as Monsignor several times. How would you put his name on the transcript? Just his name or Monsignor Jones or Mr. Larry Jones, Monsignor, or maybe just Mr. Larry Jones (not really his name). Im referring to the cover page of the transcript.

Is it appropriate to ask your firm to shadow another reporter?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:58:17 GMT

Irsquo;m about to start working for a new firm, and I was told that I will be required to do hearings and trials. The firm I work for now only does depositions. Needless to say, Irsquo;m TERRIFIED that Irsquo;ve never done a hearing or trial before. Is it appropriate for me to ask the owner if I can go out with one of their reporters a couple of times to a hearing and trial so I can kind of get an idea of what to expect? I donrsquo;t really know court procedures, and Irsquo;m really nervous about being with a judge. Also, if yrsquo;all can share your experiences with hearings and trials (good and bad), I would really appreciate that too. Thanks everyone!

How do we figure out the mind of a court reporter?

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:59:03 GMT

When it comes to picking up machine shorthand and the fact that they say there is a drop out rate in court reporting school of 96 percent, I always wonder what kind of mines do the few who pass have. If we can pick up stenography does that mean we have higher IQs than most or lower IQs than most? Or does the IQ have nothing to do with it? Maybe its just the way the mind works, while having nothing to do with intellegence. What does everyone else think of this and have any court reporters reading this ever had an IQ test they wish to share?

Here is a crazy question: What is RAM?

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:57:29 GMT

Most court reporters are going to think this is a crazy question, but Ill it anyway: What exactly is RAM?

How do I convert a file from my Stenturas RAM?

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:43:27 GMT

Can anyone tell me how to get a file from my Stentura 8000 RAM to my software, which is TurboCat? Old, I know, but still works ;) Anyway, I copied it to a disk, but it wont come up anywhere in TurboCat???? Thanks!

Can you contact attorney for payment if you work for a firm?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:36:52 GMT

I currently work for a firm who only pays their reporters when the attorneys pay them. I was told not to worry and that I would definitely receive payment for jobs within 60 days. I was told that if payment wasnrsquo;t received within 60 days, they would report the attorneys to the bar association, ect. Obviously, I was very naiuml;ve when I started working for them. I have not received payment for jobs I have done as far back as August. I also have not received a check at all in six weeks. This firm is now telling me that they arenrsquo;t going to report these attorneys, because they donrsquo;t want to lose them at clients. I have expressed to them that I want to report the attorneys myself. They, of course, do not want me to do that.

My question is: Even though I work for a firm and they ldquo;take carerdquo; of all of the invoices for their reporters, am I allowed to contact the attorneys myself for payment? If I dont receive payment, can I report these attorneys to the bar association? I also did not sign any contract with this firm, so I would think I have the right to go after the attorneys myself, right? I just donrsquo;t want to get in some sort of legal trouble with the firm because I reported the attorneys and they lost clients.

When do I make paragraphs?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:21:39 GMT

How many paragraphs is too many? When do you get to the point where youre making too many paragraphs to the point where the attorneys might think youre ripping them off? Also, how many paragraphs is not enough to the point where it gets harder for the attorneys to read them?Thanks, Amanda

How do I sign up for the RPR?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:15:52 GMT

How do I sign up for the RPR? Do I have to be an NCRA member to do so? Can I take the exam in Philadelphia?

What to do when asked to read back something you dont have?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:08:12 GMT

I was actually unlucky enough on my very first deposition to be asked to readback. I had never seen any court reporter asked to read back during my internship, so that was something I really was not expecting. The only thing I could think of to do was play the audio for the attorneys, but I felt really bad about having to do that.Im curious to know what other reporters do in similar situations.Thanks.

How come I cant unplug my stenture?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:58:59 GMT

When I am writing on my steno machine, it seems like I always have to keep it plugged in. I can unplug the charger for a little while, but not for long. Does anyone know what to do about that, because technology is not one of my strong points?Thanks

How many firms do you work for?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:06:54 GMT

How many court reporting firms does the average court reporter work for? How long into your career do you work for multiple firms?

When do I and when do I not use quotes?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:04:13 GMT

I was wondering when other court reporters use quotes. Do you use quotes when an attorney or witness is reading from a document? Do you use quotes when the attorneys and/or witnesses are repeating what another person said (if theyre allowed)?How about when the attorney says, quot;You have to say yes or no.quot;Do you make it quot;yesquot; or quot;no?quot;

Do you put any stipulations in the transcript when they ask for a read-and-sign?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:02:04 GMT

Do you put any kind of stipulations in the transcript when the attorneys ask for a read-and-sign?

What to do when equipment fails you?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:55:42 GMT

This is the scariest thing that I can think of that could happen at a deposition.Has anyone ever been in a situation where their equiment failed during the deposition to the point where they could not write down the testimony?If so, what did you do?

How much do court reporters know in the beginning?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:43:44 GMT

Everybody makes mistakes in starting out any career; however, court reporting is a career where were not allowed to make mistakes. Im just courious to know how many mistakes other court reporters make on transcrips during the first year of their career. I know that Ive made these mistakesmusculoskeletar ( muscular skeletar)court of common pleas ( court of common please){that was a bad one lol}personal (personnel)summary (summery)There were probably other ones that I cant remember. My question is just what kind of mistakes make a court reporter a bad court reporter?

Are freelance reporters required to take a job?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:35:19 GMT

Is a freelance reporter required to take a job if the firm gives her/him a job? For example, someone I know had a situation where his firm called him and asked him to take a job two hours ahead of time that was in Red Hill, PA. Now, Red Hill, PA is a town that doesnt have public transportation and the firm knew that he didnt drive. There was never an agreement that he would take any job or that he would get to jobs that he couldnt get to by public transportation, but the agency seemed to think he was required to take any job they gave him.Im curious to know what other court reporters think of this.

How do you usually write dates in transcripts?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:31:11 GMT

What do most court reporters concider the appropriate way to write times? Is it 3:00, for example, or is it more like three oclock? Or would it be more like 3:00 oclock?This stuff always confuses me!

Do I use a ? in the following?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:12:05 GMT

Can you tell the jury what that depicts -- period or question mark?

Can you give me your court parentheticals?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:00:11 GMT

I need some more court help, please.1) What parenthetical do you use when the jury is handed pictures that they pass around among themselves? The ADA asked if he could publish them to the jury.2) Would you use a discussion off the record parenthetical when the attorney is talking briefly and casually about something that would make no sense out of context, or would you put in in? The instance I have is the attorney putting up the projector screen. I dont want to use recess since the jury is still sitting there.

What is the work load for deposition reporters in the SF Bay Area?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:58:18 GMT

I just recently moved from Northern California. And Im re-entering the deposition reporting field in the Bay Area, and wondering whether its busy there. I moved away ages ago when the work dwindled. And Im hoping its picked up?

Are freelance deposition reporters busy in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:54:10 GMT

How do you prove your income?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:04:27 GMT

Irsquo;m moving out for the first time and need to get my own apartment, but how will I prove my income? We all know itrsquo;s different each month. Irsquo;ve only been working for a few months, so the amount of income on my 1099 is going to be small. I know Irsquo;m supposed to say that Irsquo;m an independent contractor on the rental application, but someone suggested that I list the name of the firm Irsquo;ll be working for. Since Irsquo;m going to be working for a new firm, is it appropriate to ask them if you can list them on your rental application? Has anyone had their firm write a letter saying you worked for them? Irsquo;m not sure that would help, because yoursquo;re not an employee and they canrsquo;t even say what your income is going to be. Has anyone been told by their firm that they may not list them on a rental application? If yrsquo;all can make any suggestions or share your experience in finding a place to live as an independent contractor, I would really appreciate it. Thank you!

Can anyone give me tips on how to learn dates and times easier?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:50:04 GMT

Hi, I am an online student in my second semester. This weeks lesson is numbers, time, dates, days of the week and months.I am really struggling to keep up with the speaker when I write, for example:9/KL*N/3/2/A*PL (9:32 a.m.)as well as,9SL-RB10SL-RB10 (9/10/10)It takes me a long time to write this, so I fall behind in the dictation and I start making mistakes on simple words because Im so focused on getting the new stuff correct.Up to this point, the lessons have been quot;do-ablequot;for me. But I have been working on the audio assignment since Monday without any acceptable copies and beginning to worry I will never get this. I have a new instructor this semester who has instructed us not to use D-define, so there is no way I can create my own brief to save some time.I appreciate any ideas!

Stricken testimony refresher

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:29:17 GMT

I normally do hearings where nothing is actually deleted. I did a few days of court. When the judge says strike the record, do you actually delete it, or would it just not be read back?

Closed Captioning Question

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:04:45 GMT

Hello fellow colleagues -I am thinking of taking the next step in my career as a court reporter as I too have noticed a slow down in the freelance field. These are scary times for everyone and, as it happens, no one is immune to downsizing or outsourcing, and this industry seems to be changing faster than I would have thought. Anyway, enough with the doom amp; gloom.If there are any captioners out there, I have a question for you. When applying to captioning companies, I am noticing that they require an unedited transcript of nightly news featured on ABC, NBC, etc. Basically, Im unsure of what exactly they require submitted w/resume. Okay, I get the transcript part, but do you submit this with the actual news clip and, if so, how do you go about recording the clip? Do you just submit the transcript and indicate which news program it originated from? Can it be an Internet-based clip that they want the transcript of with the cross reference for them to compare the transcript with the dialogue? I guess I could just call and ask for direction, but somehow I just dont believe that makes a good impression as we reporters have to be resourceful and competent in everything we do. As such, Im at a road block here to even knowing what theyre looking for as the particulars are vague, to say the least. Id appreciate any feedback anyone could provide, and many thanks in advance for your help/comments!! =)

What has happened to freelance reporting - no work :-(

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 09:41:20 GMT

Something horrible and fretful is happening to freelance court reporting in Ohio. Since June of 2011, assignments have dwindled to nothing. I have almost 31 years of a freelane reporting career and never have seen such lack of work. Are other parts of the country experiencing the same?

How to prepare for the CCRR test....

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 09:52:09 GMT

Hello everyone!!I am plainning on taking the CCRR test in February at the DRA convention. I plan on practicing their audios from previous tests in preparation. But does anyone have any tips for me other than practicing? Is there something else I should be doing to prepare for the test? Thanks in advance!DEPOGRL

How do I use audiosync without a mic input?

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 11:26:50 GMT

My computer does not have a mic input and I have the audiosync pocket mic. Is there a way I can still use that pocket mic instead of having to buy another mic?

Take the realtime test

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:46:36 GMT

Im in So. California. How and where do I take a realtime test? Do I have to belong to any organization (like the NCRA?) in order to take it? What organizations give this test? How many times a year is it given? Any info is much appreciated.

How do I contact a user?

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 17:36:10 GMT

Is there a way to contact a user who posted a question on this site directly?

punctuating quoted material.

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 16:46:24 GMT

How does everyone deal with material that attny is directly quoting from a document as far as punctuation if its mispunctuated in the document? Do you do it as exactly in the document or do you correct the punctuation and still put quotes around it? I have a situation where the quoted material is a bunch of sentences run together because apparently the guy who created the document didnt know what a period was. What would you do?

How often do you rebill invoices?

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 12:11:41 GMT

When I send out invoices -- call me crazy -- but I want paid. I dont want to have to keep rebilling and rebilling. I took a preliminary hearing in July. The hearing was on a Thursday and by Monday of the following week, I had delivered their transcripts. Im talking Monday a.m. Now, Im patiently waiting to get paid. Its not a whole lot of money, but I worked for it and damn it, I want it. I have billed them once and sent one rebill. My question is, how often do you rebill? I have never done this before, but shoud I just pick up the phone and call? If a call is in order, what do I say? I know what I want to say, but what would you civil folks say?

How do I set up a New Mexico cert of completion where the witness has waived signature?

Mon, 2 Jan 2012 15:14:07 GMT

Hello, all.Are there any NM reporters out there? Im a CA reporter writing up a deposition for a NM case, and my firm gave me a sample Certificate of Completion thats apparently required for NM cases, but its for one where the witness will be reading and signing the transcript. What is the standard wording when all parties and the witness agree to waive signature?Its this bit in particular that needs to be changed:quot;I FURTHER CERTIFY that examination of this transcript and signatures of the witness was requested by the witness and all parties present. On __________, 2012, a letter was mailed or delivered to *****, ESQ., regarding obtaining signature of the witness.quot;Is it deleted altogether, or is there some language that takes its place when signatures is waived?Thanks in advance!

What is your New Years Resolution?

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:49:32 GMT

What is your New Years Resolution? Mine is to get as many to sign up as many NCRA members and qualifying firm owners for Ethics First as possible. Help a girl out:) Lets show the bar and the general public our committment to excellence and ethics!http://www.ncra.org/Membership/content.cfm?ItemNumber=9331amp;navItemNumber=11514

Parentheticals for reporters?

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:34:52 GMT

Are there parentheticals designed to indicate when a court reporter has to confirm a witnesss answer because the witness gave an quot;uh-huhquot; answer?

How do I cycle charge my Stentura battery?

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:35:34 GMT

I was doing realtime and LiveNote. Suddenly both my realtime stopped scrolling (found out I even lost some notes and audio) and also my writer froze. Had to stop proceedings, turn off computer and writer and start again. Ordered a new battery since I always plug in and the battery is from 2005. Says I have to cycle charge. Dont know what that is. Perhaps I need a new charger too? Thanks for the help.T

Dual enrollment in CA college to shorten route to CA CSR for an online out of state college student?

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:36:23 GMT

Hey guys! I have a question for everyone. Does anyone have any experience or history with College of Marin? I am looking into that school in the form of dual enrollment to possibly shorten my route the the CA CSR since I am a CA student going out of state online to CCR. Anybody done anything like this before? I am talking with the program coordinator at that school via email so far. I am considering enrolling to use their qualifiers for the CSR just in case my first trip to the RPR is not a full success. This is so crazy!!

How do I use a foot pedal with Case Cat

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:36:11 GMT

Does anyone know how to hook up a foot pedal to use with Case Cat? I installed vpedal and thought I programmed all my hotkeys correctly, but it doesnt seem to be working.

Witness mispronouncing medication, what would you do?

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:11:45 GMT

Editing a transcript... the witness says quot;delexilantquot; but she is mispronouncing it, as the real name is Dexilant. Do I just put quot;Dexilantquot; for the sake of context or quot;delexilant (ph)quot;? What would you do? Thanks!

Anyone know of a good court reporting firm (s) in Charlotte, North Carolina?

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:33:51 GMT

Hi everyone,Id like to move to Charlotte, NC in a few months and wanted to know if anyone can recommend a great firm to work for. Ive been reporting for about a year, so Im hoping to find a firm that doesnt mind someone who hasnt been reporting for a long time. Id also appreciate anyone letting me know which firms to stay away from! Thank you.

Is there a way to come up with briefs and actually remember them?

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 09:54:40 GMT

Ive been a reporter for a few years now, and I have absolutely no trouble taking down the easy stuff with normal, everyday language, and very little medical or technical words. I have taken down a few expert witnesses and doctors, and when I did, I felt I was way in over my head. In the instances when I took down the highly technical stuff, all parties spoke at a reasonable speed, under 200 wpm, but I found myself dropping a lot more than I should. I dont think my problem is speed. I can take down normal, everyday language with a difficult word here and there at 200 wpm. My problem is taking down testimony at 200 wpm that is riddled with words that require over five strokes per word. I am so used to writing things out instead of briefing, I have a difficult time coming up with briefs for words that I can remember. The times that I do come up with briefs, I dont remember them as they come up in testimony, and I end up writing the word out, then dropping the next few words. I feel this is unacceptable as a reporter. I understand that were not perfect and we cant take down every single word, but I think the frequent occurrence of this is unacceptable. My agency wants me to start taking more difficult material, and I dont know what to do.I sometimes feel that I shouldnt even be a reporter if I am unable to take down all testimony thats at or under 200 wpm, and Im wondering if I should do something else. I dont want to, as I love my profession, but I feel that I am underperforming and I have no idea how to fix this. I try to come up with briefs, but I end up forgetting most of them. I have thought about returning to school to increase my speed, but I am too busy working and keeping up with other family and household obligations, plus I live far away from school. Ive been intending to come up with briefs and practice with them, but thats difficult when every waking moment of the day is spent either at a depo or editing, and I need to fit family time and chores in there too.Does anybody have any suggestions about what I should do, or how to remember briefs? Should I just quit reporting and do something else?

Filing a small claims action

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 10:49:16 GMT

When filing a small claims action against a depo agency that wont pay, do I file it in my county or the county that the agency is located in? The depo was taken in my town which is in a different county than the agency that asked me to do the job.Also, how can I contact other reporters and ask them if theyve had the same problem with this particular agency?

What to do if the attorney taking the depo cancels his original.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:54:21 GMT

I just took a job today, in Pennsylvania, and the attorney taking the deposition originally wanted the O amp; 1. The other two attorneys wanted a copy. Once the two attorneys left, the attorney taking the dep said nevermind he doesnt need it. He also said he has my contact information and will reach me if he needs the transcript.So my question is: What happens to the attorneys that want a copy? Doesnt there have to be an original out there before copies are made? Im not too sure how to handle this or what to do! Help!!!!!

How about some funny stories?

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:22:35 GMT

I love reading this site, and thought since its holiday time, and some reporters might be slow (well, I am, haha), how about some funny stories? Everytime I get together with my reporter friends, we have a blast telling stories. For instance, one time I was on a job, and the witness was from Brooklyn, and it went like this:Q When you got to the hospital, did you see any doctors?A Yes, they were everywhere. He was so cute, I had to keep my head down and hold in my laughter, and all of a sudden all the attorneys started to laugh, thank God! Hope you all have a great holiday!

Where do you buy your supplies ?

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:38:07 GMT

Hi everyone, Im wondering where all the fabulous reporters on this site buy their supplies, such as exhibit stickers, tabs, transcript binders or covers, stamps, etc. I mean all everything that we use on a daily basis, except for the machine and software.I know of Pengad, Stenograph, Acculaw, Stenoworks, but Im curious to know if theres something else out there that Im unaware of.Thank you in advance!

Does anyone have a CaseCatalyst security key to sell or that they no longer need?

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:18:23 GMT

Does anyone have a CaseCatalyst security key to sell or that they no longer need? Thanks.

How do I word a parenthetical for a deponent reading question back from reporters computer screen?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:10:21 GMT

Deponent asked if he could look at my realtime feed to review the previous question asked by attorney.

