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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

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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.

How do I do a title page when the witness was noticed under two separate cases?

Wed, 25 May 2011 11:00:07 GMT

I had a job where the witness was noticed to appear at the same time and location, but under two separate cases. The defendant was the same in both cases, but the plaintiff was different, so there was one defense atty and two different plaintiffs attys in attendance. So because the witness was noticed under two separate cases, I received two separate notices for the depo of this witness. Which case style do I use for the title page???

Does anyone need Eclipse Edit Only Software with Key?

Wed, 25 May 2011 10:13:43 GMT

I purchased Eclipse 4 with key about 4 months ago and the client whom I was going to work with on it fell through. So, I am sticking with my wonderful CaseCatalyst 11. I am not looking to make any money on it, I just want to recoup my loss. All the manuals are included as well as the key. There is no transfer fee, but there is also no support on it. I had no problems with the software at all, just have no use for it. I am asking $850. I will entertain reasonable offers as well. I need to cut my losses to assuage my hubby. Thanks, so much! You can FB me at NoelleSanders or email me at teaglegaltranscription@hotmail.com

COURT- parenthetical opening/closing statements

Tue, 24 May 2011 21:25:18 GMT

In court, do you need to note in the transcript with a parenthetical or list the page number on the Index page the lawyers opening and closing statements?

Reporters Unlimited

Tue, 24 May 2011 14:26:40 GMT

Has anyone done any work for/had any business dealings with an agency called Reporters Unlimited in San Pedro, CA? If so, could you please provide any feedback to: canyonlakereporting@me.comThanks, all!

Do you end a page with a BY LINE or start a new page?

Tue, 24 May 2011 08:05:59 GMT

Can you end a page with a by line or centered line like direct examination, or bump it to the next page? I was told never to have the last line on the page of a transcript end with a by line, but then there wouldnt be a full 25 lines on the page. And if there is a centered line like direct examination, then a by line, there will be ever few lines on that page if its all moved to the next page. I didnt really feel comfortable doing this. What are your thoughts?

How do I index/mark exhibits in hearings/trials?

Mon, 23 May 2011 21:19:41 GMT

During a trial/hearing, the attorney would ask that Exhibit 1 be marked for identification. Then after questioning the witness, he asked that Exhibit 1 be admitted into evidence. Do I index Exhibit 1 being marked for identification, and then later index Exhibit 1 as being admitted into evidence? Also, would the corresponding parentheticals be (Exhibit 1 marked for identification) and (Exhibit 1 entered into evidence), respectively?

Which machines record audiosync

Mon, 23 May 2011 20:48:42 GMT

Which machines have a button right on the machine for audiosync?

Ive had my license for roughly ten years now and only worked about three. Why do I have so much fear at depositions? I need to work right now but the fear is what stops me. I feel paralyzed.

Mon, 23 May 2011 17:46:27 GMT

Hi. Ive been a licensed reporter now for almost ten years and have worked only three of them. I practice a lot to keep my speed up but Im frightened of going back to work. The three years I did work were fine. I always had a fear but got over it. It was until the last few years when family tragedy visited my home that I became this way. This is one occupation where you dont work in an office to get personal help you need. Theres no one to help. Thank you

How do you spell retched up?

Mon, 23 May 2011 16:03:50 GMT

Witness said, quot;I retched up.quot; Meaning I reached up. How would you spell it??Thanks

Question Marked for Ruling

Sun, 22 May 2011 11:50:34 GMT

A lawyer told me to mark the pending question for a ruling. Whats the parenthetical? What do I put in the index? Anything? Thanks in advance, super reporters.

Adjuster insisted on keeping exhibits

Sun, 22 May 2011 10:11:12 GMT

in an EUO the adjuster insisted keeping all originals and provided me no copies of exhibits. what do I do?

Parenthetical- Back on the record, Needed?

Fri, 20 May 2011 21:07:26 GMT

Once the lawyers reconvene from a break and go back on the record, do you have to notate you are back on the record with a parenthetical? If so, what parenthetical do you use?or do you just start with the Qamp;A?

Does anyone have a good brief form for the word congratulations?

Thu, 19 May 2011 13:50:02 GMT

Im looking for one that is only one or two strokes...Thanks!

Capitalizing disease names!

Thu, 19 May 2011 09:12:34 GMT

Do you capitalize disease names? I know Crohns would be capitalized, but do you also capitalize the word Disease? What are the guidelines that you follow? Ive seen diabetes capitalized and not capitalized. If its a medical term like ulcerative colitis I dont think that would be capitalized! Just asking for opinions.

Does anyone have feedback re Case CATalyst e Key?

Wed, 18 May 2011 16:19:49 GMT

Maybe Im just being overly skeptical about switching over to Case CATalysts new e Key and going wireless with my software key, but I have my hesitations with this new idea. Aside from the obvious convenience of going keyless, I cant help but wonder why Stenograph requires everyone who has an e Key to reactivate their e Key every three months through the internet. Makes me question whether this is a way for Stenograph to collect data on people without us knowing about it. hmmmmm

Character Spacing

Wed, 18 May 2011 07:21:00 GMT

Im on Case CAT and Im trying to figure out what the correct margins are to have 45 characters in a line, please someone help !

Marking exhibits in Court

Tue, 17 May 2011 18:41:29 GMT

Is it acceptable in court for a lawyer to introduce a new exhibit, never presented at the deposition, and have the exhibit IN COURT received and marked for Identification by the judge, and then minutes later have the same exhibit received and marked into Evidence.Can an exhibit be marked directly into evidence or does it have to be marked always beforehand for identification?

does the reporter have to be where the witness is?

Tue, 17 May 2011 14:52:38 GMT

does the reporter have to be in the same location as the witness?

In a California deposition, where are exhibits marked?

Tue, 17 May 2011 13:28:12 GMT

In a California deposition, where are the exhibits marked? Top, bottom, left side, right side, etc?

How to Handle Exhibits

Tue, 17 May 2011 11:23:23 GMT

As a freelancer, how do you handle exhibits? Do you mail them into the agency? I dont get it. You email asciis but you regular mail exhibits? Please, everybody tell me how they handle them as I want all the info. I can get. Thanks.

CaseCatalyst software is acting funky....

Tue, 17 May 2011 10:19:33 GMT

I did a project in my CAT class for school and I tried to put together an appearances page. Now whenever I type a word in CC it places an extra space after every punctuation mark, so instead of two spaces after the period it puts four spaces. How do I correct this?

Mira writer problems

Mon, 16 May 2011 22:26:38 GMT

I own a Elan Mira. It keeps on 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?

O instead of 0 in years

Mon, 16 May 2011 17:51:11 GMT

How would you transcribe your notes if the witness answered quot;1905quot; as a year, but he says it as 19-quot;Oquot;-5? Maybe Im being too techincal, but Im thinking just write it as 1905? Id appreciate any input.

In a depo setting, do you ever tell the questioning attorney that he did not get an answer to his question?

Sun, 15 May 2011 19:25:18 GMT

In a depo setting, do you ever tell the questioning attorney that he did not get an answer to his question?

cross or direct examination?

Sat, 14 May 2011 21:16:21 GMT

When county counsel represents the department of social services and the county counsel states the social worker is availabe for examination by other attorneys, would it start off as quot;cross-examinationquot; if called first by one of the opposing attorneys and quot;direct examinationquot; when county counsel examines the social worker later? I hope this question makes sense. Thank you for any help!

what is correct blurb for emotional witness

Sat, 14 May 2011 15:08:46 GMT

I need to insert a blurb for a witness that was crying while testifying. I feel I need to explain all the random quot;Im sorryquot; phrases throughout his testimony. Thanks

Student Guide to Success in Court Reporting School-Recommend or Not

Thu, 12 May 2011 23:17:58 GMT

Has anyone read this book and has it helped at all?

How to instant message via steno machine?

Wed, 11 May 2011 15:00:18 GMT

When I started court reporting, I had heard a rumor that we were capable of transcribing steno in instant messengers. I was wondering if that is plausible and if so how would one go about setting that up. If so this would be so awesome for those of that are addicted to text messaging!Any ideas?