Are there really three different types of writers?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:23:40 GMT

Just a small curiosity: I heard from an old-time court reporter in his experience, there were three different types of writer: those who write using their arms (with a lot of body movement from the arms down to the fingers), those who write using their wrists (wrists moving up and down, as well as finger movement), and those who write while hardly moving anything except their fingers. He said that these last were the rarest, and the fastest. Has anybody else heard of/observed this to be true? I also heard that writers who have fingers all about the same length have a speed advantage.

How do I edit the transcript with an extremely fast-speaking attorney?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:37:31 GMT

When you have a very fast speaker, how do you edit the transcript? With dashes? Use your audio to fill in?I did a Volume 2 depo today. From Volume 1 I knew the attorney was going to be fast, around 300 wpm according to my wpm counter on my software.Knowing what I was in for second time around, on a break before his cross-examination, I politely informed him that I was certified at 225 wpm, that he spoke around 300 wpm, and would he please slow down. The attorney told me that he has a job to do, that he knows hes fast and that a leopard cant change its colors. I told him my job was to preserve the record. To no avail. He spoke at 300 wpm plus, very confrontational individual with witness and mumbled condescending sighs when I repeatedly asked him to slow down or repeat that. I finally took my hands off the writer and said I would not certify the record if he continued to interrupt and speak fast, as well. Nothing I said worked.I can go back and fill in with the audio, but I dont think thats right. I did everything I could humanly do to make it an accurate record. He chose to ignore safeguarding the written record, despite my repeatedly asking him to slow down. By the way, witness and the other attorney are very clean in the record. I prefer to put dashes everywhere I dropped due to his rapid-fire questions and confrontational nature. I could ask the depo agency (and did) that I want to upcharge the page rate for this attorney due to the extra time I will spend editing this job, and he should be noted in the file for other reporters. Please tell me how you would handle editing the transcript. And then any other suggestions for dealing with attorneys that ignore you. Yeah, its just their nature, but not an excuse to abuse the record -- or the reporter!

How do I edit this????

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:57:52 GMT

Atty is reading from a transcript of an interview (I should have gotten a copy; too late now). The format of the transcript is colloquy. So the attorney is reading it into the record (also asking the witness to do the same sometimes) and this is what hes saying: Q. Please see Line 4 of the transcript, where it says MR. BLACK: Did you call him? MS. WHITE: -- meaning Jennifer White -- No, I did not. MR. BLACK: Did you see him? MS. WHITE: No, I did not.How should I edit this? I dont feel good about putting in quotation marks because I dont want to assume hes reading it word for word. Any way I do it, it just seems to look awkward.

What is the procedure for processing original deposition transcripts?

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:39:20 GMT

In Nevada, what is the procedure when you have already forwarded the unsigned original to the ordering attorney (after the 30 days has passed) and then you receive the original signature page in the mail from the deponent?

Laptop recommenations??

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:54:32 GMT

Does anyone have a recommendation on laptops? I am on Eclipse and write realtime with multiple attorney hookups using wireless Stenocast, and have a Smartwiter.

Has anyone tried the other sites outside of RTC?

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:26:22 GMT

I read about Accelerator DVDs and a few other free sites. I was wondering if anyone else has tried these and if so, can you please give me your opinion on them. I am very close to graduating, but just need that extra little boost to get me there.

What is this latin term?

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:46:28 GMT

I was in a hearing the other day, and I cant figure out this word that the attorney is saying. He states, quot;its interesting that the courts ruling says that the cases that we cite in our oppositon papers is in abasit/ apasit / op sit, given the fact that case deals with...quot; Not sure whether it is any of these, but I cant find any of these online. It almost sounds like he is saying opposite, but hes definitely not. Thanks for any suggestions in advance!- Shanna

Hyphens or no hyphens?

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 06:56:59 GMT

Hello all,The job that Im working on right now mentions an quot;over the shoulder strap,quot; in reference to a harness. Which way is correct, over-the-shoulder strap or over the shoulder strap? Thank you!

Why doesnt my dictionary export properly to my Elan Mira A3?

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:44:35 GMT

Hello,
I realize I should probably get used to the machine before I ask any questions about it, but Im completely stumped on why my Elan Mira A3 refuses to properly translate certain things.
I cannot get it to properly translate words with suffixes (quot;-ingquot; quot;-edquot;). If I write quot;tiredquot; (TAOEUR/D), I get quot;tireed.quot; If I write quot;stoppingquot; (STOP/G), I get quot;stoping.quot; Does anyone have a solution for this problem? I think its mainly just the machine and not the CAT software that has this issue. I cant seem to find an answer by looking it up in Google, but I might just be failing to notice the answer.Help :(

Help with medical question.

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:09:38 GMT

I have two questions. In a medical depo I heard quot;abrasion sensationquot;. Does anyone know if this could be correct or am I hearing it wrong? Another one was quot;tenderness in the SACROCAS notch and sacroiliac joints.quot; It sounds like sacrocas notch, but I know thats not right. Any ideas? Thanks.

Hi. Is anyone familiar with the CRAH program?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:41:51 GMT

I am wanting to order an at home training program. Would love any feedback or suggestions.

what is the meaning when a judge sit higher than everyone else in a court room

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:31:00 GMT

what is the meaning when a judge sit higher than everyone else in a court room

What happens with ER fails?

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:54:19 GMT

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1769019/ER%20Failure-Runfola%20Reporters.pdf

Do you want to work for a really wonderful agency?

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:40:21 GMT

I currently work with an agency based out of NY and have really come to love working with them. Theyve asked me to help get the word out that they are looking to hire around the country and Ive been only too happy to help. If oyu are looking to work for a place that CARES about you, email your resume to careers@silkdeposition.com. They are looking to hire in almost every state.

I have a realtime freezing issue with Eclispe...

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:57:56 GMT

Has anyone else had this experience and know how to fix it?
I have a student version of eclipse and after awhile of realtime running it either freezes or just stops translating. I try to note when it happens. It never happens in the middle of translating. I do notice it can either be when I start editing on the file, and then when I go back to the bottom to continue practicing, it wont read my machine anymore. Most of the time, not all the time. The other thing is when I can be window hopping and doing other things, then I go back to start translating, it just wont translate anymore??? Anybody have any idea whats going on? Any and all info would be much appreciated.
I would call Eclipse support, but its a long story, and I no longer have their support. So for now Im at the mercy of others. =0)

Would you work for a firm who makes you listen to all of your audio as you proof?

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:11:29 GMT

Hello everyone,I went to interview with a firm recently. They make all of their reporters play the audio of the entire depo as they are going through their transcript. They will not accept their reporters to just listen to their audio when they have a rough spot. I cant imagine being in an 8 hour depo and having to go home and listen to the entire thing all over again. Is that requirement normal for court reporting firms?

Clueless about Audio/Microphone

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:33:02 GMT

I am a student here, so I am kind of confused. Can someone please explain to me what the microphone is used for during depositions. Also, where is the backup audio is recorded? Is it recorded using your computer or do you have a separate tape recorder? How do you play it back in sync with your software? Thanks so much. As you can see, I am clueless!

Whispered conversation between witness and his counsel during videotaped deposition...

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 22:27:40 GMT

I think I know what my answer is going to be, but Im going to pose my question to you all to be sure.
During a videotaped deposition, the witness had a whispered conversation with his attorney. Questioning counsel pointed this out on the record. If this were a regular deposition, I would put a parenthetical such as: quot;(A conversation was held between the witness and his counsel out of the hearing of the court reporter.)quot;
Now, being that this was a videotaped deposition, the witness and his attorney were wearing the videographers microphones. The videographer gave me his audio so I can make sure my transcript is completely accurate. Now, listening to the audio, I can completely hear what the attorney whispered to his client. Am I correct to assume that I should put the whispered conversation in the transcript? After all, when the attorneys watch the video, theyre going to be able to hear the conversation just as I could.
I HATE videotaped depositions!
Thanks for the opinions!Erika

Does Case 12 have Center Line Edit function?

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 16:49:06 GMT

Does Case 12 have Center Line Edit function?And I prefer to use EZ Keys but cant find them in the computerand thus make the function. Could anybody help a scopist?

Whats the best way for credit card payments?

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 19:48:25 GMT

Do any freelancers out there accept credit cards? Is it tied in with your billing software? A government agency I do some work for will only pay by cc and No PayPal. Any suggestions?

Audio or Read Back?

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 11:57:59 GMT

Fellow reporters, I just experienced my worst read back moment ever, and it was humiliating. I actually had it there but am in the process of changing alot in my dictionary and words just dont look like how I am used to seeing them and one finger stroke off something else pops up. So my question is, does anybody ever just press the play button and let the attorney hear the previous question or answer? Is it taboo? I would think they might like to hear the way somehting was said as opposed to a stumbling reporter (i.e. ME). Any thoughts?

Does anyone know how to convert a Case Catalyst file to an Ecslipe file, with audio, for a scopist?

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 21:47:33 GMT

I have Eclipse and I would like to scope for a reporter who has Case Catalyst. Can anybody help? The reporter sent the zipped transcript through SendThisFile. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

CART available in Spanish?

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 17:28:42 GMT

Hello, all!Is it possible to CART in Spanish? Were having an issue in court where the party is Spanish-speaking only and can only read Spanish. Hes also basically deaf. Hes wearing a hearing aid that doesnt seem to adequately work, but his doctors have told him thats the best he can do. And, finally, he doesnt sign. Any information, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

How about a site where reporters rate agencies?

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 00:02:19 GMT

Would it be legal to create a web site which allowed court reporters and attorneys to rate agencies across the country based on a rating system?Sort of a way to hold agencies accountable for their business practices. Attorneys could also rate which technology the attorneys like best, steno, digital, voice recog, so new students could make informed decisions. The best part...reporters could choose which agencies they would take jobs for based on a rating system.Would this be legal? Would anyone be interested in that?I wrote a post about this: http://http://courtreportinglife.typepad.com/court-reporting-life/2011/12/change-the-world.html

What is the Best Student Machine with Eclipse?

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 17:50:35 GMT

What is a good machine to purchase for a student in 160s using Eclipse software?

Court reporting prospects for voice writers in WI?

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:29:44 GMT

Hello,Im living in Arkansas but Im originally from Wisconsin and would like to move back there when my husband finishes school in the next 1-2 years. Ive been working as a freelance voice writer since spring of 2010 and Im wondering what the market is like up there, especially for voice, because I havent been able to find a lot of info on the number of voice reporters.I know MATC has a steno program in Madison (where Im from) so Im guessing maybe the Madison metro area is somewhat covered. Id like to stay freelance, but I am open to moving to another area of the state. Ive also considered returning to school for captioning or something related if necessary. I appreciate everybodys insight!

Four Voice Designations for STEN ED. Help

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 12:09:22 GMT

I am in the lower speeds of speedbuilding and soon Ill be doing four voice and no one really explains the designations. With Q and A it was pretty easy. If anyone can explain it Id be greatly appreciative!

I have a large job coming up (in MD) and need some help transcribing. I need someone who is good, has experience, and proofs her/his work. (barclayadamsreporting@gmail.com). Thanks!

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 07:00:43 GMT

I have a large expedite job coming up that I am going to need help getting out. I need someone with experience who proofs their work. Im in Maryland. Thanks!

Need Xscribe 2001 key

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 00:55:49 GMT

Need edit keyor translation/edit key for 2001 Xscribe badly!! Any help?

Advice for interning

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 19:21:14 GMT

I am going to begin interning this week and I would appreciate any advice anyone could give me. Thank you for your time,Christine

freelancers/independent contractors, what percent of your income do you set aside for taxes?

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 08:11:03 GMT

I understand the things that can be written off, etc. but Id like to know what a safe percent is to take out of my paychecks throughout the year. Whats the typical amount, 20%, 25%? For example, how much should the percent vary if making lt;75klt;Thanks!

Does anyone have the Passport with the split keys?

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:08:42 GMT

I am going to order a Passprot today and one of the options is to have the S key and * key to be 2 keys. Does anyone that has the Passport have the split key option and how do you like it?

I am purchasing a new Diamante and am wondering if I really need the Blue Tooth Realtime upgrade?

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:54:35 GMT

I have been out of the reporting world for the past 8 years and am wanting to purchase a new Diamante after previously writing with a Smartwriter. I feel like I am starting from scratch, having to upgrade my Eclipse and even borrow a dictionary from a girlfriend I went through Theory with 30 years ago. As I am deciding on what I want my Diamante to come with I am not sure if I need any of the wide keys since I never used them before, and if I should add the Blue Tooth Realtime upgrade, as well. If anyone has any suggestions or advice as to how I should proceed, I would appreciate your input. Thank You!

Status conference?

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:58:05 GMT

I hope this isnt a stupid question, but I cant seem to find a good answer elsewhere. When transcribing a status conference, would you include title and appearances pages? Thanks.

MacCormac College in Chicago, good, bad, average?

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:22:37 GMT

Id like to hear some perspective from students or repoters that have recently graduated MacCormac College in Chicago. What is or was your experience like? Thanks,D

when the atty is reading from an exhibit onto the record, am i to quote it on the transcript?

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:58:31 GMT

When the atty is reading from an exhibit onto the record, does that mean I have to quote it on the trancript?

Is anyone else having problems getting external mic to work on laptop?

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:41:07 GMT

I am trying to buy a new laptop. Bought a Toshiba and now a Dell, but I cannot get my external microphone to work with either one. The microphone works fine on my old Dell Inspiron, which has Windows Vista. Ive worked with both computers technical support people, and they cannot get it to work either. Ive tried a few different microphones, also. Any suggestions on a new laptop that will work with my external microphone? Thanks, Karen

What is block numbering?

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:49:50 GMT

In an interview for a California court reporter job at a court house, I was asked to define was block numbering is. I believe that was the term. Can somebody who works in court help explain this to me? I hope I remembered this one right.

What is this word?

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:48:15 GMT

Here is the sentence from a pretty sophisticated witness: quot;The juxt of the email, though, is me questioning the calendar.quot; He did not say quot;gist.quot; I cant find quot;juxtquot; anywhere or anything near it. Any ideas?THX!!!

how to describe/index confidential exhibits?

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:58:40 GMT

I have a transcript where only a part is going to be marked as confidential, and only three exhibits are confidential out of about 30. On these three confidential exhibits that arent included, should I just describe them as quot;Confidentialquot; in the index or still put their description in?

What strokes do you use to identify speakers?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:18:41 GMT

Im a 120-140 speaker, and Ive recently ran into 3V. I was completely taken off guard by identifying speakers, which hasnt been introduced till now. The strokes that our teachers want us to use dont work for my dictionary for some reason, either because its a Case Catalyst issue or because I just have a bad stroke. I think its just I like the stroke and formatting. If anyone could, could you tell me what you use for 3V identification for these people: The witness, the plantiffs attorney, the defendents attorney, the plantiff, the defendent, and the Court? Please, if you could, identify what theory you use for these strokes or if you made it on your own. Thank you so much!

Is http://www.briefcatcher.com/ safe?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:27:40 GMT

Id like to buy one of these Brief Catcher things for when, for example, Im on a group trip in the car or waiting for an apointment, etc. Is http://www.briefcatcher.com/ safe for purchasing? Does anyone have an experience with this website?Thank you,-TheStenoNerd

Do you capitalize uncle if his name comes after it?

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:30:37 GMT

Please bear with me, I had a wisdom tooth pulled earlier, so Im a bit foggy, haha, but I have a med mal Im working on and he keeps saying Uncle Henry. I figured I cap that, but my question is about the attorney whos asking questions......example: quot;Did your Uncle Henry advise you that he was told by his doctor to see a neurologist shorty before he was hospitalized?quot; Is it capped in that sentence? I know when she says quot;Did your uncle tell you that?quot; is not capped, but Im getting confused. I should probably just shut down and start tomorrow again, but you girls are so good and I learn so much on this site! I know the question seems silly, but again, Im on pain meds, and I will be proofreading it tomorrow, so no worries about a bad transcript going out. Thanks in advance!!

Magnum Steno: Write Short, Write Fast! Is it worth the investment?

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:49:22 GMT

After reading the JCR article on briefs last month, I have been looking up books which teach new concepts and briefs to clean up my writing with shorter ways to write. My goal is to learn new concepts and brief sets rather than just a large gathering of random briefs, such as JCRs suggested concept of STK- for dis (distance becomes STKANS, distill becomes STKIL). Im wondering if it would be a good investment to buy his book (Magnum Steno: Write Short, Write Fast!) over the holidays, and if it actually offers what Im looking for.

Other books suggested that I am looking into are The Stenotype Bible Set http://www.stenotypebible.com/.

Id really appreciate if anyone could provide any information on their experience with the books, good or bad. I will also mention I am currently on a personally modified StenEd Dictionary, and Im at the 120-140 speed level class at my college.

Thank you,

Mya.

Whats the difference between an EBT and a depositon?

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:43:44 GMT

I feel like this is a silly question that I should know the answer to. Im editing my interning transcript for school, and Im at a loss as to whether it should be listed as an EBT or deposition. I always forget the answer to this question!!!

how to put lines back on a transcript

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:07:27 GMT

i have a 248 page transcript. on page 232, line 11, the line number suddenly disappear. i tried modifying so as to put them on and even cut and pasting into a new file, but it still appears blank. does anyone know how this happened and how to correct it? any help is greatly appreciated!thanks

Are there any official court reporters from Dauphin County, PA, that would be able to take part in a 10 question interview?

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:53:21 GMT

Hello,My name is Salina Sachetti. I am a court reporting student at Luzerne County Community College in Pennsylvania. I am currently in my second year in the court reporting program. For my court reporting technology class, we are asked to do an interview with a court reporter in the field that we are interested in. I am interested in becoming an official reporter, particulary in Dauphin County, PA. I was wondering if anybody could help me out. My email is salina@ptd.net. Thank you,Salina Sachetti

Student Infinity Traditional writer for sale

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:16:58 GMT

I have a brand new never used student ergonomic Infinity Traditional writer which I bought for $2,000.00. I am wanting to sell it for $1,700.00. I could possibly negotiate the price if need be.Please contact me at jennbeverage@gmail.com

Is traveling four to eight hours round trip for O+2, 0+1 jobs expected for an employed freelance reporter?

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:11:57 GMT

Is it standard in the industry for employed freelance reporters to be assigned small jobs by its agency or even contracted jobs through its agency that require extensive travel, i.e., round trip of four hours? eight hours? And is it normal for the reporter to not get paid travel time but only a small increase in appearance fee? Between gas and time spent in the car, these jobs by no means benefit the reporter. Can anyone shed some light? Maybe itrsquo;s time to move into the independent contractor arena so I can control my travel?

What is a statement reporter?

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:33:22 GMT

What is a statement reporter, and where can I find more information about it? Thanks in advance.

Should you add exhibits to the disk that you give with the transcript?