Conflicts in Eclipse

Mon, 9 May 2011 20:30:55 GMT

I use Eclipse, and I use the conflict a/an. However, Eclipse always seems to resolve it the wrong way around, such that quot;an agreementquot; becomes quot;a agreementquot;, and so on. Is there something I can do to resolve this?

Should I use canine unit or K-9 unit?

Sun, 8 May 2011 18:45:32 GMT

Not sure which is proper. A quick Google search showed it both ways.thanks

When the word disc or

Sat, 7 May 2011 16:41:13 GMT

When talking about a persons back, do you use quot;discquot; or quot;diskquot;?

How should I capitalize/italicize a newspaper title?

Fri, 6 May 2011 09:48:49 GMT

I am struggling with how to format the title of a newspaper when it is referred to as a newspaper, but also a company name. Our local newspaper is The Columbus Dispatch. It is referred to in this deposition as The Dispatch. Sometimes it is, quot;When I worked for The Dispatch,quot; or, quot;I work for The Dispatch Printing Company.quot; Very rarely do they say the full title, The Columbus Dispatch. Normally, I would capitalize and italicize The Dispatch when referring to the newspaper. But when they refer to it as a company, such as in the example above, would you italicize it? Oh, the little details we fret over!!!

Do you write numbers in DIGITS or WORDS within the transcript when someone says an abbreviated figure?

Fri, 6 May 2011 09:23:31 GMT

Within the transcript, how do you write figures/amounts/numbers when someone (continuously) says them like this: quot;three hundred thirteen sevenquot; (but document has quot;313,700quot;) and quot;seven fourquot; (but document has quot;7,400,000quot;)?

hello! I need someone to talk to me about the CRAH at home court reporting program!

Thu, 5 May 2011 18:05:56 GMT

Hello all;I am in need of some advise on this CRAH program. I am seeking someone to hopefully email in private who is willing to tell me how t his program really is working for them and all the details. Ive read all the testimonials and the entire site....yet I cannot varify any of it...and the director refuses to allow me to see a sample or to contact any of the success stories... So..before dropping 6k...I just wish to understand if it is truly what she says it is, great and awesome and only a 1 year thing, etc etc etc. So...please...can someone out there....contact me? Id SO appreciate it!! Thanks so much. I.O. (these are my initials).ordazel@hotmail.comI. Ordaz

Does capitalization in a caption have any significance?

Thu, 5 May 2011 15:01:54 GMT

I was wondering if there is any significance in a caption as to what is capped and what remains in upper and lowercase. I have always been taught to keep the caption quot;as-is,quot; but is there any reason, if I generally prefer to keep everything capped, that I should leave something uncapped as it was in the previous caption? Does it matter? Thanks,Cheryl

Anybody have a great brief for activity/activities?

Thu, 5 May 2011 12:11:54 GMT

Anybody have a great brief for activity/activities?

Does anyone know how to stop my J-Defines from going into my D-Defines?

Thu, 5 May 2011 11:53:50 GMT

I use CaseCat, and I noticed that all of my J-Defines are going into my D-Defines list. Does anyone know how to stop that from happening? Im also making sure that Im pressing J and not D when Im defining my J-Defines.

How long should it take you to edit a transcript?

Thu, 5 May 2011 10:19:21 GMT

Is there a guideline you should go by to know if its taking you too long to edit a transcript? Ive heard that you should be able to get through a certain number of pages an hour.

How do I punctuate the following sentence:

Tue, 3 May 2011 07:33:21 GMT

quot;Im looking at this from a trier of facts point of view.quot; This is boggling my mind, everyone! Thanks, Olivia

What do I do with the exhibits?

Mon, 2 May 2011 15:36:25 GMT

Do Exhibits get bound into the transcript or do Lawyers prefer to have them just attached but removable?

How do I stamp originals and copies?

Mon, 2 May 2011 15:30:58 GMT

How do I stamp the original transcript and where does it go? Which transcripts is the one that my clients hold on to and which one is filed?

How would I use my steno machine to practice..

Mon, 2 May 2011 14:41:49 GMT

on a website I found called Quizlet.com I went to Quizlet and I made up a bunch of steno flashcards with briefs and I wanted to be able to use my machine to practice instead of using the regular keyboard. Is there a way to do that?

Should I even bother......

Mon, 2 May 2011 14:19:23 GMT

What should I do? I attended a brick and mortar school that preached only accuracy. Now I am in an online school that is teaching realtime theory. We are tested separately on accuracy and speed. We do a take that takes points off for only accuracy and a take that concentrates strictly on whether you can correctly transcribe your junk. Last two tests: 78 accuracy, 98 speed (out of 100), 38 accuracy, 94 speed). The higher in speed we go the more my accuracy fails. I am thinking about just giving up because if I cant read my notes or my scopist cant read my notes, what is the point? I have tried practicing more, but as with a regular QWERTY keyboard sometimes I make simple mistakes. The only difference with QWERTY is I am not trying to use that to get down the record. My mistakes are slowing me down, both on a regular keyboard and on my machine. So, knowing I am going to constantly make the same mistakes what do I do? My speed is alright, but I am not any good with accuracy.

When should I cap?

Sun, 1 May 2011 15:45:27 GMT

Can someone just give me a brief rule on when to cap and when not to after colons.

Appearance Fee or a statement in NY and NJ

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:42:35 GMT

Is 50 too low for an appearance fee? Should I get the same for a statement after all a statement takes time

ECLIPSE IS FLICKERING AND FREEZING

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:55:39 GMT

When I close out of Eclipse it flickers uncontrollably. The program alone freezes and I have to close it through task manager. I can only close it by stopping translation first in order to exit out of the program normally.I find it irritating because a friend of mine who also runs on Windows 7 doesnt have this problem. Anyone out there know how to fix this issue?P.S. Ive called Tech Support and they blame it on Windows 7. I think its fixable but I feel someone more computer savy can figure this out.Help! :(

Can I get notarized?

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:12:35 GMT

I live in Connecticut and Im training in New York, so can I get my Notary in New York even though I live out of state? I plan to work in New York once I finish school.

What do I charge opposing attorney for transcript?

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:29:54 GMT

First client :-) What do I charge the opposing attorney for their ordered transcript? This is not for my client but for opposing counsel. Do I charge the price for original or is their first transcript also just a copy?

What are agencies using to bind transcripts?

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:23:51 GMT

What do most agencies use to bind transcripts? Is Velobind a popular option? If not, why not? Any information would be much appreciated! I would specifically like to know what the larger nationwide agencies are using. Thanks!

How do I deal with a recurring mispronunciation?

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:53:01 GMT

Hello, everyone. I was taking a doctors testimony, and he kept saying, quot;overweightedness.quot; Im pretty sure that isnt a word, but he says it over and over again. Do I just leave it as is? Thank you so much, Olivia

NYC agency- employee status

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:19:41 GMT

Does anyone know of any NYC agencies where you are hired as an employee instead of an independent contractor?

What recourse is there for Corrupt CRs

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:40:02 GMT

Im hoping this is not as common as it seems to be in certain locations. However, what recourse is there to stop CRs that are not transcribing the Judges Orders correctly. We are not talking missing a few words here or there. These particular CRs scrub anything that is a positive to one party that affects lives. The Orders come out so messed up that the party that relied on the Transcript(enough to pay for it) cant even fight in Court because the Record is so glaringly wrong?? Yet, these CRs have had the too bad attitude. Seriously? What can we do to weed them out as they ruin lives (childrens)????Yes, I am new enough at this that I havnt found all the answers, but this has been a motivating factor for chosing this career.

Briefs...on the evidence

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 17:50:58 GMT

Can anyone recommend a brief for:*on the evidence*solely on the evidence*based solely on the evidence

NY Eratta Sheet laws

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 11:31:14 GMT

In New York what are the laws regarding the Eratta sheet and witness signature? Where and when does the Eratta sheet get sent and what is the following procedure? What is the witness signature and when is it given?

Transmission Briefs

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 10:24:35 GMT

Can anyone suggest a one-stroke brief for:quot;automatic transmissionquot; quot;manual transmissionquot; quot;stick shiftquot;?

Yiiiikes, practicing in realtime is slowing me way down! How do I overcome this?