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:43:04 GMT

Hello, I am relatively new to the production of the transcript and I have some queastions about exhibits: If you charge for exhibits per page, is that for copying each exhibit or is that for copying and scanning them and putting them on a disk with your transcript? Should I always have the exhibits on the disk I deliver with the transcript? Thank you very much for this help! Much appreciated!

looking for a court reporter in PA to do a quick interview

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:17:26 GMT

I hate to have to do this on here considering its not exactly the question format theyre looking for, but Im out of ideas on how to find a contact. I am working on my 200 Qamp;A and approaching graduation fast. For my Technology II class we have an assignment to do a small interview, through emails, with someone in the field of court reporting that we are interested in, in the state we are interested in. If anyone could please help me out, I would greatly appreciate it.It is only about 10 questions, all which are approved by my instructor before asking. I am looking for anyone who works or has worked in the courts, as this is what I plan on doing after graduating. Again, I would really appreciate anyone helping me out with this! My name is Mollie and my email address is MShann921@gmail.com. Thank you.

What is the standard format for a jury trial transcript in New York State?

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:23:45 GMT

Does anyone have an example format for a jury trial transcript? I do not typically do jury trials so I want to be sure the format is accurate. This was taken in the State of New YorkThank you in advance to all who respond!

What is the page rate for a jury trial in New York State?

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:20:13 GMT

I recently did a jury trial last minute for a friend. Not being something that I do every day Im wondering what the standard page rate is for New York State?

spell check in case catalyst

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:56:47 GMT

Im having a problem with Spell Check in Case Catalyst. It is extremely slow and sometimes it starts mixing up all the words so theyre not even on the line and just all garbled up. I have to exit the case and restart my computer to get it back on track. I dont know if its my Vista or if its actually something in Catalyst. Anyone else have this problem?

Would you capitalize of counsel in a tript?

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:05:40 GMT

This comes up a lot in a transcript Im working on. for example quot;in your capacity as of counsel....quot; It looks very funny not being captialized but I dont think there are rules telling me that I should cap it.

How Can I retrieve notes from my writers memory?

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:12:04 GMT

I am in CR school and wrote an assignment to paper - but now I have to submit a .pdf file through Case Catalyst. If I understand correctly, there should be a way that I can retrieve notes from my writers memory and translate them, but I cant figure out how to do this.

Professional Software

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:44:48 GMT

Why do you have to purchase professional software? What is the difference between that and student software? I cant afford to get professional software at the same time I get my writer.

What is the Brief Catcher?

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:41:57 GMT

Does anyone know what the Brief Catcher is and how it works?

Case Catalyst - Update Area folder

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:21:18 GMT

Okay, I will repost my question here because I didnt realize it would get deleted on the actual site. Has anyone ever had their Update Area folder disappear? I usually merge it into my personal dictionary every few days, but the past few days, Ive noticed its not there.

When oh when to purchase the professional machine?

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:06:05 GMT

I am currently at the internship level in my school, trying to pass all the 180s. Ironically, this is when I am questioning more than ever whether I can really pass the RPR. (it seems impossible!) That said, I would love feedback from those who made the switch from student machine to professional machine and at what point you did that.

Hi, my computer crashed. I reinstalled Case CATalyst 10.3. Can someone remind me how to reset default keyboard to SmartKeys?

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:15:11 GMT

Can anyone tell me how to reset default keyboard on Case CATalyst 10.3 after a crash and reinstall?

Videotaped depositions and scopists?

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:37:27 GMT

Hello, everyone.I am new to scoping. Brand new actually, so please excuse my naive question(s).I am wondering about scopists and videotaped depositions. Does a scopist know when the depositions are videotaped? If the reporter doesnt tell them, how do they know? Why do the scopists charge more per page when it is videotaped? Does the scopist ever see the actual videotape footage? Any other information so I can understand the difference between a videotaped depo and one that is not is greatly appreciated.Thank you in advance.

Where to purchase Diamante mic

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:40:09 GMT

Hi all!I have my Diamante, but now I need to buy a mic for it. Can I get some recommendations? My budget is on the low end. I need to keep it between $50-$100. Can I get a quality mic for that?Thanks!

How is a highly confidential handled in a depo transcript?

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:27:58 GMT

How do you handle labeling a highly confidential depo transcript? The entire transcript is confidential. I have added a header to each page **HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL** Is there anything more that needs to be done? The transcript is being handled per code.

Is it easy to transition from Case 3.2 to 12?

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:29:43 GMT

I have been using Case 3.2 since about 2000 or 2001. I am finally thinking about upgrading from 3.2 to 12. I hate learning new software. I went from typing my own notes from paper to dictation to X-Scribe to Case. I just want to know if its an easy transition. I still use my big old dinosaur computer for work, and now I finally want to use my laptop and do work while waiting for my job to start. Any advice on how to learn the new software quickly? They told me it doesnt come with training! Also, is it worth it? I still have my Stentura 8000LX. Does anyone use that writer with Case 12? Thanks in advance!

How do you make a word index on Case

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:29:18 GMT

Hi, Everyone!

When producing a transcript and the client wants a word index, how do I go about that in Case Catalyst?

God bless you!
God loves you!

check interpreter

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:33:03 GMT

In a dep, do you swear in a check interpreter? If so, what sequence: First, interpreter;second, witness; third, check interpreter???

Bankruptcy depo brief, phrases, advice?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 09:58:19 GMT

Anyone have bankruptcy brief, phrases, or advice they would like to share for depositions in these types of cases?

How to apply character mode

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:20:31 GMT

I just went from CaseCatalyst Version 2 to Version 12. I used to be able to hit my right arrow key and move character to character, which was the F2 option on Version 2. Now when I hit the right arrow key, it goes word to word instead of character to character. I prefer the character to character. Is there some way to change this on Version 12 other than having to hold the Control key down with right arrow?

Anyones clients using Textmap?

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:13:33 GMT

Yesterday I was informed that one of my clients will be using Textmap quot;for realtime depositions.quot; Has anyone had any experience with this software? Of course, I will be contacting the Lexis about this. Just wondering if anyone has worked with firms using Textmap.

How to end an answer with the word so

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:04:39 GMT

Many times in a deposition (California) the deponent ends their answer with the word quot;so.quot; How should I punctuate this? Ive used the ellipsis to show a trail off. But when the speaker is finished, I feel that using the period seems to make the sentence look so weird, for a lack of a better word. Is using a period appropriate?

What punctuation would you use in these scenarios

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:49:11 GMT

Hello,Here is a scenario that seems to come up a lot, but what punctuation would you all consider appropriate in these cases. But consider this, the question is not interrupted by the witness. In fact, there is a slight pause after the first part of the question where the witness then replies quot;yesquot; and then the question continues. Here goes:Q. The night before the accidentA. Yes.Q. Where did you sleep? Options: Would you put dashes even though the witness didnt interrupt? Would you put ... after accident and before where? Just trying to get some feedback for this, and thanks in advance for your input! :)

When witness is a doctor, medical or otherwise

Wed, 9 Nov 2011 21:31:54 GMT

Is there a prescribed rule about noting the names of doctors as witnesses? I.e. on the title page, is it quot;Dr. Joe Blowquot; or quot;Joe Blow, M.D.quot; or just quot;Joe Blowquot;?

How much SHOULD we be getting paid?

Wed, 9 Nov 2011 09:11:43 GMT

Hypothetically, how much SHOULD freelance reporters be getting paid in order to survive on their own, without a spouse supporting them?Since this is a hypothetical question, feel free to list page rates or hourly rates or monthly income or yearly income, whatever way you want to break it down for your city or state. Be sure to include food, clothes, shelter, health benefits, retirement, plus 35% taxes.

Why is my SD card not reading on Case Catalyst from Diamante?

Tue, 8 Nov 2011 23:35:17 GMT

I just took a job today and when I translated the job all that came out was one word and nothing else. I then proceeded to restroke the job and tried reading it again and the same thing happened where I only got the one word. Ive tried different SD cards and nothing different happens. Its not even reading another job on. Help! I didnt renew my contract with Stenograph because I couldnt afford it and now Im regretting not selling my kidney to pay for the renewal!

new Infinity Traditional Writer from Neutrino?

Tue, 8 Nov 2011 12:50:50 GMT

Has anyone purchased this new machine or written on it? Any feedback, good or bad? Im thinking of buying it but havent heard anything on it. Thanks.

taxes in New York City

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 12:46:42 GMT

Does anybody have any referrals for tax consultants in NYC that have court reporter clients??

Have you ever heard of Reporters not being paid for copies by an agency?

Sun, 6 Nov 2011 07:34:48 GMT

I recently heard from a reporter (7 questions back quot;Is it slow for everyone?quot;) that there are national agencies in New York who do not pay reporters for copies of transcripts and a low rate for the original. I had never heard of this practice before. Im not in NY. It sounds like they have targeted new grads who perhaps are not aware of practices in the CR field and desperately need the work. The Reporter has to certify the original as well as any copies produced. Has anyone else heard of this unethical practice, and if youve encountered it, what did you do about it?

Premier Power or Condense-It?

Sat, 5 Nov 2011 19:40:41 GMT

Doing some major cleaning amp; finding things Ive never used. These came before Catalyst actually was ready to be on the market. If anyone could use them, please let me know.

What is a mini-condensed rough transcript?

Sat, 5 Nov 2011 14:53:15 GMT

And how do I create one? Thanks!

How do I conquer SKP?

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 10:32:11 GMT

While I know SKP is invaluable for phrasing, I finally realized that it often trips me up and causes misstrokes/drops. Im embarrassed to admit I do the Heller and the Anita Paul Johnston finger drills religiously! Does this happen to others? How do I surmount this so that SKP helps my speed rather than hurts it? Thank you...

Do you like Stenographs rolling case, the Duet 2.0?

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 18:41:29 GMT

Do you like Stenographs rolling case, the Duet 2.0? I own a Diamante and I have the case that came with it. After I load everything in it, pack up, get to my dep, unpack, repack, etc... my neck and back are stressed out! I had a rolling bag in school and it was the way to go! I just started reporting three weeks ago and I cant wait to use the money I made to buy a case!! I have been doing my research and Im hoping youll weigh in and give me your thoughts.......Thanks!!

What do you think this word might be?

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 17:00:18 GMT

This is what the attorney said: Kaiser has a policy; it lists ten conditions that the radiologist is expected to contact the clinician regarding the significant findings of the cion images. quot;cionquot; with an quot;squot; sound. Any ideas ?? Help!!

WINDOWS 7 - EZ KEYS XSCRIBE 2001

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 11:07:40 GMT

does anyone who uses Xscribe 2001 EZ keys know if they work in windows 7? so far i can use them in windows xp and vista but not sure what other systems they work with. thanks!

Is it slow for everyone? Is it just my agency?

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 10:05:11 GMT

It has been slow the last two months for the agency I work for. They are a small agency, and I get first calls, but its been ridiculous! This year has been slower than last year, just wondering if its my agency or not. They are so good to me, but I am thinking of jumping ship or at least picking up now and then for other NY agencies. I just love my agency so much, its hard! Does anyone know if there are NYC/Long Island agencies that are busy and need an experienced reporter?

What is the page rate hourly rate for Oregon?

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 14:28:12 GMT

what is the page rate and hourly rate for Oregon?

Which word is used more?

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 14:25:20 GMT

I hear the word quot;firearmquot; so much on practice dictation, that I have the urge to just use FARPL for quot;firearmquot; as opposed to quot;farm.quot; Does this apply to dictation after CR school? Then again, I hear the word quot;pharmacyquot;, too. Ironically, I hardly hear the word quot;farm.quot; I would like to know, in your opinion, which word appears more. I know that there are factors that depend on this (region and whatnot), but Id like to just hear from you guys. Depending on the answer, I will apply the results accordingly in my personal dictionary.Thanks! :)

Need spelling help for automotive verbage...

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 08:38:37 GMT

The word quot;aromatic systemsquot; came up. Am I spelling this right?Is Daimler Chrysler two words, one word, or hyphenated. Internet search found it as one word and two words.Deponent spoke of two separate computer parts within the car system as though one was speaking, example: The SBC said, hey, Im not getting the power I need to the brake pedal. This is how I transcribed it, without quotation marks, because no real person was actually speaking. Am I correct in doing this?Thanks everyone for listening and hopefully helping.

Please fix the email problem!

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:20:17 GMT

I received about 50 emails from readback.org today, all the same. Please fix this ASAP!

What is Steno X-ray

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:02:39 GMT

And how does it work?

need help w/spelling of a word...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:30:07 GMT

It sounds like quot;in-trick-calquot; and in a sentence it is used, quot;...which is an quot; quot; quot; aspect of my view of the design.quot;for the life of me, I cant seem to find the correct spelling. Please help. thank you in advance.

Does this chair exist?

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:24:11 GMT

Ive had it with going into law firms, public meeting venues and having to sit in uncomfortable chairs. Taking a cushion with me doesnt help. The other day I had to take a public meeting in an elementary school cafeteria and I sat for three hours in a childs desk chair. If it doesnt already exist, its time for someone to invent a collapsible chair that I can strap onto my rolling case and cart with me everywhere I go. My back and my shoulders cant take any more. Maybe it does exist and I just dont know where to buy it. Any info?

In workers comp in Los Angeles, California, the name Dr. Sobol (Sobel) always comes up, is it Sobol or Sobel??

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:31:25 GMT

In workers comp in Los Angeles, California, the name Dr. Sobol (Sobel) comes up all the time. Is it Sobol or Sobel??

Whats this word???

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 10:24:19 GMT

After describing what the legal definition was of a managing agent, the atty says, quot;Im just trying to remember what the Casey says on it.quot; I have looked for Casey, Kasey, KC. I cant figure out what the word is. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

How much do you take out of your paycheck for taxes?

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:55:07 GMT

Hi,How much do you take out of each paycheck for taxes? I heard youre supposed to take %30 percent out. Any other tax information you would like to share would be appreciated. Thanks.

When a witness says two-oh-two for the year 2002.

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:37:26 GMT

How do I translate that in the body of the transcript?

What do you love about your job?

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:56:12 GMT

What do you love about your job? What keeps you going? Im a student whos come too far to quit just yet, but these nagging doubts that this may not really be for me keep creeping up. Ive always been a creative person, and the idea of spending my career writing down other peoples words all day has me in a bit of an existential crisis. That said, I love being a fly on the wall and learning things I never would otherwise. Any and all advice is welcome!

What is the correct language, cross-examination resumed or resumed cross-examination

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:03:17 GMT

Should I use the term quot;resumed cross-examinationquot; or cross-examination resumedquot; or does it even matter?Thanks

Interpreter format

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:18:55 GMT

Hello, Ive been freenlancing for 2 months, I graduated in August. Ive been doing work for this other reporter who runs a firm out of her home. She gave me a job with an interpreter and the way she is tellnig me to set up the transcript feels wrong to me, I just know it is it doesnt look right. She is demanding that it be set up like this: Q. Please state your name for the record. INTERPRETER: John Jones. Q. Do you live in New York? INTERPRETER: He said he lives in New York.So intead of Q A Q A she wants Q INERPRETER Q INTERPRETER. I did the whole job Q A Q A, because the above looks so off, and she told me to change it.
Any advice? Is the above way okay to do?

Florida workers comp law re settlement hearings

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:15:07 GMT

I am supposed to cover a workers comp settlement hearing here in California regarding a Florida workers comp claim (The Applicant now lives here.) Other parties are appearing by phone. My understanding in California is that settlement negotiations and such are not to be reported. Does anyone know the law in Florida?

Has anyone gotten themselves to the state exam successfully?

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:18:27 GMT

I have a very long, drawn out, unfortunate situation with the VERY EXPENSIVE school I currently attend in my area. Im five classes in (theory 1, 2, and 3 and 2 and 3 retaken) Im doing very well. However, the reality is that Im already about $17,000 in the hole and not far in terms of the program itself. Im headed to quot;on my own landquot; after this term ends in mid-December. Has anyone out there experienced getting quot;to the testquot; successfully on their own???Id love to hear anyones comments/opinion/experience.Thanks,D

Do you cap xerox when it refers to a copy?

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:37:02 GMT

Would you cap xerox in this instance: Is that a xerox copy? My gut is telling me no.

How do you handle the attorneys who use computers during depo?

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:33:19 GMT

I had dinner with a couple of reporters this weekend, and I brought up the previous Q about providing audios with the transcripts. We all were in agreement that we would never do that. Then the Q was asked, what do you do when the attorneys bring their computers and tape the depo? How naive am I that that never entered my mind! Would you ever address this; if so, how?

How to mark exhibits 18.1 through 18.9. Help!

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:13:58 GMT

Surprisingly, in the whole year Ive been reporting, Ive never had anyone use decimals when marking exhibits (example) as 18.1 through 18.9.How do I mark them on my index? Do I just mark it as Exhibit 18, then state in the description that they were marked as 18.1 through 18.9? These exhibit questions never end, do they?

How do you write assist?

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:12:05 GMT

Im looking for a brief for assist/assistance/assisting. Thank you in advance.

How do I convert an ASCII to a PDF file?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:19:40 GMT

I was working on a deposition and they needed my signature on the cert pages. After much trouble, I just had a friend figure it out, but I need to know how to do in the future. After exporting your file to an ASCII, how do you turn that file into a PDF??Thanks for the help!!

Motivation in School

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:14:16 GMT

Ive been at Brown College in Atlanta for two years now this past September. Im 20 years old. I dont mean to toot my own horn but I am good at this. I have no problems increasing my speed and reading back in class. It takes me roughly 15 minutes to transcribe a five minute test. My problem is, I am seriously lacking in the motivation department. I go through ruts where I come up with all kinds of things for me to do instead of go to class. I dont understand it. Any ideas for motivating myself?

how do you write ask/and

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:03:26 GMT

I write quot;askquot; as SK and I write quot;andquot; as SKP. I used to write quot;andquot; as APBD and switched about 2 years ago because I never liked the feel of APBD. I have found that in the last six months to a year that I am not hitting the P as much as I used to, particularly when things get to going really fast. I would like to know if anyone writes quot;askquot; a different way or may have some suggestions for me - other than practice finger drills. I barely have time to get my transcripts done with everything else going on in my life, and after 30 years of reporting, Ive done enough finger drills!

IN CA, do I have to have a business license...

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:38:29 GMT

Hi there,

In California, I just got asked to do a appeals hearing for a company.
They would be my first private client. Do I need a business license to take down the hearing if I am a CSR?

God loves you!

Kevin Roldan

help with a word

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:21:02 GMT

I have an attorney who says a word Im not familiar with or heard before (Ive been reporting almost 30 years). This is a case venued in Illinois and the Plaintiffs attorney is present in the room and the other attorney is on the phone. Its an asbestos case with lots of attorneys from several states. The attorney on the phone asked the witness the question, quot;Why are you suing my client.quot; The Plaintiffs attorney objects and instructs the witness/plaintiff not to answer. The attorney on the phone asks, quot;On what basis?quot;
The Plaintiffs attorney then says, quot;Are you **pro-opting on this case?quot; Are you licensed in Illinois?quot; Im having trouble with the word that I have flagged above - pro-opting is exactly what it sounds like. TIA,Sam

Trying to pass 200 Q and A

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:09:45 GMT

I have been in court reporting school for three years. I am trying to pass my 200 Q and A. I have passed all of the the other tests very easily. I feel like I am stuck and Im not sure what to do. I just want to know how to build my speed and get out of this small rut. Thank you.

when did you stop handing in note tests?

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:03:07 GMT

Im just curious. My steno class may be getting transfer students from a school that just closed. Their requirements for passing tests are very different from our requirements. We must pass note tests at 96% and transcripts at 97% in speedbuilding up to and including Qamp;A 160 wpm, Lit 120 wpm, and Jury 140. The new potential students needed to pass transcipts at 95%. Again, just curious about other schools. Thanks

My srt 400 sentra is buzzing!!!

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:54:04 GMT

When I stroke my keys on my srt 400 Sentra, the machine makes a faint buzz noise!!! It drives me crazy in class!! Any suggestions on what it may be?

Whats the legal answer to a request for a scanned signature that can be attached to presumably anything?

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:46:49 GMT

A third-party company is requiring the agency that I do a lot of depos for to have me sign a form that says, quot;I hereby certify that I was the reporter before whom the above-refernced proceeding took place. I affirm that the final ASCII file submitted by me via email or on-line is a true and correct record of this proceeding. I hereby authorize (Unnamed Company) to electronically affix this scan of my written signature below to the certification page I have included in this transcript, and that same shall be treated and used as though I personally signed this certificate. I further authorize (Unnamed Company) to treat all future transcripts and ASCII files submitted as though they were accompanied by this same certification without requiring one for each job or assignment.quot;Theres spaces for this compnay to write in quot;Reporter name,quot; quot;Case Name,quot; and quot;Date.quot;Your thoughts.... Im thinking quot;No thank you.quot;

Need help with a psychiatric word.

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:12:58 GMT

I am editing a psychiatrists depo and he says: quot;Normal mental status exam. Euthymic and phalethic (?) means normal mood state.quot; Has anybody ever heard of anything like this? I cant find anything remotely close.

How to become a military court reporter?

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:56:39 GMT

Can anyone tell me how to become a court reporter for the U.S. military? (Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines)Thank you!

How do I indicate when a witness makes a sound?

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:13:06 GMT

What would you put in the transcript where a witness is asked what she heard and responded with a sound, i.e., an engine revving? She didnt say quot;engine revvingquot; but I know thats what she meant.

Does anyone have a rolling case for sell?

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:44:32 GMT

I would like to buy a used rolling case specifically made for writers. carolyncleckler@gmail.com

Do you hyphen wise at the end of word i.e. weight-wise or finanial-wise?

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:27:30 GMT

Do you put a hyphen in quot;weight-wise,quot; or would it be quot;weightwisequot;?

Does anyone have a set of briefs for years?

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:18:51 GMT

I use the StenEd theory, and I was wondering if anyone had a set of briefs for years that are commonly mentioned. I mean as in years mentioned as birthdays and years of accidents occurring, etc.
I do have a set of briefs for the 2000s (TWUN for 2001, TWAO for 2002, and so on), but I usually stumble when I have to write out the 1900s. I dont like the number bar, so Ive been writing out, say, NAOEN/NAOEUNT/WUN for 1991.
I hope my question makes sense. Thank you!

How do you email a transcript in ASCII file

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:02:54 GMT

I just graduated school and need to hand in a 50 page transcript. I have to email it in ASCII file. I can get it into the ASCII form, however, I see nothing on how to email. Please help.

Help! Not clear on what this chemist said.

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:55:29 GMT

Sounds like hydroopic, but it could be high something. Im not sure. I have an email out to my chemistry teacher friend, but still no response. Any ideas out there from my court reporter pals?Thank you! Q And what did you mean by that specifically?
A What I meant by that was that to compare a synthetic chemistry reaction with its complexity and its time required to compare the experiment, do the experiment, analyze the experiment, thats a much more difficult experiment than to perform a single determination. For example, whether or not you made a crystal in salt of a freebase and a counter-ion using a DSC in a hitrubic {^quot;x} manner, or to test the solubility of a compound in a variety of solvent systems in a hydroopic {^quot;x} matter.
Q Are you a synthetic chemist?
A No.

Do you capitalize material safety data sheet?

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:15:09 GMT

Would you capitalize the term quot;material safety data sheetquot; (otherwise known as MSDS)? It must come up in just about every question; i.e., quot;Does the company provide a material safety data sheet for methyl ethyl ketone?quot;We all have heard the term before. Although its a specific government type of form, theyre using it in such a generic way throughout this transcript, Im starting to wonder about its correct capitalization. I havent been capping it. But Ive looked at this transcript so long, Im starting to not be able to see the forest for the trees!

Has anyone seen this yet? Vision and Job Security: The Future of Court Reporting

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:26:35 GMT

Has anyone read this yet? Its a safe link. All the reporters in our office received this recently and it sheds some light on the technology issue.Vision and Job Security: The future of Court Reporting.

How do I fix this problem in CaseCat

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:56:10 GMT

Every time I go into a file, when I close the file, another file is automatically created. Its not a copy, although it has the same name, because theres nothing in it. The extension on it is the same file name and then .SGNGL(1). The only subfile it contains is quot;unknown.quot; I didnt change any of my settings (that Im aware of), but it just started happening one day. Does anyone know how to make it stop? Its driving me crazy.

How many of you are offering audio-synced E-transcripts?

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:00:27 GMT

How many of you are offering audio-synced E-transcripts? Weve been doing this for a couple of years now. I e-mail my ASCII and digital audio file to my agency, and they sync the audio with the transcript and provide it to our clients. The request for audio-synced transcripts is growing. Its the future of court reporting to provide both print and audio. Doing so will ensure job security. Theyve done this with videos for years. Audio provides a more accurate transcript, so lets embrace this and make money from it. Is this becoming more common in your area too?

What is the citation/rule for pagination of consecutive volumes?

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:24:32 GMT

When a deposition is not finished and continued another day, what is the rule/citation for paginating the second volume of the transcript? Do you start with page 1 in Volume 2 or continue the pagination from the previous depo transcript? Is there a difference if the deposition is continued several months or even a year later?

Inherited an old Xscribe StenoRam Ultra, but memory is full.

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:23:24 GMT

Its been so long since Ive been on a machine, I dont remember how to clear the memory! I know its simple. Help, please!

Have you switched from Case to Eclipse?

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:27:53 GMT

Im currently using CaseCat and I HATE it! Id like to know if anyone has gone from using Case to Eclipse and if it was an easy transition? Did you need to have an Eclipse representative give you some training? Id also like to know how hard or easy it was to sell your current software and purchase Eclipse. Any info you can give me will be greatly appreaciated. Thanks!

Rate pr hr on realtime for prospective deaf juror

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:59:32 GMT

Ive been given a job requiring realtime to a deaf juror. What hourly rate should I charge or a flat rate for the day of attendance?

With a trial appeal, is an attorney required to provide a copy to opposing counsel?

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:36:54 GMT

In Florida is the attorney who submits the designation for trial appeal required to provide (pay for) a copy to opposing counsel?

Student writer-need shallow stroke

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:37:34 GMT

I need to turn in my Stentura Protege for something that has a more shallow stroke. It takes twenty years for me to depress the keys enough to create the stroke and I am getting carpal tunnel from this. I tried the shim and it helped a little, but not much. Any suggestions for a student model machine with a shallow stroke?

How do I quote hospital records?

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:25:48 GMT

When a hospital chart is being read and the doctor is of course using English to read his symbols, i.e. the record says: Constipation, 0 (with a slash through it) blood, meaning no blood, and so he says, quot;Consipation, no blood,quot; should I put no blood in quotes also, even though the word quot;noquot; is not on the hospital chart?

DigitalCAT vs CaseCAT

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:17:08 GMT

Which software is more user-friendly? I have the student version of CaseC and its really driving me nuts because it seems so difficult to master and use efficiently. Thanks.

What is the normal length of time to graduate for a court reporting degree?

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:44:41 GMT

I have been in school for SIX years and I am at 180-200 WPM. Most websites say that stenography schooling is about 33 months. I know that I am not the only one in my program who has been in the program for six years and still havent reached the graduation point. Is my school not doing something right or is there too high of a standard for becoming a court reporter?

Practicing at varying speeds

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:29:10 GMT

Hi everyone,As it is always my way of doing things, I am now stressing over being able to take down what people say out in the real world. In school, its a lot easier trying to get down the dictation because it is a consistent speed; not varying speeds how it is in real life. Ive done court hours and it truly messes me up and I just freeze or slam my fingers down all over the keyboard trying to change pace from a 140wpm witness, and a 230wpm questioning attorney all within 5 seconds. Anyone have any advice on what they did to overcome this when they got out of school? Or any advice on how I should practice at home? Should I watch tv and practice that way?Thanks for any help.

What do freelancers charge for night and weekend rates in New york?

Sun, 9 Oct 2011 07:11:33 GMT

When asked to stay past 6:00 or take a weekend job what is the extra page rate?

How do you like the Kislingbury CR Academy

Sat, 8 Oct 2011 15:39:18 GMT

Any court reporting students out there in the Kislingbury school? If so, how are you progressing through the speed levels.Thanks.-Myra

What are good firms in South Carolina?

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 22:12:26 GMT

Hello everyone,Can anyone suggest good firms to work for in South Carolina? Id prefer to work for a firm who pays every two weeks and does production. Im going to live in Columbia, but Im willing to work all over the state. Can anyone also suggest good national firms to work for? Thank you.

Can I take jobs as a notetaker while in school?

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 01:33:31 GMT

Will my student Wave amp; Case 12 take small realtime caption jobs for students as a note-taker while Im still in school?

What is this lawyer saying? untice law

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 00:08:26 GMT

This witness happened to be an attorney. She had an Armenian accent. Here is what she said:quot;That was the third case, but it was dismissed under untice law(??).quot; I dont see anything about untice law on Google. Can anyone help?

How do you write it if the attorney says a million six?

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 16:12:22 GMT

Hey all,
Im sure Ive come across this before, but I cant think of how Ive handled it. What do you do if the attorney says, quot;a million sixquot;? Theyve said it throughout the deposition, and theyve also referred to 1.6 million, so I know thats what he means, but...Ugh!Thanks,
Erika

Will I ever get my copy order payment?

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 14:13:24 GMT

I live in San Diego County and took a deposition in San Diego for an agency from Orange County. (I have worked for them about 4 times in the past). This depo was of a Ph.D. on a Friday afternoon (of course). It was an Oamp;4. I have been paid for the Oamp;1 but never for the copies. After inquiring about it again this week, yesterday I got an email saying that the agency that called me had gotten the job from another agency who is now bankrupt and I shouldnt be expecting to see my money for the copy orders......Quest # 1: OK. Now isnt this kinda like the agency not getting paid from an attorney because the attorney doesnt get paid from his client? The agency EXPECTS the attorney to pay them anyway. How is this any different? I expect the agency that called me and wrote the check to me for the Oamp;1 to pay me for the copies. The total Im owed is $546 for the three copies. Quest #2: If I cannot recover the money, do any of you know if its considered a tax writeoff?

Is the Mira A3 still a good buy?

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 11:55:32 GMT

Im looking for a professional machine, and have pretty much narrowed it down to the Diamante or the Mira A3. OBVIOUSLY, the Diamante is the greatest machine that has ever lived. The Stenograph Rep made sure I knew that.But, finances are obviously limiting! Mira A3ers -- do you have any major problems with it? Do you like it? Just okay? Should I just bite the bullet, work the corner, and find a Diamante at all costs? Am I damaging my court reporting career by going with anything other than the Diamante? Thats how Stenograph is making it seem...dang sales people.

How do I spell a word that sounds like obskenia?

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 08:45:55 GMT

The anaswer from the witness was about an obscene gesture and the attorney asked a question, quot;After the obskenia, then what happened?quot; Anybody hear of that word before. I wrote it phonetical because it sounded like it had a K in it. Thanks.

How long from RPR to RMR?

Sun, 2 Oct 2011 20:49:07 GMT

RMRs our there, how long did it take after you passed your RPR until you passed your RMR?

How in the H do I choose a writer?!

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:23:06 GMT

Ive just recently hit my 180s, and I think it may be time to start thinking about moving away from my worn, yet loved, Stentura 400 SRT. I tried writing on a friends Wave and thought -- oh my! Its so easy and wonderful! Maybe this is the reason I havent passed a 180...eh? Eh?What Im really looking for is like a side-by-side comparison of professional writers. I think thatll help me decide what I can and cant live without, and help me find a used one (who can afford brand new, anyway?). Does anyone know of where I can find such a chart? Does anyone have strong opinions about their writers? Anyone LOVE or HATE their writer and feel the need to share their feelings? Im open!

Cast Catalyst Realtime Commands - freezing

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:15:11 GMT

sometimes ill be writing in realtime (for my eyes only) for most of the day and then all the sudden ill look up and the audio is still going but the realtime has stopped. has this happened to anyone? im thinking its maybe a realtime command that im hitting by accident and dont even realize it?? any suggestions would be very helpful. thanks!

How do I transfer CC to new laptop without upgrading?

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:31:45 GMT

I just bought a new laptop with Windows 7. I have the installation disk of Case CATalyst 9 but had added updates to get me to 10.7. Not under Stenograph contract now. Soo... when I load the installation disk to my new laptop, it reads as CC 9. (Right?) Tried to put my key on, and its asking me to reprogram my device. Im really, really not ready to buy CC 12. Is there a way to get my key (or is it my software) running on my new laptop without an upgrade?Thanks in advance!Sarah

What is the maximum time frame to be paid for jobs? Will I ever see that money?!

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:49:47 GMT

I started working for a firm in May and its already October basically and I have barely received $1,000 in total. I worked hard and took lots of jobs and I created a backlog...I am owed a little under ten grand...will I ever see that money!? please help!

Error Message Exception 3

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:28:00 GMT

I was working tonight and printing off a transcript in case compressed and this message came up and then it takes me totally out of Case Catalyst and back to the main computer screen. I can get in my files, print regular sized transcripts, but cant print compressed. Has anyone had this problem amp; know what to do with it? Also, if I reload the disk, will it save what I have in Case Catalyst?? Thanks for your help.

Should you hyphenate operating room nurse?

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:42:38 GMT

Should you hyphenate operting room nurse or operating room manager?

Diamante users tips requested

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:38:19 GMT

Well, Ive had it now a few days. Since the only writer Ive ever had is a 400 Stentura, I really have no frame of reference to say how good it really is, BUT it is good. Unfortunately, I do not know how good. Im so busy with work that I dont have the time to read through the user manual. I will do that as soon as I get caught up, but right now its just not possible. I had a friend help me get it loaded onto my laptop and give me a few basic pointers. Although shes on the Mira and doesnt have any firsthand knowledge about the Diamante.Id really like to get a quick answer from someone as to how to load my dictionary into the writer. So if anyone can help with that, Id appreciate it. Id also appreciate, until I can read the manual, if anyone can send me some quick tips as to some other things the writer can do that may not be common knowledge.I think Im writing better already.

How can I configure the phonetics table in Eclipse?

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:00:55 GMT

I want to improve my translation in Eclipse. I just started CART and would like to have Translation Magic work better than it has. Eclipse uses quot;intelligent phonetics,quot; but they dont match the quot;strangequot; phonetics of Phoenix Theory. Does anyone know if theres already a phonetics table out there for Phoenix users to be used with Eclipse?Thanks!

Get With The Times Community College

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:36:09 GMT

The community college I currently attend does not allow a student to repeat the same course more than 3 times. After that, you are on the MERCY of your instructor, and if they for some reason they dont feel your quot;worthy enoughquot; to be a court reporter, by their standards of course, you are GONE! When a court reporting student isnt allowed Cs and Bs, how in the world can this be allowed to take place. If you are willing to pay to continue to try and better yourself, what does a college care if you take a course 3 times or 10 times or even more for that matter. Its ridiculous. And, when you only attend part-time, it isnt exactly a speedy course that you breeze through. The NCRA needs to put a stop to this criminal way of doing things when there are good students out there. Some students need extra time to complete such a challenging program. Do you want the court reporting profession to move on or die off...SHAME ON THESE TEACHERS AND COLLEGES.

Student with Billing Question

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 12:56:36 GMT

For a school project, I have to prepare a bill to the State Public Defender (in NJ).I have the blank bill form but I have 3 question:1)What is the estimate (reduced) rate that the Public Defender would get for my transcript?2) I dont charge an attendance fee since this testimony took place in court, correct?3) What would a new court reporters page rate be?

How would you format this answer

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:59:58 GMT

This witness kept saying quot;andioplastyquot; for the first half of the deposition, I know its not a real term, then changed it to quot;angioplastyquot; for the next half of her deposition, meanwhile the word was suppose to be quot;kyphoplasty.quot; Now should I put quot;andioplasty (sic)quot; every time she says it? Do I put quot;angioplastyquot; because maybe I heard her wrong? (I know I didnt). I obviously will not put kyphoplasty until she started actually saying it after the attorney asked her about it. Any thoughts? I wish the attorneys would have corrected her immediately!

Help! Page formatting in ASCII

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 11:04:00 GMT

Hi, I made a text file in CaseCAT and when I exported it into an ASCII file and tried to print it the first 3 pages come out fine then at the bottom of 4 there is 1 line of page 5, and at the bottom of 5 there are 2 lines of page 6, etc. I have tried it in another format, checked off the box for feedform inbetween pages, removed headers and footers, etc. Is there an easy fix? I am trying to send this file to people so that they can print it, or I would just print a copy right out of CaseCAT. It prints fine when I do that.Thanks in advance,Trudy

NYS - is transcript automatically ordered?

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:56:31 GMT

I believe in NYS the transcript is automatically ordered when they job is taken. does anyone know if this is an actual law or written in NYS statutes anywhere???

how would you do this?

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:53:32 GMT

Has anyone ever heard a word sounding like aredging (a redge ing)? He says, There is a criminal case aredging from this case. Any help will be greatly appreciated!Also, any Illinois reporters, do you know what heading I would use for an order of protection case on my title page? There is an OP in the case number. Thank you in advance!