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:15:21 GMT

I am in a 160-180 class. I have finally started practicing in realtime amp; am blown away by how much it is slowing me down, due to my glaring inaccuracy staring at me from the screen. This has become a controversial topic in my class. The students who are passing speed tests quicker practice the old school way; those practicing in realtime are passing speed tests at a slower rate due to being bogged down with accuracy and translate issues. What in the world is the best way to proceed? Needless to say, my school is no help. Thank you so much...

Are we required to be a notary in Illinois?

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:17:14 GMT

I just wanted to know if CSRs are required by law to be a notary public in Illinois.

Quotation marks

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:32:33 GMT

When two or more consecutive paragraphs are quoted in one place, quotation marks should be inserted at the: a)beginning of the first paragraph and the end of the last paragraphb)beginning of each paragraph and at the end of the last paragraph

Printer/scanner/copier recommendations

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:43:34 GMT

Its time for an update!! Which scanner/copier/fax would you recommend for Windows 7?

Narrative Answers?

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:20:20 GMT

Are there any rules or manuals to help with punctuating long, narrative anwers by witnesses?

Which accounting/calendaring software is simplest?

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:37:49 GMT

I would love to find an inexpensive and easy-to-use accounting/calendaring software for a small firm. Ive heard that Peachtree is getting very popular, but I believe its only used for accounting. Can anyone share their opinion on this one?Thanx in advance!

How to format quoted QAs in CAT?

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:15:18 GMT

When an attorney quotes from a previous depo or trial transcript as so:Q: On Page 22, Line 11 of the official trial transcript, you were asked: quot;Q: blah blah blah quot;A: blah blah
What CaseCAT command will set up the double-indent this way? Many thanks in advance ....

Naming include files

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:59:33 GMT

How do you define your include files so that when I hit quot;recess/recessquot; my parenthetical for recess comes up, and caption pages and all that good stuff? Please Help!!!!

Considering CR/Captioning School

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:05:10 GMT

I am a scopist/proofreader/transcriptionist and I am seriously considering going back to CR/captioning school. However, it seems that everyone that I have approached in So. California with respect to my plan has some negativity to share about the industry and the direction that it seems to be taking. Im very discouraged at the moment and feeling very lost. Ive found several programs that are online which is what I would need but Im afraid of investing financially in furthering a career that everyone seems to be telling me is becoming obsolete. Even if that were true on some level of CR, I honestly dont see how it could be possible for captioning/CART but people have some pretty negative things to say about that as well. I really find myself at a loss as to what to do. I hope someone will respond with some positivity because its just all so discouraging.

99 Cents Store - how would you write it?

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:06:12 GMT

The witness said she worked at the ninety-nine cents store. Do I write it 99 cents store? 99 Cents Store? Ninety-nine Cents Store? Any suggestions?

What to do if the interpreter does not translate the question?

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:04:56 GMT

How do I show (or do I show?) in the transcript that the question was not translated for the witness or that the full answer was not translated? The witness understood some English and after the question was asked, it was not translated and the witness answered. Also the interpreter and the witness would converse with each other and I would hear some English words from the witness, then in the translation that word was never used! In one shocking example the witness stated in English the seven specific states that he did business in in the US. The translater simply said quot;I work in seven states,quot; and she did not repeat the specific states that I heard the witness say in English!

Do we charge Original rate for E-tran?

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:48:37 GMT

I am preparing my first billing on deposition transcripts and would like to find out if the E-tran is billed at the quot;Originalquot; rate? This would be for the scheduling atty. I am in CA.

Charge for Roughs?

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:28:01 GMT

Hello! Do you always charge for daily roughs when you work for an attorney? If so, how much do you charge?

How can I get a vip-21 repository?

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:02:55 GMT

This is for a mediation. They also want :complimentary transcripts for the arbitrators; complimentary online scheduling and deposition management through VIP21; complimentary online support to all transcripts and exhibits through VIP21; daily delivery? Complimentary hookup to the arbitrators and their copies or condensed transcripts for free (their preference).

Has anyone been laid off because of courts cutting costs and eliminating court reporters and going to electronic devices?

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:09:55 GMT

I have read a few articles that said some states dont think human court reporters are worth the money. They are thinking about using recording devices. Is this happening a lot? Or is it just rumors.

How many are too many corrections?

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:04:20 GMT

If I send a 166-page job to a proofread and get back 40 corrections, is that considered excessive?

supplies for sale

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:42:07 GMT

Hi. I am a former CR student looking to get rid of some things.I have a Stentura SRT 400. Comes with all accesories.Case Catalyst 10 Student version w/key.Complete Phoenix Theory set including Lessons on CD and Fingering drills.USB foot pedal.Case Catalyst 8 Edit version w/key.I am also a Case Catalyst scopist who is always available to work.Please contact me by e-mail at b.scoping@gmail.com for pricing.

Has anyone attended VITACs captioning bootcamp?

Sat, 9 Apr 2011 04:50:37 GMT

Im soon-to-be graduate and I am very interested in VITACs bootcamp held at Stark College. I would love to hear about your experience with the bootcamp and whether or not its a good ideal for a recent graduate to take part in this bootcamp.

Swearing in witness on Volume 2?

Fri, 8 Apr 2011 15:07:20 GMT

Do you swear in the witness on Volume 2, when you were the reporter on Volume 1? Ive had attorneys tell me because the depo is still continuing, that the witness is still under oath and doesnt need to be resworn. I looked all through DepoMap and cant find any language in the Code to address this.But today an attorney for the witness said since we didnt swear the witness in on Volume 2, that the testimony wasnt under oath. The questioning attorney even reminded the witness he was still under oath at beginning of Volume 2My blurb at beginning of Volume 2 says quot;The witness, having previously been duly sworn, continued his testimony as follows:quot; And at the end of the depo I put that the quot;deposition session adjourned.quot; I didnt say the deposition ended.I do always swear in on Volume 2 if I wasnt the reporter on the previous volume.

Looking to find inexpensive speed building CDs...

Fri, 8 Apr 2011 13:01:06 GMT

Does anyone know of a place to purchase inexpensive speed buiding CDs? Thanks!

Is there a select all command in Case?

Fri, 8 Apr 2011 10:48:12 GMT

Does anyone know if there is a command in Case Cat for quot;select all,quot; like Control+A in Word?While Im practicing, often I want to erase the entire document and start fresh from the top.Thanks!

Scopist moving from Eclipse to Case Catalyst

Fri, 8 Apr 2011 02:52:29 GMT

Im having to move from Eclipse (which Ive used for about 6 years) to Case Catalyst and am finding it quite intimidating. Im thinking of changing my keys to something similar to Eclipse hyperkeys so that I dont have to learn a whole new set of commands. Can anyone advise whether this is a good idea?

Is the courtroom setting the only full time jobs with benefits for a court reporter?

Thu, 7 Apr 2011 12:13:04 GMT

I see a lot about working for agencies and freelancing. Health insurance is so important today. Is a full time job with benefits unrealistic for a court reporter?

What do you pay your proofreader?

Thu, 7 Apr 2011 10:01:11 GMT

Can I get some ideas from people what the range is for paying proofreaders. Whats the highest and lowest anyone will go and for what types of material? Thanks.

Is this company legit?

Wed, 6 Apr 2011 23:40:35 GMT

Has anyone heard of the company Focus Forward, or done any work for them? They advertise being able to do transcription from home and I wondered how legit they really are. Thanks!

student looking to buy used lightspeed machine

Wed, 6 Apr 2011 20:48:39 GMT

I am a student looking to buy a used lightspeed- does anyone have one for sale........sorry dont know if this is allowed on this site or not.Thanks-Anne Bunn

S-T-I-T-C-H-I-N-G

Tue, 5 Apr 2011 17:57:20 GMT

What stitching style is preferred?A) S-M-I-T-HB) S-m-i-t-hC) s-m-i-t-h

How would you punctuate the following answer?

Tue, 5 Apr 2011 15:18:41 GMT

Q Immediately following the accident, did you get out of the car?A Yes we did all of us did because I think her name was Rosa screamed that the car was on fire.

Where should I start???

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 12:48:52 GMT

Hello, all.I am currently a court reporter in the NJ/NY area and would like a little help/advice.I have both my notary for NJ and NY, but currently, work has been very slow. In order to some extra cash in the meantime, I have been looking into working as a transcriptionist, utilizing both my speed and steno skills.Does anyone know of an agency or company I could call to start receiving some work?? Also, what other tools would be need for me to be a successful transcriptionist??Thank you in advanced !!

Help - Does anyone know what an orat proceeding is?

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 07:19:23 GMT

Below is part of defense counsels objection. Can anyone help me out with the term quot;oratquot;?

Ive triple-checked the audio and thats definitely what it sounds like.Thank you in advance for your help.It would be relevant, Counsel, in the event that there was a judgment issued against the corporation for an orat proceeding, like a judgment debtor examination or if youre trying to appear as a corporate veil or alter ego liability.

What is Ethics First? See the video!

Sat, 2 Apr 2011 14:50:16 GMT

Spread widely and encourage your friends and colleagues to join!http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqfIYwfPB3Q

Eclipse key insurance

Sat, 2 Apr 2011 14:43:56 GMT

Has anyone had any dealings with Eclipse regarding the key insurance?Just wanted to know about your experience.

If youre tentatively available to depo agency 1, do you take the job agency 2 offers?

Fri, 1 Apr 2011 15:34:14 GMT

If your regular agency hasnt confirmed that youre actually working and doesnt let you know until 5:00 p.m. the day before, and then another agency has a confirmed job for the next day, do you take it?This has been a dilemna for me. I feel loyal to the main agency. They tell me theyve got me working (but, no, not confirmed yet), calendar is heavy, etc., etc., but too many times the jobs fall off calendar. By 5:00, its too late to get any other work, usually. So if they say, for example, theyve got work Monday - Wednesday in advance, but youre offered another confirmed depo before being confirmed with the main agency, I feel its fair to take it. Yet I dont do this because I feel as though my main agency will see me as not available and therefore start passing me over for future work. I have lost many jobs because when I tell my regular depo agency Im available on their busy days, I stay available. I do check in the day before and, yeah, its still busy, but then the job cancels, and in the meantime Ive turned away other work. I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.denise jones

How do you know if you have what it takes to be a court reporter?

Fri, 1 Apr 2011 15:28:42 GMT

A lot of schools have aptitude tests, but when I asked about testing I was told there werent any that would indicate a strong aptitude for court reporters. I am a returning student and at age 50, I do not really want to start something with the best intentions, but have to drop out.

Does anyone have an affidavit form they use to acknowledge an error made in a transcript?

Fri, 1 Apr 2011 15:09:58 GMT

I made an error and need to create an affidavit stating such. Does anyone have a blanket form they use?

What is each gray buttons function on the Stentura Protege?

Fri, 1 Apr 2011 08:00:55 GMT

I just purchased a used Stentura Protege and downloaded the users guide off the internet. However, it doesnt describe what each buttons functions are. Specifically, I need to know how to end a file.

What is the keyboard shortcut for Brief-It on CaseCat?

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:19:28 GMT

I wonder if theres a shortcut for it. I always have to highlight the word and then with my mouse click on Global then click on Brief-It. There has to be a faster way. Is there already a shortcut?

How do reengage my USB ports?

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:29:06 GMT

CaseCatalyst all of a sudden stopped recognizing the USB ports in XP virtual machine. First it said it couldnt get a COMPORT when the option in realtime had it conected to COM 3, then when I logged out of CaseCat and tried to go back in, it would not recognize my security device. Dont know if its a software problem or a computer problem.

Has your CATalyst ever frozen and/or gone berserk while exiting realtime?

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:24:28 GMT

Hoping somebody can help me. Im on CaseCATalyst, and recently, almost every time Im at a job, when I try to save and exit out of it, one of two things happens, and sometimes they both happen -- first of all, CATalyst will freeze, gray out, and Ill get the dreaded (Not Responding) message at the top of the browser, but I cant pull up CTRL+ALT+DEL to shut down the program. I usually have to shut down the computer by pressing the power switch and recover my file from the auto-archive. The second thing that happens is that sometimes, either instead of or in addition to the freezing, when I try to close, browser windows start popping up all over the place -- and when I say broswer windows, Im talking hundreds of them. They start popping up every which way. Solitaire, Control Panel, Word, Adobe -- you name it, they pop up. In addition to that, if a browser window with a text box pops up, all kinds of text (mainly fill-in fields from that job) starts popping up all over the screen, such as the creation day of my CATalyst file or attorneys names. At this point, once again, my only option is to shut down manually. Both of these things, by the way, only happen when Im running realtime. They never happen during the editing process. I have called CATalyst support, to no avail. They just dont have an answer for me. They gave me a temporary access code so that I wouldnt have to use my key, thinking that this was the problem, but it has happened once since (without the key) so it must not be the key. I dont know what to do. This is becoming a nightmare and I really need help. Has anyone ever experienced this before? Any suggestions about who might know how to fix something like this??

Labeling Read Backs on Eclipse

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:33:46 GMT

Using Eclipse at the dep, what control functions do you use on your laptop to label the lines that you read back to the lawyers. I am referring to lines said an hour or so back in the dep, not lines said immediately before the lawyer requested the read back.I just know there is limited time to mark your worksheet and go back and find the lines in the transcript that you have to read, so what is the best method on Eclipse to mark lines read back that were written pages ago.

I am concerned about the dreaded CT......

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:31:48 GMT

...and I would really like some advice. I was diagnosed with borderline carpal tunnel by the neurologist. I am only in my first semester of theory. However, I cant see myself doing anything else, but this. I want it to be a court reporter so badly. But, do I ruin my body just so I can call myself a court reporter? It is tough. Anyone out there who has it, or is living with it and still working your advice is most welcome!!!Thanks!!!!

Do you clean up gonna?

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:01:39 GMT

Do you clean up the word quot;gonnaquot; to quot;going toquot; for attorneys, witnesses,or both, or not at all?

Best On-Site Court Reporting School?

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:08:38 GMT

I have a niece who will be attending court reporting school and its been DIFFICULT to find an on-campus school. I would like to recommend one to her with (1) the best teachers, (2) decent housing solutions, (3) a great realtime theory ... and about a dozen more things. Please tell me if you LOVED your school ... and WHY!

How do I certify a portion of the transcript?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:07:47 GMT

Hello, everyone. I need a little help, please. During a depo, the witness refused to answer a question. Counsel then informed opposing counsel that the witness didnt have to answer the question pursuant to...blah, blah, blah. There was a bunch of colloquy after that, and Counsel turned to me and asked, quot;Can you certify that last portion?quot; I said yes, but Im not exactly sure how to set that up in the transcript. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you so much, Olivia

Can I talk about my jobs?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:08:20 GMT

As a freelance court reporting doing mostly civil cases, can I go home and tell my friends and family details about the jobs I take? It was my understanding that this was all public knowledge, but Im not sure if any of it should remain confidential.

Can CR gifting practices to law firms backfire on you?

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:27:58 GMT

I know the answer, but I just wanted to share this from a law office managing partner, sent firmwide:quot;Just today, flyers from three different court reporting services came across my desk offering gift certificates (with specific cash values) for each deposition a Firm employee schedules with them. Each company appeared to be trying to outdo the other. One offered a $10 gift certificate for each deposition. Another upped the ante to $20 per deposition. The certificates are redeemable at retailers including Acme, Target, Bath amp; Body Works, Gap, Outback Steakhouse and AMC, Regal and United Artists theaters.These incentive programs have the appearance of impropriety and should not play any part in choosing one court reporting service over another. Such offers could actually be viewed as a form of kickback. As I become aware of the companies involved in this practice, I will be instructing them to immediately cease sending such promotions to Firm employees and will tell them that continuing to send such materials will be counterproductive to any continuing business relationship. Effective immediately, no employee may accept, use or pass on to another person cash value gift certificates of the type described above from court reporting services or other vendors with whom we do business. Our clients should expect us to choose our vendors solely for reasons that provide benefit them such as quality of service and price competitiveness. Choosing vendors, or even appearing to do so, for reasons such as who gives the best gift certificates is simply unacceptable.quot;

Using sic for mispronounced name of Doctor

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:59:59 GMT

Hi all!I have a witness who consistently mispronounces the name of her doctor and mispells it, even though the attorney has corrected her and spelled it correctly within the transcript. Do I insert sic after every mispronounciation by the witness?