Which writer is best with Eclipse? Passport?

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:26:22 GMT

I have not reported for the last 10 years and am confused as to which writer I want to purchase now as I re-enter the field. I used a Smartwriter years ago and have since given it back to the person who gave it to me. I have Eclipse software which I am needing to upgrade, Im sure. I was all set to go with the Diamante but then read reviews about Stenographs customer service which scared me since I am nervous about trying to learn a new machine. Please help!

I need word help with a doctors depo.

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:04:57 GMT

Hello,The doctor was reading from medical records. He said something that sounds like quot;Scruttlequot; surgery or
Scrudalquot; surgery. Any idea what hes saying???

How much do San Diego freelance reporters make?

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:53:36 GMT

I am currently a New York reporter working in and around the NYC metropolitan area. Ive been working since 1986 as a freelance reporter. We are thinking about moving to San Diego and I need to know what kind of income I can expect to make there. I currently make around $50,000, but the big agencies are making it tough to maintain that kind of income. I also get paid every week for work I turned in two weeks ago. My agency is very good to me. So does anyone know the current page rate in San Diego? Also the copy rate, and do you have to wait for the agency to get paid before you get paid? That would never work for me in NY!

Eclipse 5 upgrade

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:43:40 GMT

Ive downloaded Eclipse 5 and used it on a couple of jobs, but I have to say, Im not loving it so far. I am probably not aware of some of its nifty new features. I would love to have some input from those of you who are Version 5 users and like it. Whats new and cool on this version? Is it worth my while to make the switch now?

Where can I find a template to print exhibit stickers?

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:22:11 GMT

Where can I find a template to print exhibit stickers? Ive had them printed up once through an agency I did some work for, and really liked them. I was able to order stickers, now I just need to find a template.

What should be included on a working reporters resume?

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:26:59 GMT

I am a fairly new reporter who worked for a year before moving to a completely new city and state. I am now trying to update the resume I used when transitioning from student to professional. I am wondering if anyone out there has any advice on what the resume should look like now that Ive had some experience. What should I include? Even better, does anyone have a generic example I could take a look at? Thanks in advance!

Passport and CaseCat, Diamante, Mira

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:48:54 GMT

I was all set to buy the Passport and then I read in reviews that it wont audiosync with CaseCat. As Im not about to buy and learn new software, it looks like my alternative is to go ahead and buy a writer from Stenograph. Then the question on that is that I read some reviews that said keys cannot be adjusted individually on the Diamante, and also one poster said even when she completely removed her right hand from the keys, P and L shadowing was still coming up. This would all be bad for me because Im the worst P and L dragger. So I then am considering the Mira, but hear that it stacks terribly. So I have no idea what to do, but I have to decide by tomorrow (Monday) because Im definitely going to guy something by then. Please help with your firsthand experiences and suggestions.

How do I format this . . . ?

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:03:14 GMT

The witness answered the question like this: quot;dot orgquot; (referring to a web site). Do you format that in the transcript like: A .org or A. Dot org or maybe A Dot.org ??

Reporter interruptions in depos

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:59:04 GMT

When you are at a depo, and the examing attorney asks an unclear question and you ask him to repeat it, how does that get reflected on the record? Do you put in your request in the record? Or do you just ask it, have him repeat it, and use that as your question? Thank you!- Shanna

How about a Lenovo Thinkpad for use with Case Catalyst 12?

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:45:50 GMT

Hi there,Im wondering if any reporters out there are using or have experience/feedback with using Case Catalyst on a Lenovo Thinkpad. Im in the market for a new laptop and Im finding this decision extremely daunting, to say the least. Just when I think I have whittled down my decision, another possible option catches my eye. I have had problems during realtime w/Case Catalyst in the past and thus I am not taking this decision on which laptop to invest in lightly. I have read some comments on this site that Toshiba and Sony are good ones, however at the same time I am looking for something lightweight and super portable as I want to cut down on the baggage we reporters haul to a job. If any reporters using Case Catalyst (newer versions only) have any recommendations on which lightweight laptop is a good pick, I would be forever indebted. :)One side note: Stenograph is completely and utterly useless in recommending anything. I contacted them and they provided no help whatsoever. One sometimes wonders why to even renew the software support agreement. Hmmm, Ill ponder that another day.

What percentage seems fair to charge for an expedited transcript (5 days)?

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:40:31 GMT

In my state, the noticing attorney provides quot;the other sidequot; with a copy. So when quot;the other sidequot; requests the transcript to be expedited (I got it to him in 5 days), what seems like a fair rate to charge him?

Have you upgraded to Eclipse 5?

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:05:23 GMT

I was so excited to receive my upgrade in the mail, but havent installed yet because I am having trouble finding scopists with the upgrade. Can you still take jobs on the old version after installing the new one?

Best microphone for steno machine

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:39:05 GMT

What is the best microphone to use for court reporting steno machines (not a usb/laptop)? I know Martel carries one which is battery operated. Ive used one by Soundprofessionals which does not require a battery. Im curious if the battery-operated mic is any better and/or worth the extra money. Is there any earpiece out there which will amplify voices in court? I know one can listen through headphones while still taking down what is being said, like a sidebar for example. Any recommendations?

Do you capitalize The Government?

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:54:26 GMT

When are you supposed to capitalize the word Government?

How do I write Military time in a transcript, with colons or none

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 23:53:56 GMT

transcribe Military time. Colons or no colons: We arrived at 1321 or 13:21. I know if there seconds youd have to have the colon to differentiate, i.e., 13:21:14-

Wondering if someone could help me with an e-transcript?

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:56:20 GMT

Hello, I need help creating an e-transcript. I understand this is a software you have to pay for. Ive never had to use it and Im assuming for now Im not going to have to very much. Does anyone provide this service for a small fee? I need help converting ASCII to e-transcript. If you think you can help me out. Let me know. Thank you...

How do I record audio on a laptop while doing realtime?

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:29:04 GMT

I finally learned how to do realtime but I do not know how or where to hook up the mike to my laptop or how to access the audio during editing. Please help and much thanks for your input.

How do I format a pro se plaintiff cross-examining themselves? QA?

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:56:28 GMT

Should I format a pro se witness who wants to cross-examine themselves as regular Qamp;A in a deposition?

Why doesnt my Stentura 400 battery not charge?

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:57:52 GMT

I have a Stentura 400 srt and for the first time ever, the battery light is blinking, and having lost my manual I didnt know what this meant. Having figured that out, low battery, I charged it overnight but it still blinks like crazy. I did not have the power on the maching when charging, not sure if that makes a difference or not. Also, when I am writing with the battery in and the charger plugged in it is still blinking. Help I have no idea what is going on, and this is a new battery.

How long did you study for the RPR written?

Thu, 8 Sep 2011 13:40:17 GMT

How long did you study? Did you pass the first time?

Will CC version 8 run on Windows 7 Professional in XP Mode?

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 18:40:11 GMT

I need to purchase a new laptop and do not want to upgrade my CC. Does anyone know if Version 8 will run in XP mode on Windows 7 Professional?

Have you ever taken the CRR through the NCRA?

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 13:58:13 GMT

Hello everyone,Im trying to gather some insight, from anyone willing to share, regarding your experiences in taking the Certified Realtime Reporter examination. I understand they are making some changes (or already have), but what exactly is expected of the reporter and the equipment they bring to the test? Are you expected to hook up and start a realtime session on various computers and demonstrate trouble shooting? Is it only the actual ability to take down the dictation and then produce the transcript? Do you need Caseview Net or any special extra equipment to take this thing? Id like to try my hand at it, but I wouldnt know what Im walking into. Any feedback or info anyone can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Plaintiff calls Defendant as of cross, then is it redirect

Tue, 6 Sep 2011 15:30:57 GMT

The Plaintiffs attorney in a court case calls the Defendant as a witness as of CROSS. Defendants attorney decides to question the Defendant since he is already on the stand, is it now Redirect and Direct is skipped?

Are we the only ones putting two spaces after a period or full stop?

Tue, 6 Sep 2011 13:34:56 GMT

I feel like an idiot because I told a friends child to put two spaces after a period, and I now realize it was probably the wrong information. I then wondered what I did before court reporting had me trained to do two spaces. I vaguely recall that I had two spaces in high school and college and then switched to one space in the entertainment industry while doing PR and other types of writing. (I know that for transcript production I had to work hard to add the comma before the conjunction at the end of a series since it had already been beaten out of me in the workplace as wrong and unnecessary.)Ive read that it ultimately is a style issue that has to do with the fonts used and their respective kerning. I suspect that, because reporters typically use mono-spaced Courier font, we therefore use two spaces after the period. We also are held (in California) to minimum character requirements per line, a task more easily accomplished and readable with a mono-spaced font.What does everyone else think of this issue? Do most of you put two spaces after a period? Are we in the dark ages, and I didnt know it? I dont have kids, but do reporters with kids just leave the grammar and punctuation advice up to the schools? Of course, they dont even call it quot;Englishquot; anymore. Out here its quot;Language Arts.quot; Now Im not so confident that my court reporting knowledge of the language is valid for a modern student...

Elan Mira A3 and CATalyst software + dictation material and books 4 sale

Sun, 4 Sep 2011 09:16:43 GMT

Anyone looking to purchase a writer and software? I have an almost five year old slightly used Elan Mira A3 and Case CATalyst 4 Version 8 with Audio Sync for sale. I also have tons of dictation tapes (160 speed and abive, plus lots of RPR tapes and lots of court reporting books, Testimony Accelerator CD and Realtime Accelerator CD from Stenograph). Please email me and we can discuss price. If purchases together, Im asking $3500 for the writer and software. If purchased separately, Im asking $1000 for the software and $2500 for writer.Email: tracyfrasier73@yahoo.com (I live in Michigan)

Whats correct for these acronyms

Sat, 3 Sep 2011 22:19:17 GMT

Working on a transcript that is referring over and over to P.O. boxes and purchase orders, POs. I guess Ive always done them the way I have them written here, but now that theyre coming up together in a transcript so often, it seems like I should change one or the other to make them consistent. Which way should it be, if at all?Advice?

Whos working on a rush transcript this holiday weekend?

Sat, 3 Sep 2011 13:15:33 GMT

While everyones enjoying their long weekends; court reporters are using it to catch up on transcripts or get out rush transcripts. I guess its just the nature of the business.

dollar figures translating incorrectly

Fri, 2 Sep 2011 12:00:42 GMT

When I write a dollar amount such as $4,953 on my writer during realtime, my Case Catalyst translates it as $4,000,953. I have tried playing around with the translation settings, but havent hit upon the right one. Any suggestions?

What happened to crih1?

Fri, 2 Sep 2011 07:19:49 GMT

Stentura Fusion reviews

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 19:32:19 GMT

I am looking to buy my first professional writer and have heard good and bad about every one of them, except the Fusion. I was under the impression that it was a student model, until I started researching a little. Can whoever owns one post back to me and let me know what you think of it, how it compares to other writers you may have used, etc.

How do YOU finger spell?

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 16:38:58 GMT

Question: If you dont have time to read the whole question, at least tell me your method of how you finger spell, stitch, etc...! :) Thanks! My theory: I learned Sten Ed Realtime Theory in school. I am just getting out into the working field and trying to clean up the dictionary that was given to me and have adapted as my own. Pros and Cons to that so far! A lot to clean up, but nice to have a resource of stroke outlines. My problem: I dont have the theory book in front of me, but the way they taught, I believe, is to hit the -RBGS with your letter and it will come out as quot; A quot;or quot; B quot; ,etc... When it comes to the letter quot; I quot; , Im having a problem. My quot; I quot; with the -RBGS is my Attorney 4 bank. If Im remembering that this is what my theory taught, knowing that the four banks are a pretty common way to make a distinction of speakers, why would they have you finger spell like that? So confused. I really need to pull out the theory book.Suggestions? Thanks!

Recommendations for Wheeled bag

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 15:25:54 GMT

Hi there, Can anybody shed some light on preferably a top-loading wheeled bag to hold my Diamante, laptop, laptop tray, 2 tripods, and all the cords, stickers we need? I want to buy a real luggage brand like Samsonite for example. I dont want to buy one of the cheap bags from Stenograph.Im open to all suggestions as I want a sturdy rolling bag that will last and protect my equipment at the same time. Thanks!!

How do you charge for a non-transcribe depo?

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:38:19 GMT

Im a freelance writer in a state (KY) where most depositions are transcribed. However, we do run across the occasional deposition/hearing where they do not want us to transcribe the testimony. I am curious to find out how other reporters handle this situation. Do you charge only a per diem? I like to be fair to the attorney, but I want to make sure my reporters are getting a fair fee as well.

When is the Greater Washington DC Shorthand Reporters Association Annual Conference?

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:25:45 GMT

For those NCRA-member reporters interested in getting their CEUs, how can they learn the date, location, speaker lineup and training opportunities for reporters in Washington, DC?

How do I type the word capitalize a word that isnt a name in Phoenix Theory?

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:22:33 GMT

How do I capitalize a word that isnt a name in Phoenix Theory?

How can I invoice differently for quicker payment

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:24:21 GMT

Any suggestions on revamping invoicing in order to get invoices paid quicker? I have recently started not sending any electronic copies (unless expedited) until payment is received, so Ill see if that helps.I feel like Im funding the litigation for these folks!

Name spelled incorrectly on the record.

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:44:56 GMT

Witnesss name is Herberto (taken from the drivers license for spelling), but when the attorney asks for a spelling, the interpreter spells it Heriberto. He is not a party to the lawsuit, just a witness. The jobsheet does not have a spelling on it. What do you do? Do you spell it with an quot;iquot; because that is how it was spelled on the record, or go by the drivers license?

Any former students of Merit College of Court Reporting in CA?

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:36:41 GMT

I graduated from Merit College of Court Reporting in 1992. I am interested in obtaining a copy of my diploma/transcript. Does anyone know how to obtain this information from this now closed school?

Co-counsel sharing copies?

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:36:13 GMT

When there are two separate attorneys, two separate law firms, representing one party, do they actually get to share the copy of the 0amp;1 order?The original went to witness for read and sign and return to taking attorney, Attorney A. Attorney A is getting the 0amp;1.Attorney B is co-counsel with attorney A, different law firm though. He says he isnt ordering a copy because hes co-counsel with Attorney A.Just wondering if this is actually okay or should it have been a separate copy order for Attorney B?(Attorney C is witnesss attorney, and they did order a separate copy. )

what is the correct parenthetical for confidential exhibits that are to be bound separately. Please advise for both the parenthetical wording and the index. Thank you!

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:24:27 GMT

Would some please let me know how they mark confidential exhibits in both the index and the parenthetical. In a depo recently, there is an exhibit that is to be bound separately and marked confidential. Such exhibit is to be stored, sealed, with the transcript.

WAV file upload

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:37:51 GMT

I am trying to upload and email out my Eclipse audio file which is over 100,000K and going directly through my email account did not work because the file was too big. I then tried Yousendit.com., paid $9.99, and attempted to email out to two people. My cc was charged, but neither parties rcvd the WAV file.Is there another method (preferrably free) to email out such a big file?Please help.

What do YOU believe deposing attorneys want when they order an e-tran?

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 07:34:57 GMT

As kids growing up on a West Texas farm my brothers and I would ask, while we were on a trip in town, if we could stop for a quot;coke,quot; meaning a quot;soda pop.quot; The term had a generic meaning in those days.I recently had an attorney ask for an quot;e-tranquot; of a deposition, and after I sent it to him I received an e-mail from him indicating he couldnt open it and he wanted to know what program he should use.Its just my own opinion, but I think that a good percentage of attorneys today think quot;e-tranquot; is an abbreviation for quot;electronic transcriptquot; rather than a shortened version of quot;E-Transcript.quot;I would sure appreciate any fellow reporters sharing any experiences theyve had when supplying an E-Transcript when an quot;e-tranquot; was ordered. I know some reporters have indicated they have sent either a Min-U-Script or simply an ASCII when an quot;e-tranquot; was ordered and havent received any negative feedback when doing so. Whats your experience?

I have many questions concerning the RPR exam!

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:56:44 GMT

I am getting close to finishing up with court reporting school. My school prepares students for the CSR test here in California, but not the RPR exam. I plan on moving to another state where the RPR is all that is needed to work and do not want to get the CSR in California.I need some help on preparing for this test. During the machine part of the test, do I need to have my machine hooked up to the computer software or can I just transcribe off of regular steno notes? I am going to order the NCRA study guide for the RPR, but I was curious if anybody had any other suggestions for study material?Thank you in advance!

Online backup programs?

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:52:06 GMT

Does anyone know a good online backup program? I mean the kind that backs up for you and stores your files with their system. I have two external hard drives, but I was thinking if there was ever a fire or flood, that it might be a good idea to have something offsite. TIA

Does anyone have a parenthetical for mark the question?

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:11:36 GMT

Does any depo reporter have a good, succinct parenthetical for when attorney asks the court reporter to mark the question for later motion?Please tell me how you would word the parenthetical within the transcript and also how you set it up in the index.

do CART providers send out transcripts?

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 11:10:39 GMT

Do CART providers typically give their client a transcript of that days work? (electronic or hardcopy) If so, how much time does the provider spend going over it/editing it? Would there be a fee involved if the transcript is requested? (Not asking about the $amount$ charged)

What is the best software upgrade for a part-time reporter in the dark ages?

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:32:21 GMT

Ive been using my OLD Eclipse DOS-based software that I started out with for the past 15 years. Ive been VERY part-time for the last 10 years (a few depos a month) while Ive been raising four little kids and havent been able to justify an upgrade. Basically, it still gets the job done, but there are several hassles because of how out-dated it is and I am missing out on many of the newer features like audiosync. The computer I run it on has Windows 98 as the operating system (old, I know!!) and is not compatible with any current printer drivers, so after Im done editing a job, I create an ASCII and then bring the disk over to my newer computer to be emailed/printed. Im going to start working part-time in court in the court reporter pool and they require transcripts to be filed in PDF format. Im not even sure how Im going to be able to do it with my current software. Ive been so out of the loop and was just hoping for some advice on the least expensive way to upgrade to the best software. My dictionary should be able to be transferred to any software, right? Please help me get out of the dark ages! Thanks!

Any pointers on practicing Q A?

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:54:15 GMT

Does anyone have any tips on practicing Q amp; A or passing Q amp; A tests? I have the hardest time with Q amp; As. I am at 160 and have passed all of them Jury Charge and Lit, even 180 Jury Charge I just cant seem to get the Q amp; A down. I have practiced and practiced for it. I can get the whole test if I dont hit the Q or the A but that really isnt helping me. Thanks for any advise.

What is causing this pain in my wrist?