Anyone use Eclipse software on a Mac?

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:16:39 GMT

Do the function keys (F8, F4, F2, etc...) work on the Mac while running Ecilpse on Bootcamp?

How much memory is ideal for Eclipse when paritioning to Windows?Is anyone running Eclipse on a MacBook Air?Besides the issue of the one USB on the MacBook Air, is there any other reasons not to consider the MBA at all? Why not use a USB port Hub?What glitches has anyone experienced using Eclipse on a MacBook?I will be using Eclipse, so does anyone running that program with a MacBook tell me things I should know? Thanks :)P.S. I know what bootcamp and parallel means. I understand you have to bootcamp windows first in order to run Eclipse. I just need to know if there is anything Eclipse is unable to do or anything that will not run smoothly if using a Mac instead of a PC. Please be honest, I really want to buy a Mac, but I just want to make sure its worth it because its so expensive. Thanks, again.

Has anyone read this? What do you think of it?

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:47:08 GMT

No degree is required but HIGHLY recommended

Posted on 3/25/2011

Its true! You can walk right out of high school, right into a court reporting program, and then right into the field. No degree is required. However, see the pic below...Put on your legalese glasses for a moment. Here in California according to BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE: SECTION 8020-8027.5:

8020. Any person over the age of 18 years, who has not committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for the denial of licensure under Sections 480, 8025, and 8025.1, who has a high school education or its equivalent as determined by the board, and who has satisfactorily passed an examination under any regulations that the board may prescribe, shall be entitled to a certificate and shall be styled and known as a certified shorthand reporter. No person shall be admitted to the examination without first presenting satisfactory evidence to the board that the applicant has obtained one of the following:
(a) One year of experience in making verbatim records of depositions, arbitrations, hearings, or judicial or related proceedings by means of written symbols or abbreviations in shorthand or machine shorthand writing and transcribing these records.
(b) A verified certificate of satisfactory completion of a prescribed course of study in a recognized court reporting school or a certificate from the school that evidences an equivalent proficiency and the ability to make a verbatim record of material dictated in accordance with regulations adopted by the board contained in Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
(c) A certificate from the National Court Reporters Association demonstrating proficiency in machine shorthand reporting.
(d) A passing grade on the California state hearing reporters examination.
(e) A valid certified shorthand reporters certificate or license to practice shorthand reporting issued by a state other than California whose requirements and licensing examination are substantially the same as those in California.

The above basically says the following things you should be aware of before going for a California CSR license:

No minors allowed (Pheeeew! 18+ only please)
No convicted criminals allowed (But if youve never been caught, youre in!)
Must have a high school education (Oxymoron not intended)

How do I modify my dictonary definition.....(student question)

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:04:40 GMT

if the theory/dictionary I have imported to CC v.11 does not use number conversion? My theorys definition is steno: HPBD, text: lt;Delete Spacegt;00I wanted to insert steno: HPBLD (since I always hit the L anyways) and text: the same as the theory I imported lt;Delete Spacegt;00.I called Stenograph and they said that is the old way of doing it and that we should be using the number conversion. But, shouldnt I still be able to add that definition into my dictionary? When I do the new definition, if I want to type 423, and use HPBLD it comes out as 40023. Does anyone know a way to fix this?Thanks!

HOW TO HANDLE ROUGH ORDERS

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:44:00 GMT

I had a situation where opposing counsel ordered a ruf-ruf, which is a rough not cleaned up. She wanted it that night of the deposition. The atty I was working for wanted his rough cleaned up which I did two days later as it was a 350-page expert transcript. Just yesterday opposing counsel called my agency and wanted to know why the two roughs didnt match up pagewise. Does anyone know what the rule is if this happens? Am I supposed to contact opposing counsel after I cleaned up the rough and offer them a cleaned up version?

Where to sell my Elan Cybra?

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:15:08 GMT

What is the best site on which to sell a Student Elan Cybra?

Has anyone ever heard of the word exstansions?

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:46:42 GMT

I sat for a board meeting in City Councils Chambers. They went through the formal: All in favor? aye, aye. Anyone oppossed? (no answer); and then the Chairman said quot;any exstansionsquot;??? Has anyone ever heard of this word?

Can I Test Drive a Steno Machine?

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:48:01 GMT

Is there a place where a person can quot;test drivequot; a steno machine for a week or two before purchasing it?

What is the major difference between an accredited non-accredited court reporter school?

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:29:12 GMT

My school is accredited, but sparing you the details, its hard to believe amp; many of us are thinking of switching to another local but non-accredited school. Could someone tell me the difference other than the NCRA
stamp of approval?

Readback for 20 minutes

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:12:03 GMT

When preparing a transcript, my general practice is to quote and insert any readbacks I do at the time of the deposition. Yesterday, during a videotaped deposition, I was asked to read back 20 minutes of testimony, which I did. However, I did not read back the objections and stated on the record, when I came to the first objection, that quot;I am not going to read the objections,quot; since I was asked to read the Q amp; A only. So what to do with this transcript. Who votes for quoting everything I read, and who votes for just inserting a blurb?

How will I know when I am really ready for realtime hookup?

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:12:51 GMT

How do you know when youre ready for realtime? Just when I think Im ready -- 1 to 2% untranslates, then a get a super horrible job with the lightening fast attorney and the talk-over witness that mumbles and my confidence goes out the window.

How often do you rebill?

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:58:52 GMT

I have about a half dozen of my own clients, and I send the bill when I send their transcripts. My quesiton is, when should I rebill? I have been doing it every 30 days, but Im wondering when everyone else does it. I dont want to seem pesty, but I do also want my money. Thanks.

Help me find a web site for briefs

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:44:26 GMT

Does anyone know of a web site to find briefs for court? Or for that matter, any type of subject?

advice for a student

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:19:32 GMT

I am a current reporting student who has been stuck at 140 for almost 2 semesters. Everyone says one day it will just click. Does anyone have any advice on how to speed up the process or how to improve my speed?

Asterisk stroke deletes two words!

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:01:35 GMT

Im writing on my steno machine and I make a mistake, I hit my asterisk key to delete, and then I stroke the correct word. It deletes the wrong word, puts in the correct word, but also deletes the word prior to the one I meant to delete. So in a sense, when I hit the asterisk stroke it deletes the two previous words... which is obviously a problem. It doesnt do this right away, theres like a slight pause and then the word prior is erased. Im using casecatalyst 11 (Stentura 8000lx, if that matters) and have no idea how to fix this, I never saw it before! If anyone can help me out Id really appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

Does anyone know how to convert a transcript into Microsoft Word, I have CaseCatalyst 11, help!

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:21:49 GMT

Does ASCII work or is there another way?

Does anyone use wide T and S keys rather than wide D and Z?

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 21:13:09 GMT

Im a student and looking to buy a new machine. The machine Im currently using has wide D and Z keys, which I like. However, I sometimes hit the Z by accident while hitting an S for plurals.I see that I could get wide T and S keys instead of D and Z on the new machine. Has anyone used this setup?Thanks.

Should I get a higher page rate for expert/medical testimony?

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:54:35 GMT

I have been a reporter for 25 years with the same agency who pays one rate only for all types of work, and recently did some work for another agency who pays higher page rates for medical/expert testimony and videotaped depositions. I also found out that the agency I always worked for will only use certain reporters for those types of depositions, including myself, as some reporters are not as proficient. Should I be getting paid a higher rate for medical/expert testimony?

Thinking of purchasing an iMac. Does your CAT software work?

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:05:45 GMT

Thinking of purchasing an iMac computer. Im on Stenocat. Does anyone have experience running CAT software on a Mac? And which virtualization program would you recommend -- Parallels, Boot Camp, or Fusion?

CaseCatalyst 11 deleting previous word

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:57:54 GMT

Im transcribing with my steno machine and using CaseCatalyst 11 and now, for some reason, when I try to backspace with my machine (because I made a stroking error) its somehow automatically deleting the previous word as well. I never saw this before and Im stuck. Thanks for the help!

Do you charge expedited rates on copy orders?

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:47:54 GMT

Do you charge expedited rates on copy orders?

How do I edit appropriately when doing a CourtSmart Disk?

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:40:03 GMT

Im doing a disk. The attorney has the Witness describing for the jury exactly where they are seated and making references to the exhibit - quot;We were right here,quot; or quot;We were right there.quot; Is it inappropriate to use (indicating) because Im not actually present? Also, when using {sic} and (phonetic,) I use (phonetic) one time and {sic} every time the word or name is misspoke. Please share thoughts on that. One more, whe the Bailiff says Your Honor, the jury - do you finish that sentence with a question mark or a period. Im seeing different styles and would like an opinion. Thanks, Patty. Oh, one more. The judge is disciplining the audience and saying he has heard (he makes a tsk sound) and tells them to stop. Do you put (indicating) or (making a tsk sound) or what?

Wanting to buy a Lightspeed Silicon (LSS)

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:11:07 GMT

Just curious if there are any reporters out there currently selling a LSS? Thanks in advance!

Freelancers Future

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:47:59 GMT

For people living in the NY/NJ area, what do you think the long-term prospects of having steady, profitable work doing depostions are? Will depo work be outsourced overseas in the near future, will ER take over our role in deps? Please share your thoughts.

How do you set up bluetooth when the Procat writer says the connection is lost?

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:31:12 GMT

My Acer netbook and Procat Stylus say that they are connected via bluetooth, but the Stylus says that the connection has been lost. Does anyone have experience with this? the Stylus works fine with a different laptop and bluetooth.

Attorney Hookup

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:16:05 GMT

Can anyone recommend a good site to use when attorneys hook up to your realtime (livenote/caseviewnote/etc)? I use Eclipse Software.

Offsite backing up

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:14:32 GMT

Can anyone recommend a good internet site to back up work thats compatible with Eclipse Software? (such as dropbox/senthisfile...)

How do I mark employer/carrier, employer claimant exhibits?

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 20:56:49 GMT

Sounds silly but how do I lable exhibit stickers for an employee/claimant, employer/carrier depo? Theres no symbol for either and I cant mark them EC. Any suggestions?

Help! Punctuation question.

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 11:46:08 GMT

Can someone please tell me how to correctly punctuate the following sentence:quot;When you left in 2006 was that program still being operated?quot;

How do I get around a Windows incompatibility problem with my CaseCatalyst Audio?

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:17:24 GMT

I recently purchased a new Toshiba computer with Windows 7 on it and my Sony audio foot pedal and Case foot pedal both stopped working. Ironically they work with my XP operating system but not W7. Does anyone know of a product that uses a foot pedal that is compatible with Windows 7.....one that does not use the F10 key apparently?

Why is SD card full?

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:36:49 GMT

My SD cards (2GB) that I use in my Fusion say they are full after only using them for 4-6 months. When I check the available space on my computer, it says they are 98 percent free. Do they need to be formatted or is there a setting that needs to be changed? This has happened with 4 cards already.

Why does my SD card say it is full?

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:23:00 GMT

My SD cards (2GB) say they are full after only using them in my Fusion for 4-6 months. When I check the space left on the card when it is in my computer, it says there is 98 percent free space. Does the card have to be formatted or is there a setting that needs to be changed?

half day v full day

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:42:55 GMT

if a depo is scheduled to go all day but the attorney ends up breezing through it and it only takes a half. how do you bill

Quoting he said/she said conversations

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 07:12:35 GMT

Iquot;m always back and forth as to whether I should quote people recounting a conversation they had, well, she said, blah, blah, blah and I said, this, that and the other thing. Is it wrong not to quote that kind of testimony and just cap the first word?

Court Reporting Agency Jobs

Tue, 8 Mar 2011 12:49:23 GMT

Hello, I am a court reporting student in New York City. Does anyone know of any fulltime office positions in any court reporting agencies in Manhattan or Brooklyn? I need a job and would like it to be in my future field. Thank you! -Brandi B.

Does anyone have....

Tue, 8 Mar 2011 09:58:21 GMT

...an agreement that you send to the attorney when they are receiving their transcript through e-mail? An attorney wants his transcript through e-mail only, and I told him I would send him an agreement for ordering the transcript, but I have no idea what to even put in an agreeent like that. Does anyone else have a form that they send when they e-mail an attorney that they could attach or send to my e-mail address?mrsstenofairy@aol.com Thank you!

How do you like working in Columbia, South Carolina?

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 22:03:05 GMT

Hi Everyone,I currently live in Florida, and Id really like to move to Columbia, South Carolina as soon as possible. Can anyone offer any information about working there? Can you suggest agencies that will hire a new reporter? I finished school about two months ago. Id really appreciate any information you can offer, whether its good or bad! Thanks!

What is the correct parenthetical for a deposition that ends in the witness walking out of the deposition without the attorney finishing?

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 20:57:33 GMT

What is the proper parenthetical for a deposition that ends in the witness walking out of the deposition without the attorney getting the chance to finsh his questioning? The witness just says that the depo is over, gets up, and then leaves.

How do I connect two laptops to Livenote?

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 18:16:46 GMT

I can only get one laptop to recognize Livenote. The serial ports match from my output to the laptop. How do I join in a second laptop? I cannot choose the same serial port.I am using Case Catalyst with serial adapters.

Looking for work

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 16:54:09 GMT

Does anyone know any work from home companies that hire students to transcribe? I am in my 160s...

Brief for anatomical

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 16:03:53 GMT

Anyone have a brief for anatomic, anatomical, anatomically?

LightSpeed vs Diamante/Passport

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 14:49:32 GMT

Hey, guys,Im a 180 student closing in on the 190 mark and was thinking about getting my professional machine for my intern hours so that I can really get the full experience of what it would be like working in the courtroom and deposition enviroment in preparation for my career.After testing the Lightspeed, Diamante, and Passport at a recent convention, I enjoyed the touch on the Lightspeed the most and am leaning towards that for my professional machine of choice. I was hoping you guys could give me some of the things to beware of in regards to the LightSpeed versus the Diamante and Passport. I think I heard one reporter state that you cannot save your notes to the LightSpeed? Anything like that would be greatly appreciated before I fully commit to it. Thanks in advance!

Stentura Protege

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 12:52:35 GMT

Where is the best place to try and sell my Stentura Protege student writer?

quote unquote

Sat, 5 Mar 2011 18:54:36 GMT

when someone says, quot;quote unquotequot; how do you transcribe that? quote-unquote? quote/unquote? quote, unquote?do different firms have different preferences? or is there one correct way to write it out?

When can I start working?

Fri, 4 Mar 2011 17:49:04 GMT

I live in Florida and Im currently a CR student. I am wondering if anyone knows the specific rules in the state of Florida for reporters-in-training who are seeking work. I was told by my professor that it varies from state to state. Is it possible to start at 180 and also get paid or is 180 for un-paid internships only? Are we allowed to work in any setting that needs a reporter or are there restrictions? Thank you!

How do I fight contracting in Florida?

Wed, 2 Mar 2011 10:25:23 GMT

I am needing to get some kind of idea how to start this process. My agency has been inundated with firms wanting to network with us. I am so disgusted with their expecting to run my business unstead of me at half the price with paying them a referral fee on top of all that that I am at the point of going to bat for all of us out there who are getting run over with this nonsense. I have not joined the ranks of desparate firms just hoping to get the quot;something is better than nothingquot; work. Why arent we standing up to this? Were court reporters. Only one-half of 1 percent make it in this profession. Think about that. One-half of 1 percent. Were pretty elite, a class by ourselves. So any help is appreciated. Thank you

NCRA Certification Question

Wed, 2 Mar 2011 09:57:58 GMT

Hello,I was wondering if anyone knew how they decided your score for the certifcation examinations? My current school marks off one point for every mistake. However, they graded speed and accuracy as separate entities. I take one test portion on accuracy and one test portion on speed. Never speed and accuracy together. My last school took off .2 percentage points for every mistake meaning we could make ten mistakes and still on receive one point off. I am wondering which way would be used in certification so that I can decide which school I ultimately want to settle into, the one that gives me the greatest advantage in passing my exams. Thanks!