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:52:03 GMT

I suppose I should go to the doc, but I just dont have time...too much work. Besides, you people seem to have the answer to everything that I need to know. I have a pain in my left wrist that is on the outside of my wrist, right where the hand meets the wrist, and it goes about halfway up between my wrist and my pinky on the outside of my hand. It feels like its sprained, but I know that isnt it because its something that has come and gone over the years. Id been working especially hard preparing for the RPR and that really made it flare up and now its been hurting for days. It doesnt hurt constantly, but when I move my wrist a certain way (which is hard to explain), it really hurts. Anybody have anything like this happen and can tell me what it is and maybe a home remedy (exercise) to fix it?

CART in classroom/Freelance at the same time

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:52:00 GMT

Anyone out there do CART in the classroom as well as do depositions during the week? I want to do CART, but the hours are small, as the student might be in class 5-10 hours a week. Just wondering what else can be done to supplement income. Thanks!

Stressing over hearing the correct words

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:36:20 GMT

Im kind of stressing over something that I believe I will run into in the future when I start to do depositions and eventually work in court..

Ive done a lot of intern court hours, and a lot of the time when the judge asks for the attorneys to state their name and who they represent, they talk so fast and mumble that I dont even know what theyre saying. I dont know if thats bad listening skills on my part, or what, but I feel like other people are able to get what they say. For example, sometimes in school our readers will mumble or say a word that I feel like I should know what theyre saying, and then 5 seconds later I will think, quot;Oh, THATS what they said.quot; I dont know if its a problem on my part, or if its normal. I know realistically I wont get 100% of what everyone says, but still, I guess my perfectionist qualities are coming out again.

I know Im supposed to interrupt any time I dont understand or hear what someone says, but I dont want to interrupt a million times just because I think I sometimes have bad listening skills and cant figure out what theyre saying. Its even gotten to the point where Im questioning myself quot;Do I have bad hearing?quot; quot;Do I need to get my ears checked to see if Im hearing properly?quot; quot;Is this profession the right one for me if I cant even make out what theyre saying?quot; Not sure if this is a problem you will run into all the time, or if Im stressing over nothing.

new steno machine

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:56:40 GMT

Im considering buying a new steno machine and have narrowed it down to the Diamonte and the Passport. Is there a lot of adjustments with these particular machines? What has been your experience with these machines? Thank you.

Why is my Stentura randomly losing connection?

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:37:41 GMT

Help! I am randomly losing my connection to CaseCATalyst. I read through a previous post and have done everything that was recommended. I have done the following:I made sure COM ports are on the same number in Device Manager and CaseCAT.I made sure Device/Printers, Stenograph PDF Printer is on a different COM port than CaseCAT.I went in and changed all power management in the USB Root Hubs not to shut off to save power.Ive tried CaseCAT on Source = Writer, Output = None.Ive tried CaseCAT on Source = Writer, Output = StenoKeys.I have my CastCAT set to run as Admin.Ive tried different USB to serial adapters. I also had my writer serviced and replaced the (??? name) plug to connect to CaseCAT. I have a Stentura 400srt and a fairly new (year and a half) laptop that runs Windows 7.I called Stenograph and the man suggested that I try to connect another writer to my laptop and see if that one stays connected. He said that it could be any number of things and it would be difficult to troubleshoot the possiblities. So, here I am. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. It is super frustrating to want to practice and spend 90 percent of the time troubleshooting.

How did you transition from your corporate job into your court reporting career?

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:36:32 GMT

One day in the near future, I look forward to transitioning from my corporate job as an Executive Assistant to my court reporting career. I am not sure at this point whether it will be freelance or official; however, Id like to know how did you make the transition? Did you just give your two week notice directly after you pass the exam? Did you build up a nest egg right before you quit your job so that youd have some income prior to making the same amount of money or more from court reporting? Did you transition into it part-time by taking time off from your full-time job temporarily? Any answers would be very helpful to me!

Do you puncutate et al in the middle of a sentence?

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:41:37 GMT

Do you have any documents that would relate to this litigation, I mean the John Smith versus John Smith, et al. litigation? Thanks

How do I spell word that sounds like kluj?

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:18:08 GMT

This is a job of computer specialists in the Marine Corps. They were talking about fusing together or blending a group of names to get a top three out of nine names. One time he said quot;fusionquot; but the other three times he said klooge or kluj (long U sound.) caluj or kluj. Ive looked it up in dictionaries and thesaurus in almost every imaginable combination. Its not collage or collude. There is a word spelled kludge but its pronounced like fudge. Another variation of that word is kluge which does sound like the write pronunciation but the definition doesnt fit.Please HELP!!

What comes after Surrebuttal in a hearing?

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:27:47 GMT

Im editting a transcript of a hearing, and I need a little help with the order. The attorney calls a rebuttal witness, so I know when he questions, its quot;Rebuttal by Mr. X.quot; Then the other atty questions and its quot;Surrebuttal by Mr. Y.quot; What comes after that? Is it quot;Re-rebuttal by Mr. Xquot;? Thanks!

Any updated inputs with Court Reporting At Home with Linda Bland

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:29:03 GMT

I was looking up the reviews on CRAH and have never really seen any until I saw this blog post. I am considering this program myself since I am having a hard time right now with the traditional court reporting school. I read one persons blog about being in a quot;bubblequot; for speed. Is it easier than traditional school and does it have structure? Also, can I use my steno machine I have now? I dont want to invest that much money into a program because I really cant afford to. If anyone can answer, thanks.

Stentura 400SRT question

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:04:39 GMT

Hello folks!
Okay. Ive had a 400SRT for a few years now. I got this machine from a broadcast captioner who never used a ribbon in it, and he also had it shimmed. I put in my paper and ink. When I first start writing the strokes look nice and dark, but within a few minutes all of the strokes on the paper start getting really, really light. This happens even with a brand new ink cartridge. I couldnt figure this out a couple of years ago so I just stopped using paper in my machine, and Ive only been using my machine hooked up to realtime. Im taking the RPR on Saturday, and I know I have to provide paper notes to them. What I have will suffice because you can see that I wrote it, but its just very light. I just thought I would check with you all to see if anyone knows what might be causing this and if theres anything I could do about it? My theory is that its the shimming, but I know a lot of people do this and dont have the same results or else shimming probably wouldnt be that popular. Thanks for reading this long question!- Shanna

court reporter needed for shreveport, LA

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:28:30 GMT

for a sworn statement on 8/31 at 9 a.m. for my client located in florida. witness will come to court reporters office email me at karenbarbera@comcast.net thanks guys

EMERGENCY PLEASE HELP!!!

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:16:06 GMT

Details: Im a student. I work in CaseCat. Ive got it intstalled on my Toshiba laptop in a partioned hard drive, in Virtual XP. Everything has worked perfectly until today, when I installed the HP Photosmart C4480. The installation was a pain in the butt, but it finally seemed to install okay. NOW, my computer will not recognize my security key for CaseCat. I need to figure this out quick. Im taking the RPR in two days.

Any StenoCat users out there?

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:31:30 GMT

Im new to this site via a reporter friend of mine. I am a StenoCat scopist, always looking for work. I reported for 20+ years so I kinda know how to put a transcript together. I do have references, so let me know if you need any help! Do I dare get back to reporting???? Ive been out for nine long years now. Hmmm....

To capitalize or not to capitalize!

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:22:01 GMT

What is your practice on whether to capitalize a reference to quot;human resourcesquot; or the quot;human resources departmentquot; in a transcript? Thank you for your help!

Can you use generic bluetooth serial adapter from machine to laptop?

Tue, 9 Aug 2011 23:03:10 GMT

Or are the bluetooth adapters proprietary? Im using Case with an 8000LX. It is very tempting to try one of the quot;cheaperquot; ones. Of course, the trick is finding one with the right power source.

CaseCatalyst and Brdige - Does the refresh work?

Mon, 8 Aug 2011 22:03:58 GMT

If I am using CaseCatalyst software and sending to Bridge for attorneys, is there a setting I can use so the refresh aspect works?

And so, And, so or And so

Sun, 7 Aug 2011 23:22:57 GMT

When beginning a sentence with quot;And soquot;, what is the best punctuation? Thoughts please... Example: And so by the amount paid you determined the amount paid of the medical bills.

Too old for court reporting? Best theory?

Sun, 7 Aug 2011 15:13:11 GMT

Im 52 and want to start home schooling for court reporting. Ive wanted to do this since I was 26 but not able to because of children, husband, no schools available. Any thoughts? What is the best theory? -- Debbie

An attorney mispronouncing his clients name on the record.

Fri, 5 Aug 2011 14:28:39 GMT

Hello! I have a question regarding how to handle a mispronunciation or alternate pronunciation by an attorney of his clients last name on the record. A situation arose where an attorney was questioning a witness concerning a quot;Mr. Canary.quot; At first I was rather confused who this individual was as none of the other attorneys had mentioned him during their examinations. It was not until approximately 30 pages in that I realized Mr. Canary was supposed to be Mr. Kinnarney (Kin-arn-E), the plaintiff. Mr. Kinnarney was sitting in the room and never corrected the pronunciation of his last name, but I did verify via audio afterwards that I was indeed hearing Canary for Kinnarney. For the sake of an accurate transcript I thought I should leave the Canary and put sic as opposed to changing Canary to Kinnarney, but then I thought leaving Canary would create confusion as to who the attorney was speaking of in the transcript. Any input would be greatly appreciated of how to proceed!

how do you remove numbers from covers in case catalyst?

Thu, 4 Aug 2011 20:35:08 GMT

ive applied a new format to the document where the numbers no longer appear on covers, however, when i go to assign the first page number to the body, it doesnt go; so theres no number throughout the whole document. if i try to modify quot;this page only,quot; it leaves a zero on the bottom of the page. - 0 - is how it appears. ive tried any number of ways and either numbers appear in the covers as well as the body, or they have zeros on the covers and start with quot;1quot; in the body, or as now, no nubers at all. any help as to what im doing wrong and how to correct it?

Why is the light blinking?

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 17:07:21 GMT

Stenograph helpdesk says that the green light on my 400 SRT flashing is a battery warning. I assume meaning my battery is low. However, I have the thing plugged into the wall, so that shouldnt be an issue. Anybody have an idea what the problem is?

How do I make notes show up on computer screen

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 16:51:20 GMT

Im a transcriptionist and use a 400 SRT. When I write with paper, my notes show upon clearly on the paper, but not on the computer screen and therefore do not translate into the proper English. Anyone know how to fix this? When I write without paper, everything comes up fine. I need to use paper because Im also a court reporting student, getting ready to take the RPRn and I need my paper notes. I think I can print computer notes to turn in for the test, but I actually need my paper notes because I can read the shadowing on my misstrokes, which I cant do on the computer.

What is an easy way to market Ethics First?

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 14:40:59 GMT

What can I do with a few minutes of my time to educate my client base on the dangers of acceptance of gifts from court reporters?Disseminate this educational video widely: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8XDZOjQ20E

Court Reporting Profession

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 13:49:19 GMT

Hello everyone,I am a court reporter in Miami the market here is so bad court reporting is not regulated here, you dont have to be certified, and now with the new wave of digital reporters, (people running around with a tape recorder and laptop they are using them in trials now.) I am looking to relocate. Can you tell me what state is good for a experienced court reporter? I was thinking about Washington DC area. Thanks! sent from my iPhone

California CSR Practice tests

Mon, 1 Aug 2011 20:54:19 GMT

Hello,
Does anyone know if there are practice tests available for the written portion of the California state CSR exam? Im trying to check the CR Boards web site, but I dont seem to be coming up with anything. Thanks,Shanna

Right after school..

Mon, 1 Aug 2011 16:25:02 GMT

Hey, all.

Ive heard different things all the time about this topic, but the general conensus that Im getting is that when a student gets out of school, most likely, a court is not going to hire them as an official court reporter. Ive heard that you need at least 1 or 2 years experience of depositions or freelance before going to court. Is this true?

Do court reporters stand up when jury enters.

Mon, 1 Aug 2011 07:13:14 GMT

As an attorney, I know that the Plaintiff, Defendant, attorneys and everyone else in attendance during a jury trial stand up when the empanelled jury enters the court room and remain standing until the jury is seated. Does this rule apply to court reporters too?

Advice on Realtime equiptment with Case Cat

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 02:48:40 GMT

Hi, Everyone!

I want to get started with realtime jobs, but first, I should probably know which realtime equipment I should purchase.

I use Cast Catalyst. I want wondering what equipment I should buy that is best compatible/realiable?

Thank you in advanced!

God bless you!

Idaho court reporters?

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 13:33:37 GMT

Is there anybody who is working as an official court reporter for the State of Idaho who can talk to me about applying for work there? I would appreciate any advice from someone in the court on how to go about testing requirements and work availability. Thanks.

Can someone tell me more info about becoming a closed captioner?

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:02:14 GMT

Im in CA. straight from school with no CSR. I love lit and realtime and do not like the court setting. What do I need to get started? Do I have to have other certificates first? I know I need an extensive dictionary. To be a CBC or a CCP what is required? Thank you.

What is the best way to get paid by an insurance company?

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:37:09 GMT

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to get paid in a timely manner from these insurance companies? I do work comp in Southern California. When I first started I usually got paid in 60 days, but lately it seems that Im waiting even longer for my checks. When I call or email to inquire I rarely get a response. If I do get a response, the adjuster seems irritated. I would like to set up a 30 day net, but I dont know how. Any help would be very much appreciated.

How do I -- Clickfree

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:38:43 GMT

I have a Clickfree external harddrive that backs up automatically for me, but when I went to restore a file I didnt recognize the files in the form they were backed up. Im on Case Cat. Anybody familiar with this? TIA

How do I bind 4 1/2 inches of 3-hole punched 8 1/2 x 11 pages

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:00:49 GMT

Does anyone have any idea how to bind 4 1/2 inches of 3-hole punched 8 1/2 x 11 pages. I can only find 5-inch screw posts sold in quantities of 100. Expensive. Perhaps a recommendation for company that sells 5-inch leather binder. Any help would be appreciated!

You think your better than me!?

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:18:25 GMT

No, no, really...you think your better than me!?

Is there a site to look up pharmacies?

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:50:58 GMT

A witness states quot;Cellevis,quot; a pharmacy. It sounds like su-lee-vis. Ive searched every spelling I can think of (starting with a C and an S), and nothing is coming up. Help would be greatly appreciated!

Windows 7 stenograph security device problems

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:44:46 GMT

Just purchase HP laptop with Windows 7. Am on Case Catalyst Version 7. Cant get security device to work. Does CC7 security device work with Windows 7??? Need help fast!!!

Phoenix Theory Translation Dictionary

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 03:48:43 GMT

Does anyone know where I can purchase this? I want to see if I can use it with DigiCAT, but I cant seem to find it anywhere! Thanks!

A grown man brought to tears...

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 22:16:08 GMT

Today I sat in court with my mentor and we had a case in extortion. The defendant was a big burly man who I never thought in a million years I would ever see cry. Today was his sentencing and the judge asked if he had any last words before his sentence, he got up to the stand and just cried his eyes out. My heart melted a little for him because I believed that he was truly sorry. I talked to my reporter after and she told me that some people are good actors and that we have to remember what it is that they are convicted of. This was quite a reality check, as a student I didnt realize just how emotional people get. And just how unphased she was for having to see things like that on an everyday basis.

Is California looking into hiring voice writers?

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:03:47 GMT

Is California even looking into hiring voice writers in the future?

How Long Are Depo Reporters Waiting For Payment On Average?

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:41:38 GMT

Hello~How long is too long to wait to be paid? Sometimes I pick up jobs from the job posting sites, usually emergency depos or one-timers. I always ask for the page rate and minimum, but I dont usually nail down a time frame as far as receiving a check. I assume it will be somewhere between 45 and 60 days. I personally feel waiting 60 is too long and burdensome for me, but it seems that it has become the norm. Lately, Im waiting much longer, and when I have piped up about it, I have found that the agencies seem perplexed by my inquiry; that perhaps I am unaware that 75 to 90 days or more is now the norm. I dont appreciate feeling as though Im asking for a loan or acting as a collections agent when I want to be paid for a transcript I produced three months earlier. So whats the average? If there is one?Im in Los Angeles, depo work only.Thanks~

Stentura 400SRT vs Stentura 200SRT

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:01:19 GMT

Hello! I will be starting my program in the fall and am having problems deciding what kind of steno machine to buy. Does the Stentura 400SRT have major advantages over the 200SRT? Im specifically concerned with the ease of pressing the keys because Ive been having wrist/finger problems lately.Thanks in advance!

Have you had this repetitive-use injury?

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:43:12 GMT

I have a torn TFCC in my wrist. It is to the wrist what the meniscus is to the knee. TFCC stands for quot;triangular fascia something something.Has anyone out there had the surgery that repairs this? Would like to hear how it went if any of you have had it.

Is there a word citee?

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:39:25 GMT

An attorney is referring to someone who is charged with contempt in a family law matter as the quot;citeequot; phonetically, but I cant find that word anywhere.

Whats the best microphone?

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:28:09 GMT

I need a new microphone to plug into my Mira and dont want to spend a fortune. Any suggestions?

What do I do when

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:15:21 GMT

What do I do when the letter notifying the witness that the transcript is ready for review is returned to me through the postal service and states that there is no such street address? What is my responsiblity in notifying the attorneys of this in California? Thank you!

Phoenix theory machines?

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:04:17 GMT

I was told I had to purchase an 8000LX to have it be able to hold the phoenix dictionary on it. Does anyone know if this is false or not? Do you know whats the cheapest electronic writer i can get that holds the phoenix theory dictionary? Thanks!

Ever been asked for graduation certificate?

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:03:42 GMT

Im considering online courses andthey dont offer that graduation certificate. So, my question is:If you are a CR already, has anyone ever asked you for your graduation certificate or have they always just been interested in your professional certifications (RPR, etc)?

Online speed building?

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:01:56 GMT

i am currently a student at an accredited school and am interested in the online speed building courses instead. WAAAAAAAY less money for online, but there are pros and cons to each. Any opinions?

I FINALLY graduated from court reporting school and I cannot find work!!!!!

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:08:42 GMT

I discovered while I was doing my intern hours that theres not a lot of work in Ohio. All of the official jobs are on hiring freezes due to budget issues; our new Common Pleas court has a recording system (YIKES!!!!)and all the firms in my area just are not interested in new reporters and are having a hard time keeping thier court reporters busy with work. What should I do? Im really thinking about giving up on this career.

Eclipse error message says No files found. Help!