Billing, First Client

Wed, 2 Mar 2011 08:36:49 GMT

If the case is expedited, do I charge 90% more for just the transcript, or exhibits also? or everything on the bill 90%? Thanks!

Total Eclipse Seminar/Webinar

Tue, 1 Mar 2011 17:35:40 GMT

I often go on their calendar, but Ive missed the webinar and cant make the seminar in Florida. Just wondering if anyone knows of other Eclipse seminars or webinars that might offer training of some sort in the Bay Area.
Thanks for the help!

brief for electric electronic electrically electrical

Tue, 1 Mar 2011 17:33:57 GMT

whats your brief for electric, electronic, electronically, electrical

What are the most popular laptops?

Tue, 1 Mar 2011 12:41:08 GMT

Im in the process of buying a new laptop and was wondering if there are any favorites out there that reporters use. Good sound quality is a must for audiosync. My Dell has lasted almost 8 years without any problems but Id love to upgrade. Thanks!

Can anyone walk me through the production process from start to finish?

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:11:22 GMT

Im looking to take on some private clients and I dont know what a finished transcript should look like as I work for the City. Would someone be able to walk me through the whole transcript production process from start to finish? I would be extremely grateful. Thanks in advance!!!
P.S. I am in NY

Do you write (No response.) during voir dire?

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 17:05:11 GMT

During jury selection (voir dire), do you write when the venire does not respond or do you simply paragraph the next question/statement? EXAMPLES:MR. SMITH: Do you all know who I am? I am with the firm Dewey, Cheatem and Howe and will be asking you questions this morning.-alternatively-MR. SMITH: Do you all know who I am?THE VENIRE: (No response.)MR. SMITH: I am with the firm Dewey, Cheatem and Howe and will be asking you questions this morning.

First Client, Steps for Production?

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:03:35 GMT

I just got my first client and I have to do the production of the transcript. I would love a step by step walk through of this, bc I cannot find any info anywhere about this. Correct me if Im wrong please:1. Cover Bound (Im gong to use a clear cover)2. Cover Page (Name of my company, case, deponent, date)3. Full4. Condensed5. Exhibits6. Keyword Indexing7. CD of the .ptx and .lef they ordered8. Stamp original and copyIs that it production-wise?Then what are the steps after this?:1. Send to deonent to go over (or do I do this before the transcript is finalized)2. Once confirmed by deponent (how do I know this?), send to ordering and copying attorney. Anything else I am missing here? Thank you! Your help is greatly apreciated!

Does anyone use Dropbox for audio files?

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:44:49 GMT

I currently use T3 for sending audio files to my scopists. I love it better than anything else Ive ever tried. But I was wondering if anyone uses Dropbox for this function. If so, Id like to know how you like it, especially if you have used T3 in the past.

Can you ask an agency to put their formats on your flash drive?

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:25:01 GMT

In class we were debating if it was okay to ask an agency to let you put their formats on a flash drive so you can just directly put it on your software, as apposed to having to type each one out. Is that a resonable request, or is that just lazy? In school they let us put their formats on a flash drive, but we were told that sometimes the agency will just give you a packet, and you have to type them all out.

Whats a good brief for realistic?

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:22:54 GMT

Im looking for a one-stroker. Anybody got one?

How long do I neet to keep original deposition transcripts?

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:39:17 GMT

I am in California and I have sold my deposition business. I have in storage many boxes of original deposition transcripts. I know the originals are to be sent to attorneys sealed, and I have been doing that for the last 10 years, but many years ago I would keep the originals for cases venued in my county instead of sealing and sending to noticing attorneys as I could walk them over to the courthouse on the next block to be filed for trial as needed. I gave that up, as I said, about 10 years ago because of the storage issue.
I am needing to clean out this storage area. Can these originals just be sent to a shredding company if they are over quot;Xquot; years old? How long would I need to keep any of those original transcripts?
Thanks for any help!

How do you market realtime?

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:10:16 GMT

Heres one idea in the form of a trifold brochure:A very special thanks to the Ohio Court Reporters Association and Jerry Kelly for their contributions to this project. Through their generosity, this is being shared with anyone and everyone who can benefit from its use:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1769019/Realtime%20pamphlet--FINAL.pdf

Feel free to distribute it widely.

Note: File size is large resulting in slow download time.

Do I Need a Business License?

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:59:13 GMT

I am a relatively new freelance reporter in California, and I had been told that I need to get a business license. However, I had heard that its not absolutely necessary, so I am confused. As an independent contractor/deposition reporter, am I required to get a business license in CA? And if so, would I only need to apply for one in the city that I live in? Somebody told me that we need to apply for one for each city that we work in, but if that were the case, Id be applying for 30 different business licenses as I take depos in many different cities, and that is a bit excessive, let alone expensive. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

Is voice writing becoming popular?

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:55:23 GMT

I was recently told that voice writing is quot;the new way of court reporting,quot; yet it doesnt seem to be catching on. Is that just me or are there a lot of voice writers out there that Im not aware of?I want to make sure that I go to school for something that will have me on the right track.

HELP WITH MEDICAL TERMS

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:03:40 GMT

two words im not have success finding in a medical dictionary: sounds like quot;slay doll.quot; ive put in quot;sladolquot; and other various spellings; nothing. second word quot;meth er gin.quot; both are in regards to pcp testing/results. any help would be appreciated. also, any good search engines for helping with medical terms?thanks!

External Hard Drive

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:31:04 GMT

Does anyone have a recommendation for an External Hard Drive to store machine notes and transcribed transcripts?

What are firms/courts looking for in a court reporter when deciding to hire them?

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:49:17 GMT

Hi,What are depo firms/courts looking for in court reporters when they make their decision to hire them or give them work? What makes a good reporter? What is the best way to get work from deposition firms? calling, being persistent, going into the office in person, mailing a resume?Im somewhat new and need help getting my career really going. Any advice or opinions will be appreciated. Thank you!

Do I transcribe Voir Dire in a jury trial transcript?

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 09:40:04 GMT

Can any officials tell me about transcribing voir dire? I am working in Indiana, and the transcript was ordered for an appeal, to be sent to the IN Court of Appeals.Do I transcribe all of the voir dire or just the preliminary instructions and then say (voir dire conducted)? And if I do transcribe voir dire, do I include the jurors actual names?Thanks

Editing on laptop during dep

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 08:45:50 GMT

When I have my laptop setup at a dep, is it proper to edit when I have a second or two and J-define things or do you think its annoying to the attorneys? Especially if theres an interpreter, I feel like theres lots of time between Qamp;A.

How do you capitalize?

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:24:47 GMT

I have an online NCRA-theory manual that teaches putting K-P in front of words you want to capitalize, and then hitting K-P twice after a series of capitalized words. And then K-PS before a series of capitalized letters, such as USA (K-PS/U-RBGS/S-RBGS/A-RBGS/K-PS/K-PS) This seems burdensome to me. Any thoughts such as using the asterisk instead? Is this K-P method used by many?

Independent Contractor/ Accountant Question

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:47:15 GMT

I want to purchase a home, and on the loan application it asks for your employer (obviously). Do you put your corporation name or the name of your agency, or both? Ive had some reporters tell me they put their incorporated name because technically they are not an empoyee of the agency, but have run into trouble because the banks want to know who is paying them each month. The agency gets upset with they call to verify that they work for them, because technically they are not an employee. This seems to be an issue for people when they are filling out papers for a home, car, credit card, ect.

NCRA membership required in Georgia?

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:00:34 GMT

Georgia is an RPR required state. I was told that you dont have to be a member of NCRA to work in Georgia, but I hold my RPR through NCRA. I will have to do CEUs through both Georgia and NCRA and pay membership fees for both. So how do I keep my status as an RPR if Im not a member of NCRA? Any ideas? Hope this isnt too confusing :)

Laptop vs. Netbook?