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:03:41 GMT

Hello:I have student version Eclipse. When dumping my notes from my Mira, its giving me an error message saying quot;No files foundquot; when I insert my SD card into my computer. I know for sure there are many files on the SD card, but Eclipse will not read them. I click on the quot;Read notesquot; tab and it usually reads my SD card automatically from there and allows me to dump my notes. I cannot get passed this first step. Are there any other routes to dumping notes? Any thoughts on this? Thank you so much.

From CAT to Word

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:39:35 GMT

Hi there. I was wondering if anyone knows how to convert a CAT document into a word document. Im using the student version of Eclipse, and Im wondering if maybe its only possible with the professional versions? Somehow, I need to be able to transfer the contents of my transcript to Word so that it can be read and edited by someone without CAT software. Any advice and ideas is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

How should I transcribe this scenario ...

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:52:16 GMT

Attorney questioning is on speaker phone, another attorney present in room. Attorneys phone is voice-activated, so most times the beginning of his questions, a word or two was dropped off (he was also on Skype so I could see his mouth moving but no words), and if he hesitated mid sentence, sometimes words and/or syllables to words were missing, i.e., Im sure he said quot;increasingquot; but we all only heard quot;creasing.quot;Phone attorney was interrupted and advised of this problem numerous times by me and the videographer (yes, videotaped too! Nightmare!)
How would I note in the transcript that the reporter has not dropped words or syllables in her transcript, but that what is being transcribed is what was actually heard on my end?
Also, when attorney in room would make objections, the attorney on phone would butt in, the attorney in the room would not stop talking, I would try to interrupt to have them stop speaking over each other, but with the speaker phone, the attorney on phone could not even hear attorney in room speaking or myself trying to get them to stop!! Finally when arguing would stop, I would say, Im sorry, I could not report that because you were both talking, and the phone attorney informs me, quot;Well, you need to control that on your end.quot; I informed him I was doing such.Should I note anything in transcript at those times other than reporter interrupted??Thanks in advance ...

Is being a fast and accurate typist any indication of how successful someone might be as a court reporter?

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:22:37 GMT

Is being a fast and accurate typist any indication of how successful someone might be as a court reporter?

May I get advice on writer purchase?

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:01:01 GMT

I am a student and just passed my 1st year mark. Im looking to move up from the basic paper writer to something that can do both paper and paperless.I dont think I want a quot;studentquot; machine because I kind of feel thats a waste of money since you cant use it in the field, but I do need something that is reasonable in price.Also, I was super shocked lately when I looked at the cost of software - whats a poor student to do? Need honest advice, please!!

How do-E-Tran on iPad?

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:31:38 GMT

Hi,Does anybody know if E-Tran, or a program like it, can be loaded onto an iPad? TIA

Certified in NJ

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:42:35 GMT

Does anyone know how to get certified in NJ? I currently work in NY and would like to work in NJ too but I heard that you cant unless you are certified there. Does anbody have any information on that?

How to better prepare for the RPR Written?

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 12:29:35 GMT

I just took the RPR written test yesterday. Its on a computer system now. I understand some things have changed since pencil and paper. I studied from the RPR Study Guide book from NCRA around the clock months and months before the test and found at the test that it was NOTHING like the RPR Study Guide book. The test is very difficult and the study material doesnt come close to preperation for the test. Heres an example of the test being unfair, but not an example as to it being different than the study guide: one of the questions asked for proper placement of a comma in a sentence provided, which was relatively easy. There are four possible answers. And in the question and answers the font was so small and blurry you could not see well enough to know what the correct answer was! Also, theres 115 questions total. NCRA advertised in everything they sent out that the test was 109 questions. Any ideas on how to pass this test when NCRA guide books are a waste of money? Months before my test, I called NCRA several times asking if I had an updated and the latest version of the RPR Study Guide. I was informed that it hadnt been changed since 2006 which was the same exact book I had. Pearson Educational Center was awesome. They are the ones that provide the computers and testing site. They were very friendly and professional. Hope Im the only one that had a lousy testing experience. Thank you, everyone! Good luck in your court reporting careers. So proud of you all.

Research material

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:42:39 GMT

Interested in hearing from old timers about pre-Google transcript preparation. What tricks did you have for tracking down words before you could just highlight and search?

How does everyone handle Roman numerals and Romanettes?

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:45:03 GMT

In trial, theyre referring back to several different documents, going back and forth between two and three of them in one question sometimes. Theyre referring to Roman section blah, romanette blah, section blah. Im getting confused and Im not sure if I should just put regular numbers in for all to be on the safe side, or if I should attempt to gather all these documents, which are hundreds of pages long each sometimes, and try to figure out how it was written in the specific document. What would you do??

Partitioning Mac hard drive with Windows techie help needed

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:45:44 GMT

Hi, future and current techies. After having the last and final nasty virus on my PC removed, I have decided to step away from the Dark Side and become a full-fledged Mac user. Only problem is I dont know how or what Im doing. I have heard stories and talked to the techies at Stenograph and Apple about partitioning the Mac hard drive to run both Mac and Windows. Is there anyone out there that is currently running their steno software this way and doing realtime, not just for yourself, but out to attorneys? The issues Ive been able to glean from my info gathering so far are the following: 1. You need a separate port for your mic and headphones. The dual port doesnt record. 2. How do reporters running currently on Mac w/Windows partition deal with having only 2 USB ports? You need at least three, 1st one for RT input from your machine, 2nd one for RT output to the attorneys, and 3rd one for security key and/or flash drive backup? I would appreciate any feedback from reporters who are currently using this system for realtime. Thanks in advance for any help/support. ~Melanie

Jobs for students?

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:44:22 GMT

Are there any job positions open to 160 students looking to enhance their writing ability, or familiarize themselves with court process?

Witness using the word ledge in place of legislature...

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:19:33 GMT

Heres my question for you all: I have a witness who worked for the County, and he keeps referring to the legislature as the ledge. They sent it to the quot;ledgequot;, and referring to the full quot;ledge,quot; quot;ledgequot; meetings, etc. How would you spell quot;ledgequot;? Ledge or Lege or Leg or some other way? Would you put quotes around it or something? Capitalize it? Ugh!

How do I know if court reporting is right for me?

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:56:22 GMT

I am currently a student at The Court Reporting Institute of Houston. In September, Ill have been a student for two years. I am in my 160/180s, and just passed my first 160 J.C. (exciting!!) I feel like I have it in me, but how does one really know if court reporting is right for them? What is the average speed when one realizes its not for them? And, does anyone have good practicing methods to boost their speed? Im really looking foward to the answers I may receive. =)

Please respond - Theory I

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:00:51 GMT

Hi all,I am in my third week of theory (online) and am realizing that court reporters are extremely skilled workers! I am worried that I did not realize what I was getting myself into!How long did it take you all to get your speed up to NCRA standards?Any advice would also be greatly appreciated!!!Thanks,Worried Student

CaseCAT V.12 format symbol shortcut invalid

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:55:05 GMT

Hi,I am getting an error saying that my format symbol shortcut is invalid when I use the F4 key on my keyboard which is hooked up to my laptop. The laptop keyboard works fine. Has anyone had this problem before? I am on V.12.02 Professional of CaseCAT. I just reprogrammed to the professional version today.Thanks, Trudy

Awesome in Steno?

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:28:03 GMT

How is Awesome written in Steno?

What is the outline for metes?

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:38:54 GMT

There are three homonymns that need to be written differently for: metes, meets, and meats; do you have a suggestion for metes?I considered omitting the vowels by writing m-ts, but that is many times.

How do I get my brain and my fingers to cooperate?

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:14:58 GMT

Im a court reporting student. Ive been in school for 10 months, and Im working on my 160s. Im starting to really struggle with advancing. It seems like my brain and my fingers are battling -- and in this war, everybody loses! Let me be more specific...I feel like Im dyslexic. I know Im not, because I havent struggled with it before, but thats what it feels like. I constantly juxtapose words (quot;is hequot; instead of quot;he isquot;), my brain freezes during tests (and not stress-related, those feel different), and Im writing a good 20 WPM slower than I have been. Even writing on a normal keyboard, my brain is thinking quot;I would like to write this,quot; and my fingers write quot;this write would you like.quot; I cant shake it. I cant quot;just concentrate harder.quot; Does anyone else struggle with this? Am I alone? Going looney? Anyone? Bueller...?

Stentura 400 srt green light solid, red light flashing

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:55:29 GMT

I recently purchased a used stentura 400 srt online, when I received the machine and turned it on the green light was solid and the red light was flashing. I looked it up in the book and it said that this was because the memory was low, so I proceeded to do the memory clear procedure, I can get the machine to go into the memory clear mode, but when i press the KWR keys to confirm both lights continue to flash, if I press the TPH keys to cancel it the both continue flashing. When I turn the machine off and then back on the green is solid again and the red is flashing, if I press the inital S keys the red light stops, but then when I turn the machine off and back on again it the red light starts flashing again, again all I have to do is press the initial S keys and it will stop. There is no ribbon in the machine, could this be causing the red light flashing? Any help would be appreciated since calling stenograph is useless for this machine.Jason Smith

How long does it usually take to finish the court reporting program?

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:15:36 GMT

I have been in the court reporting program for five years and I havent graduated yet. I am currently at 180-200 WPM. Is there any advice on how to speed up the progress?

New reporters before you sue an agency read this.

Fri, 8 Jul 2011 11:53:57 GMT

I sued an agency did not win for the following reasons:1. Did not have proof that the attorney ordered the transcripts.2. Attorney did not pay the agency.3. Attorney for the agency said, I was quot;negligentquot; for not getting the proper documentation before I produced the transcripts.I am out of money and the agency will not give me anymore work (not that I was expecting them to.) I belive they told other agencies that I sued them because, now I am having trouble getting jobs.Is there a thing where you can be black listed in court reporting? I am a new reporter and cannot afford for this to happen to me.

Windows 7 with Case Catalyst 9.08?

Tue, 5 Jul 2011 09:43:38 GMT

I have Case Catalyst 9.08 and need a new computer. Will the software work with Windows 7?

Was there doubt in your mind....

Tue, 5 Jul 2011 00:13:39 GMT

Hi, I am in the qualifiers, and I wanted to know if you ever doubted yourself in school that you cant pass this test(the qualifier)? My errors seem to stay around the same number -120. How can I get my errors down? I have been in qualifiers for seven months.Need help.

Need help with a word the Court is saying...

Mon, 4 Jul 2011 20:59:53 GMT

Hi all, Not sure if anyone is out there on this 4th of July. I have a transcript due tomorrow and everything was going well until the Court said, quot;So possession is granted as of June 28th unless the bond is posted on or before then in the amount of $44,000 cash quot;corpraturityquot;??? It sounds like corpraturity, but I dont see that in the dictionary anywhere. Am I just hearing it wrong?
Thanks in advance,Shanna

Can I get help with concentration....

Mon, 4 Jul 2011 02:16:35 GMT

Hello, I am a student. I am in qualifiers, and I really need help when it comes to concentrating during the qualifiers. How do I get into the zone? Rosalina40

Is there anyone out there whos bought/used the Infinity Traditional yet?

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 22:21:12 GMT

Hiya.I stumbled across the thread about the Infinity Traditional machine on Cheap amp; Sleazy and am very interested in purchasing it. It is - pardon the dorkiness of this next statement - the machine Ive been looking for all my life! Its compact, lightweight, has lots of cool features that I find very appealing, however, Im afraid to invest the 4K in something that Ive not heard about anyone using yet. I read that someone on this thread was going to purchase it quot;come February.quot; I was wondering if you could post your experience with it, any glitches, software compatibility issues, etc.Thanks and looking forward to your reponse!Melanie

What is the most compatible laptop?

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 20:24:20 GMT

I USE ECLIPSE amp; STENOCAST FOR REALTIME WHAT LAPTOP IS MOST COMPATIBLE? ANY DETAILS FOR SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE HELPFUL TOO

How do you deal with transcripts with the designation of Protective Order in the middle of the transcript?

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 19:45:00 GMT

I have a deposition transcript in California where it is designated as going under the quot;Protective Orderquot; designation right in the middle of the transcript.Do you designate it in the same way that you would designate a quot;Confidentialquot; portion of the transcript, that is, page and line number, as well as binding that section under separate cover for confidentiality?Thanks for our input! :)

How do I format this strange depo?

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:19:02 GMT

I had a first for me yesterday. Into the depo walk FOUR witnesses. I was asked to swear them all at once. I had never had this scenario before, so I complied. They proceeded to conduct the depo with all four witnesses. Sometimes one witness would answer four or five questions and then another witness would pipe in with an answer. Then another witness would answer 10 questions and then the other witnesses would have three or four things to say about that. Then the deposing attorney would start another question. I dont know whether to try to do Qamp;A or just put it all in colloquy. Sometimes the deposing attorney is talking to the witnesses attorney and then she asks a question of one of the witnesses. I took this for a small agency and they dont seem to have a clue as to what to do. Have any of you faced this before? I think they were just trying to save some money in not deposing each of them individually, but what a mess. Any ideas?

Anyone have a favorite Web site for a drug name search?

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:50:00 GMT

Looking for something that sounds like quot;Amnolquot; (supposed to be a sleep medication). Anyone have a web site for a search for drug names? I know theyre out there. I usually use a scopist and she does all that for me, but shes gone so Im on my own for a bit. I found Amnol in a google search, but it was just another name for tylenol (I think). Any ideas?

Print Steno notes in CaseCat

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:21:57 GMT

Would someone please give me instructions on how to print my notes in CaseCat. Thanks.

Has anyone had experience with StenoCentral?

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:44:31 GMT

Just curious about StenoCentral, since I just started getting e-mails from them. Has anyone had any dealings with this company?

What state/city do you think is the best for court reporters

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:23:20 GMT

If you could be a court reporter in any state/city where would it be and why?

How would you handle this situation?

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:28:07 GMT

Attorney A takes two deps but does not want to order. Attorney B wants to order copies but will not pay for the originals. Attorney A then says shell take copies but still wont order the originals. Both want copies but nobody wants to pay for the originals. Both attorneys couldnt comprehend that somebody needed to pay for the originals in order to get copies. Attorney A is a new client, and this is the first time she hasnt ordered. Has anyone ever produced copies of a dep transcript w/out the original(s) being ordered? How would you proceed?

Deposition on Written Questions

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:40:02 GMT

Does anybody out there have a template for a deposition on written questions? Many thanks in advance! Please email it to sarah@flynnlegal.com if you do. We dont ever get these and one has come up. :)

Should I begin CR school at 49?

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:18:53 GMT

I have been a medical transcriptionist for 20+ years. About 10 years ago I decided to learn steno theory and incorporate it into performing medical transcription, because my hands bothered me so much using a QWERTY keyboard. I was successful, and have been writing with a steno machine using CaseCat, for several years now. However, because of radical changes that have affected my career (steadily declining wages, work sent overseas, substandard professional representation for the transcriptionist, etc.), I think it would be in my best interest to get completely out of medical transcription and go to court reporting school. I guess having learned one theory (StenEd) will be helpful for me in school, although it needs some tweaking, and more than likely I also have some bad habits to un-learn. My speed might be around the 120-140 range. I am 49 years old, and have two kids to put through college. All comments, suggestions, and thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Sten Ed reference books (6) for sale in NY/NJ area

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:28:44 GMT

Very good condition, slightly used:1.The Ultimate Finger Drill Book 54 pages, bright pink, 2001 edition2.Reader for Realtime Theory 114 pages, light blue, 1998 edition3.Realtime Legal Dictionary for Stenotypists 154 pages, brown4.Medical Qamp;A, Teacher Edition 175 pages, red5.Realtime Medical Dictionary for Stenotypists 508 pages, blood red, 2000 edition 6.Realtime Professional Dictionary 448 pages, black, 2005 edition**Name your price**

Has anyone had problems using the Passport on DigitalCat software?

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:45:49 GMT

Hello, Im a student and I am considering buying the Passport. In school we used Eclipse but Ive been looking at Digital Cat software as well. My question is can I use the Passport with DC and also, will all of the machines features work? I would hate to buy the machine and not have all it work.Thanks

Any clue as to this word?

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:00:40 GMT

The presence of annular disk tears would be correlate with back pain so that a practitioner might regard that if one were to have acute onset of back pain related to mechanical injury, that the finding of annular disk tears would be correlate with that injury.

He definitely said the quot;bequot; both times, so Im not so sure it is correlate. But he also said correlate differently, more like cor-re-lit. Any clue?Thanks, Marcie

do you need good practice material?

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:49:03 GMT

Do you need practice material? I am a reader and my co-worker created speedbuilding discs for students that were unhappy with their limited practice material at school. Its good, clear dictation that is challenging with real human voices not computer generated. The speeds go up the 240 wpm. They are only $10 and the sound quality is excellent. He sells them on ebay as CD Dictation Company: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZrvrudner

Job with Agency

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:20:21 GMT

Hello, Does anyone know of any job opportunities at any court reporting agencies in the NYC area( Brooklyn or lower Manhattan)? I am currently a CR student at 160wpm and would like to work in the office so I can learn more about the field. Any office work or proofreading. Thanks for any information.

How can I build my stamina up?

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:22:22 GMT

I NEED to figure out how to be able to sit their for the long periods of time and write clean and not drop. Its kind of frustrating. I try to start my day with some good protein for breakfast, be active on a regular basis, get at least 6-7 hrs sleep at night, and I still cant seem to feel good after sitting there after an hour or more. It doesnt seem to help that I havent mastered controlling my energy levels throughout the day. I have an underactive thyroid that I take a pill every morning for. The doctor said I am on the correct dosage according to my blood levels. If I sit in on a dep (for internship) it takes a lot out of me. I get neck amp; back pain, stiff hands/wrists, and I just get tired in general after awhile. From there, its downhill unless I can get a break and eat a snack. That makes it a bit better, but I still feel not on top of the speakers like I do in practice and I drop too much.I need to fix this so I can have the confidence to call a firm and go out on a dep. Its partly holding me back from doing what I want to do.Have you expeirenced anything like this? If so, what remedies have you tried and what has worked for you? Any good advice is very much appreciated!

ATTORNEYS BAD BEHAVIOR

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:55:02 GMT

Ive been reporting over 20 years and never was posed with this problem until now. I had a witness who was late -- like 2-3 hours, but the attorney waited it out with continuing promises that they were going to show up -- which is not the problem believe it or not. The other attorney was so obnoxious -- not the one that hired me. He criticized my race. Putting down more than a couple of times in more than a couple of different ways all white women because of a divorce, using the quot;fquot; bomb every other sentence, was loud, slovenly dressed, very outspoken about controversial politics, which we all know is right up there with discussing religion, told extremely raunchy jokes. I could go on, but I think you get where Im going. Does anyone know of a proper channel for reporting such things? And secondly, would any of you do so? In case anyone wants to know, I did leave the room -- he followed me as if he knew Id had enough, but couldnt stand that someone walked away, LOL. I also, after hearing this man for a couple of hours and not being able to get away from him finally told him that I was really offended by his words and the attorney that hired me seconded that feeling. He asked was I really and I jokingly asked him if he even had a mother -- laughing and wincing at the same time. Get this, he said he was raised in California like that gave him some kind of excuse. If I were from California that would have been another insult on top of the others he had already managed to cover. Oh, I forgot how he told us how he kept his wife in line by giving her a handful of money to get by on and she was greatful for it!

Would anyone like to meet?

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:09:41 GMT

Hi guys. Just curious. I recently joined this forum and am enjoying the outreach, as God only knows we dont get to enjoy others in our own profession unless and until we attend a conference. Anyone in the Orange County, CA area who would be interested in converging in one place for an evening, just for some libation and chit-chat?Just a thought...

anyone know how to set up auto indexing?

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:59:06 GMT

how do you set up auto indexing in case catalyst? being more of a visual person, i just cant figure out the darn quot;maualquot; instructions!! any help?

Wireless Realtime

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:55:28 GMT

Ive been providing realtime on depos. Ive been using the awful cables. I want to go TOTALLY WIRELESS. Any suggestions on how to go totally wireless where Im using toggle connections only, no wires or cables or CD? Can I purchase wireless realtime connections at a much more reasonable price than what Stenocast is offering? In other words, can I go to Frys or someplace like that to get this type of wireless connection? Im currently on ProCat Winner and last week I did a realtime job where the attorneys were using Bridge. I want to be able to connect simply, efficiently, quickly, with no hassles.HELP!

what is a good brief?

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:33:53 GMT

What is your brief for radiculopathy, radicular? Ive been throwing in quot;radicquot; and then inserting the correct form in the transcript. Would love to nail some quick ways to write each form of the word. Thanks in advance!

Does one have to...

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:16:32 GMT

In California do you absolutely have to send out an errata sheet with the letter notifying the witness that the transcript is ready for review/signature?

Closed Captioning in California

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:43:34 GMT

Does anyone have any info on the requirements to work as a closed captioner in California? Do you still have to pass the state exam to work as a captioner or need any certifications? Thanks.

Students should always support and encourage other students

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:21:05 GMT

I am a student also, and had an issue during my testing yesterday as well. I was trying to pass a lit note test at the end of class. People were packing up, saying have a nice weekend, some in a conversation. Was I distracted? Of course I was, but I turned the volume up on my computer. When I was finished my instructor had asked me if I was distracted. As I tossed my notes in the paper recycle bin I just put on a small smile and walked out.Well, I guess the small smile sent a mixed message. A little while later I received a text from a classmate apologizing for having a conversation, and didnt think they were that loud. I ended up calling her and said thank you, but calm down sister; it just wasnt my day anyway.The point is, to push the blame on someone or something else is quite immature. (Unless the fire alarm goes off and you physically have to move, that would be different.) I have been in speedbuilding for a year now, and what a year it has been! lol I have terrible, terrible test anxiety and has taken me this long to find my quot;happy place.quot; And actually, I dont think I have truly found it yet.Our instructors encourage us to practice, and do our homework with distractions. I was told opening a window doesnt count. They say in real life there will always be a few distractions. And they are 100% correct. I sat in on a murder trial a few weeks back at our local courthouse. (Jdocto43rsquo;s classmate would have not been happy.) This courthouse is over 100 years old, three floors, marble, stained glass, and falling apart a little. The temperature was in the low 90s that week with 89% humidity, there was no air conditioning on. (the heat didnt work that well this past winter either). We were on the third floor; I was in a full pant suit with pantyhose. That was distraction number one. Number two. Like I said, its falling apart just wee bit. All week there was a crew putting up scaffolding, right outside the courtroom doors. The banging and the echoing throughout the rotunda were extremely loud and annoying. Then to top it all off, number three, there was another crew outside with jackhammers fixing a set of granite stairs. This went on the entire week I was there. I was glad for it, I ignored it, and still did well with the testimony, opening and closing statements. Jury charge, not so much, but one day.Distractions are going to happen all the time. We should get used to them now before we get out into the real world. As students we also always need to support one another. No one else understands what we are going through; besides other reporters, of course. We will never forget what its like to walk down that hallway day in and day out wondering, is today the day? Will it be my day to pass?Good luck Jdocto43, I hope this extremely long answer helps you and a few others. Elizabeth

Which CA Civil Procedure Code number is it?

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:32:52 GMT

The Code section governing rough drafts. Is the most current one 2025.540.(b) OR 2025.(r)(2) ?? Please help. I have a rough due Monday.

By your own experience, who graduates the best scopists?

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:08:38 GMT

I would like to know which schools graduate the best scopists? I am trying to choose a school to become a scopist that not only portrays to have the best education but whom court reporters also can attest to providing the best scopists. The costs of the schools plus the cost for the software is expensive so I want to make sure that my money will give me the best training possible. In addition, I want to do an excellent job and since I have seen so many court reporters state that many scopists they have hired may not have been that great because of their training, I want to find a way to reduce that in my career. Thanks in advance!!

Is scoping more interesting than legal transcription?

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:10:41 GMT

I am currently at the end of training to be a legal transcriptionist, however, I have been looking into becoming a scopist. I have a degree in paralegal studies and I was in law school until I became physically disabled. I am hoping to go back to law school to finish the last ten credits in the next few years but need to do a job from home right now in order to save up the money to pay to take the last credits. I want to know if anyone can tell me with my background if I would be too bored with doing legal transcription work only and should go ahead and try to become a scopist until I can go back to law school. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Looking for some help with a word.

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:14:09 GMT

Ive got attorneys talking over each other and arguing during an objection. I cant make out a word. Id ask that (sounds like URATURED) comments not be made during this deposition. Any ideas out there?? Thanks!

What is the procedure for time constraint on r/s

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:39:55 GMT

When an attorney orders a transcript expedited, and the witness elected to read and sign, but because the transcript has to be filed with the court right away, there is not enough time to do so...what is the procedure? Thank you!

Arent we supposed to support each other?

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:13:12 GMT

In class today we had a jury charge speed test at 160 wpm. Well, my paper did not roll out right during the test and ended up falling to the floor. I was doing so good during the test I didnt want to stop so I just closed my eyes and hoped that it did not distract others. After the test one girl says something in the way of...thank you, thank you for letting your paper roll on the floor, great now I did not get the test, or something like that. I dont know about you guys but I dont know how I was supposed to fix that problem during the test. To me it would be more distracting if someone was trying to fix the paper or just stopped writing all together. I really am in awe that someone could blame me for not doing well on a test. What does everyone think?

Instructing the witness not to answer

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:53:46 GMT

Hello, I have a quick question about setting up the index page. The attorney instructed the witness not to answer. On the index page, do I show the page and line number of the actual question, or do I show the page and line number as where the attorney actually said, quot;Im instructing her not to answerquot;? Thank you, Olivia

Dang it, I keep misstroking!!

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:29:31 GMT

So, Im trying to clean up my writing. Its been tedious and sometimes frustrating. During practice I write a minute of dictation, read my notes, and circle my errors. Then I go back and write the errors correctly. And then I do it over again and again. Then I continue with the next minute. My accuracy is pretty good during practice.But when it comes to test taking, Im misstroking like crazy. Adding letters here, deleting letters there. Its driving me crazy. Is there something else I can do to clean up my writing? Because I do want to be a realtime court reporter.Thank you...

Why is the green light blinking on my writer when it is charging?

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:42:25 GMT

Hi. I have a Stentura 400 srt writer. When I turned on my writer the green light was blinking so i said to myself okay no problem ill just plug in my machine. But the problem is even though my machine is plugged in the green light is still blinking. Does anyone know why? Cause usually once i plug it in even with a dead battery the green light is continuously lit. Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks -Stephanie

Sanders got some heat from one reporter for trying to efficient;shame on that!

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:48:12 GMT

I guess what Im about to say is more of an addendum to Sanders question. I used paper notes with NO backup for years. I want to get back into this profession and remember the hardship it caused with soft-spoken witnesses and having to interrupt them. It was not fun but I had to do it or die! With that preface, I want to get with-it again and be fully prepared. I was quite successful w/out the added technology, but why sweat it if its there for security? You talk about earphones, amplifiers, recording equipment. I want all of this on my shopping list to make my life easier and to put out as efficient a product as possible. So please give me a list of the best tools to be in place when I take on my first job after this hiatus of marriage and divorce... advice on a new/used writer, amplifier, headphones, recording devices, etc. .. want to be fully armed w/the most efficient and reasonably-priced equipment! Thanks! - Dino just a little while ago | Flag

How do I fix audio???

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:54:45 GMT

I cant record audio in Eclipse. I keep getting multimedia message 51/1. I have a external mic, and have tried troubleshooting but dont know what to do. I dont have tech support. Can anyone help me, please. Also is there anyway to bring the audio I recorded on my Mira into Eclipse?

Suggestions for amplifying testimony in a deposition?

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:08:29 GMT

Does anyone have a suggestion for some equipment I could buy to amplify the sound in the deposition room? I recently had a witness that was so soft-spoken. Fortunately the attorneys in the room also had a hard time hearing so they would often ask the witness to speak up. Of course, I had to ask the witness to repeat more than one response. When a videographer is present, I have been able to use their headsets during the deposition and its so easy to hear everyone. I just wish we could have something like that for every depo so I could clearly hear not only the witness, but also the mumbling objections from the attorney. Any ideas??

Is court reporting a dying profession?

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:30:16 GMT

I am currently in an online court reporting program, and my dad is constantly saying that court reporters are a thing of the past. Is this true? Am I wasting my time?

Is Stenovations LightSpeed wirelessly compatible with Eclipse on MacBook Air?

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:13:10 GMT

So, I am upgrading my equipment to MacBook Air and Stenovations LightSpeed writer. Does anyone use this combination for broadcasting already? Does anyone know if they are compatible wirelessly? I currently use a wireless writer with my PC but the blutooth is connected to a serial port on my writer. The LightSpeed doesnt have a serial port, so I was wondering if its built in and compatible with Mac? FYI...that spec is not listed on the advert for LightSpeed....
I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks in advance!

How do I convert an Xscribe 2001 trf file to an rtf or into case catalyst?

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:02:05 GMT

Please help! I have a transcript on a floppy from 15 ago that someone has requested. It is from Xscribe 2001 software. It is an trf file. I need to either convert to an rtf or import into case catalyst. Ive already tried Stenograph support. Any ideas? Thx so much.

Can I use a colon in these sentences?

Thu, 9 Jun 2011 19:44:19 GMT

In the following sentence can I use the colon? I just like the way it looks.quot;Okay. Let me ask you this: You indicated that you spoke with Kevin at the Solano County Detention Facility; is that correct?quot;Or this sentence:quot;My question was: did you give the gun back to the man who had it?Or this sentence:quot;Now, the question asked was: why did he put the letter back into the desk?quot;Otherwise it technically should not have a question mark, right?

How do I, or should I clean up a witnesss grammar?

Thu, 9 Jun 2011 17:19:02 GMT

If I have a witness, expert, foreign accent, speaks English very well, but not gramatically correct some of the time, should I clean up his English? Everyone knows what he intended to say, he just didnt choose the right tense, or said it in the singular form when it should have been plural. What about a video depo? leave everything grammatically incorrect, as spoken?

writing correspond, correspondence..

Thu, 9 Jun 2011 16:40:48 GMT

How do you write the words correspondence and correspond? I cant think of any easy brief forms. And while Im at it, what about lose and loss? Thank you!

How do I indicate in the Exhibit index exhibits to be added to the depo at a later date?

Thu, 9 Jun 2011 16:35:16 GMT

How do I set up the exhibit index to show that three exhibits will be quot;late-markedquot; and added to the deposition later? There were three separate exhibits that were agreed to by both attorneys that, when located by the witness, they would be added to the deposition as Exhibit 26 ,27 and 28. These three exhibits will not be prepared by the depo agency, but added after the fact by the parties. What parenthetical is most appropriate? And how should Exhibit 26, 27 and 28 look in the exhibit index? (There was a general description given on the record of each one. )

.2, point 2, point two? Argh!

Wed, 8 Jun 2011 09:02:38 GMT

Any way I write this, I think it looks awful. How would you do the quot;point twoquot; part? Attorney asked about the witness maximum medical improvement rating.quot;He told me it was a .2. I didnt understand what that was, but thats all I remember is a .2, which he said it was a 98 percent something and a .2.quot;

Why go paperless???

Wed, 8 Jun 2011 04:29:43 GMT

Paper always saved me when I read back or passed certs. My shadows are my angels. They are like choosing between conflicts and yet let me relax in order to write and gain speed. Just decided to rejoin this world of reporting after a hiatus of married life and am reluctant about buying the quot;bestquot; writer, which seems to be paperless. I never used backup audio in GA, only my paper notes, and only can hope that the paperless route with the backup audio will work. So....you tell me, please, will it???? I am older now and probably not any wiser. HELP!

How do I create and send an E-tran file?

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 09:47:20 GMT

Im a transciptionist and usually send files to my court reporter clients in ASCII. However, I just finished an order for an attorney client who asked me to send the file in E-tran. Is there specific software I need to buy to do this? If so, where can I get it? Or is it just a generic term and ASCII will suffice?

How do I get Eclipse Student Version back on my computer?

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 00:48:13 GMT

I had to reinstall Windows XP and I lost all my programs on my computer. What do I do next?

How many continuing education units do California court reporters need in order to mainain their license?

Mon, 6 Jun 2011 20:57:10 GMT

Hello, everyone. I know this question has been asked before, but it doesnt seem as though there were any definitive answers. I cant seem to get a clear answer. Does anyone know how many continuing education units California court reporters need yearly to maintain their license? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Olivia

expediting an order

Mon, 6 Jun 2011 20:33:07 GMT

I ordered the ab rocket, but my order was cancelled becuase they were unable to process my card for the amount of money it cost. Does that mean I have to pay more for it to be expedited?

Is subpoenaing deposition transcripts legal?

Mon, 6 Jun 2011 14:28:06 GMT

quot;A technical question: A client of mine was served with a subpoena to produce copies of MY transcripts, presumably to avoid paying me for the certified copies. The subpoenaing lawyer is from some state back East. My client wanted to know what the law is and asked about copyright, et cetera, which my stuff isnrsquo;t copyrighted (even though Gary Cramer did copyright his).

Any suggestions as to how my client can legally avoid production? I havenrsquo;t stayed up on the law, and I remember this subject has been addressed in the past.quot;

I have asked several reporters what their thought is, and I have some very interesting answers, but I thought this quot;Read Backquot; venue might extend my discovery.

Which sentence is correctly punctuated with quotation marks?

Mon, 6 Jun 2011 14:14:47 GMT

If at any time I ask you a question that doesnt make sense you just say, quot;Don, you didnt make sense.quot;orIf at any time I ask you a question that doesnt make senese you just say: Don, you didnt make sense.

How do you install Case Catalyst onto a netbook?

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 16:42:14 GMT

I really have no clue how to install Case CAT onto a netbook. I have 4 USB thumb drives. I copied over everything from my bigger laptop to the one thumb drive. I put the thumb drive into the netbook and try to run the software and apparently Im doing everything wrong cause Im getting errors or wont run, yada yada yada. Do I need to buy a disc drive so I can physically put the installation disc and run the software so much easier than going through a thumb drive? Thanks for any help!

How would you set this up Direct as if on Cross

Sat, 4 Jun 2011 12:36:34 GMT

I havent had this come up on awhile. Plaintiffs attorney called the Defendant as said as if on cross. Would you set this up: DIRECT EXAMINATION (As if on Cross)

Where do I start....

Sat, 4 Jun 2011 10:05:35 GMT

If I need to sell my machine, where is a good place to start posting it? Ive never sold anything on ebay before and I think you are supposed to have ratings or something to sell there??? The machine itself is amazing and I hate to sell it to just anyone but its just not getting used and should be! Any ideas on websites or good places to start? Thanks everybody!

Do you write the word gonna

Fri, 3 Jun 2011 18:47:37 GMT

I know youre supposed to type EXACTLY what you hear, but Ive heard varying things on the word quot;gonna.quot; If you do put it every time they say it, does anyone have a good brief for it?Also, all of the quot;ums.quot; Should I put those in as well, or does it clutter the transcript if someone continually says it?

What did this orthopedic doctor say?!

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 22:54:10 GMT

In a workers comp depo that was way over my head, the orthopedic doctor referred to quot;the empress venedas tendon.quot; (em-priss vuh-NAY-dus) This is phonetically what he said, and he said it twice.In context: (hes reading off an MRI report)quot;The impression was suspect tendinosis of the empress venedas (???) tendon at the footprint as described above.quot;also:quot;There is T2 hyperintensity identified within the fibers of the empress venedas (????) tendon at the footprint, likely representing tendinosis.quot;
Can anyone help me!? Ive googled the life out of this phrase, tried quot;venegasquot; quot;impressquot; and all other possible variations, but I cant figure it out.

Huntington Junior College program Reviews

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 20:45:59 GMT

I am currently an online court reporting student @ Huntington Jr. College and was hoping to get some feedback on the schools online program.
I am currently in my first quarter at Huntington and start Theory in a couple of weeks. Any other advice current students or court reporters can give me would be much appreciated. I am sooo nervous but sooo excited!!

How do I include a non-exhibit to the deposition?

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 11:34:51 GMT

After the conclusion of the deposition, both attorneys decided to attach a one-page document to the deposition. It was not marked as an exhibit. Do I put a blurb in the deposition? Do I include it on the index page?

Convert Case Catalyst file to Eclipse

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 07:26:20 GMT

I need to convert Case Catalyst note file to Page Image or rtf file. Dont have Case Catalyst anymore. Need help.

Is there a standarized form to certify multiple court transcripts on the same case for the Appellate Court?

Tue, 31 May 2011 15:19:00 GMT

Is there a standardized form to attached to multiple court proceedings in the same case certifying its accuracy for the Appellate Court?

Number at the beginning of a sentence

Sun, 29 May 2011 09:42:55 GMT

I know the rule is, for the most part, to spell out a number at the beginning of a sentence. However, when the number refers to, say, the name of something, i.e. Station 29, but they only say 29, should that also be spelled out?

Which is correct?

Sun, 29 May 2011 09:33:44 GMT

Is is reestablish or re-establish? I seem to recall being taught that if the letter is doubled, there should be a hypen, but I more often than not see it without. Which is right?

NYC agency- looking for interns?

Wed, 25 May 2011 21:17:51 GMT

Can someone recommend an NYC agency for me to intern at? I am in the 200 wpm level currently.