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 05:48:32 GMT

I am just starting to try realtime and was asking for feedback from Case Catalyst users 11 regarding starting with netbook or laptop? I dont really want to lug around heavy laptop and am hearing new netbooks are being used by some Case Catalyst users for realtime. Any input out there? Thanks!

What is the best brand of laptop for Case Catalyst to do realtime?

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:54:24 GMT

I was wondering what laptops are working best with Case Catalsyst newer version, 10

What are my options when an agency files Chapter 7?

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:19:58 GMT

Yay...not. I just received a letter from United States Bankruptcy Court indicating someone who owes me money filed for Chapter 7 (liquidation). I only took one job from the agency, but other friends took a handful of gigs. Of course, we had been recently sending payment inquiries into a black hole of no response; so were not surprised by this result. I know that I will probably never see the money, but the letter says not to file a proof of claim. Nonetheless, I want to make sure I am on any and every list necessary - simply out of principle. Has anyone else gone through this with an agency? I dont want to pay an attorney who will charge me more than the agency owes me...

Has anyone ever heard of or tried steno bootcamp..

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:34:04 GMT

Has anyone ever heard of steno bootcamp? I guess it is a detailed schedule and cds to practice to prepare yourself to take the CSR. I was wondering if anyone has done this and if so, does it work? I want to be prepared to pass the CSR the first time, God willing. Thanks. Rosalina40

Reporting in Europe?

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:00:49 GMT

Does anyone have any information about reporting in Europe or know of anyone who has worked over there?

How Do I Practice for the RPR?

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:24:12 GMT

Ive been out of school a little over a year, and I want to take the RPR. However, I know if I were to take it today, I wouldnt pass. I dont feel Im fast enough. So I would like to build my speed up by practicing at home. What should I practice? I was planning to practice some old RPR tapes that I have. Is there anything else that would make a good practice tool? And about how often should I practice?

Anyone using DIgitalCat software?

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:47:06 GMT

Im thinking of switching over to DigitalCat software as they are so supportive of students, but Ive been on CC for over two years now. Id like to hear from anyone whos made the switch, any challenges they experienced, the good, the bad, the ugly. Im currently writing on a Lightspeed writer using a small netbook, if that makes any difference.

CART providers, please help! I have to do a class project on a CART page layout. Does anyone have an include file or a sample of what you use?

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:25:54 GMT

I have a class project to do on CART page layouts. I am basically trying to figure out what a student would want in a transcipt-type file. I was thinking I could set up something as an include file. I am looking for ideas on what kind of things need to be in this. Does anyone have a master include they use?

What is the Rule for Hyphenating Pre and Post?

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:47:07 GMT

I am so sick of struggling with this and Im hoping someone can give me some clarity. I know the prefixes pre and post when attached to a word usually become one word, but what are the clear-cut examples of when it should be hyphenated? And should they ever be left alone?For example, a sentence like: quot;What factors do you look at when determining a persons injury pre and post accident?quot; -- hyphenate both? leave both as single words? hyphen after pre but make postaccident one word, or just leave pre as a single word? He also says, quot;When making the determination of pre or post, how would youquot; blah blah......well, then what do you do with those two words?Preincident --- like that, or pre-incident since they are two vowels together?

Nothing coming up in realtime

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:02:22 GMT

Ive got my writer hooked up to my laptop for realtime in Case CAT and everything looks like its ready to go, but I start writing and nothing happens. Any ideas?

Does anyone have a good brief for 2010?

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:22:19 GMT

Im looking for briefs for this decade: 2010, 2011, etc.

Can anyone help me with a title/cover page?

Wed, 9 Feb 2011 17:29:15 GMT

Hello, all! I am taking a CART internship this semester and I need to create a cover/title page for an assignmnet. I have never done that before. Can anyone help? I have the student version of Case Catalyst. Is there a command that is entered? Ive looked all over and I cant seem to figure it out.
Thanks so much!Katie

Is it am or A.M. or a.m. or AM?

Wed, 9 Feb 2011 11:43:51 GMT

What is the correct punctuation of a.m.? Is it am, a.m., AM or A.M.?

Aristocat and pdf

Wed, 9 Feb 2011 08:13:28 GMT

Help. I have Aristocat software and Im trying to send a pdf version of transcripts to attorney. In the print program, theres the print to pdf program, which Ive done. When I look at the pdf file then, the formatting is off a little, such as spacing after Q. and A. and margins are off. The text is all there, but the spacing is off. Is there a way to make the transcript pdf hold true to how it would ordinarily look on the hard copy printed transcript? My latest version of Aristocat is 2007, if that makes any difference.

Why do I always think Im ready for tests and then get so nervous and mess them up completely?

Tue, 8 Feb 2011 22:52:13 GMT

Help! Ive been taking a home study course for years. I am stuck at 180 for WAY to long. Every time I push myself to practice for weeks, think Im ready for a test, and then attempt a test I mess it up and get depressed all over again. Every time this has happened, I have walked away for a few weeks. I really dont want to give up! Any clues?! Any advice! I know this question has been asked so many times! My real question is how to stop myself from getting so nervous that I focus on getting every word and just try to get what I can and go with it..

How do you send your transcript to a proofreader, and how are they paid?

Tue, 8 Feb 2011 16:41:16 GMT

I heard in school that reporters must use a proofreader. How are your transcripts sent to the proofreader? I know you e-mail it to them, but do they have to use the same software as the reporter? Also, how are they paid? Do they send you a bill at the end of each job or each month? Sorry if these seem like silly questions, but I cant seem to get a straight answer at school.

What are some questions that a court reporter should ask an agency during an interview?

Tue, 8 Feb 2011 16:22:30 GMT

Hello,Im starting to look for a job, and I wanted to know what are some questions that I should ask the agency Im interviewing with? Are there questions that you wished you had asked during your interveiw? Thanks.

DUI versus Deuce

Mon, 7 Feb 2011 18:58:35 GMT

Im an official reporter, and I work for a superior court in California. In traffic court, when attorneys in court say something like, quot;This is the defendants first deucequot; or, quot;Hes charged with a deuce,quot; I asked approached a deputy district attorney recently and asked him, what exactly is a quot;deucequot; in the context that hes using it? He told me its attorney language, a nickname they have given to the word DUI (driving under the influence). The problem Im having is I write the spoken word, not change the word later to what they speaker actually meant to say. Has anyone else ran into this problem? If so, I would appreciate feedback on what your position is. Thanks.

Case Catalyst cant connect

Sat, 5 Feb 2011 16:45:06 GMT

Hi I am court reporting student that just bought the studnet version if case catalyst and have set if up. I am using a stentura for my writer, and it will not let me read my notes or wright in real time. I have all the proper cables and everything. Does anyone know what Im doing wrong or can anyone help me out? Thank you

What recourse do I have as a reporter who is owed several thousand dollars from a depo firm for work I did for them over three months ago??

Thu, 3 Feb 2011 23:57:56 GMT

Help! the depo firm I did a job for three months ago still hasnt paid me for the transcript I produced for them, and now they are ordering a transcript from another depo I did for them. When I call them, they give me the run-around. What can reporters do to get a firm to pay up?

What is a brief for time in hours

Thu, 3 Feb 2011 18:19:13 GMT

Does anybody have a brief for just straight up hours? Like 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and so on?

One word or two words?

Thu, 3 Feb 2011 17:42:23 GMT

Postsurgery vs post surgeryClosed head injury vs closed-head injury.I see these written both ways. Is there a preference?

How do I change have only the steno show up on the screen in CaseCatalyst and not translate?

Thu, 3 Feb 2011 10:48:27 GMT

How do I get only the steno to show up on the screen and not actually have what I write be translated in CaseCatalyst. I dont want to use just the notes screen which is narrow. Can I have the actual page do this?

digital (dds) audio converted to wav audio file wont work

Tue, 1 Feb 2011 10:04:11 GMT

My reporter uses Olympus dss and converted it to wav file so I can edit on Case Cat. The text file and the audio file downloaded separately and are 2 separate files in job manager. when I open text file and try to associate the audio with it nothing happens, no error notice or nothing, and no sound in the job. However, the little quot;audio playingquot; box is on the screen.Ive tried restoring, copying, moving, dragging, everything I can think of. Any ideas?thanks

Steno keypads, yes or no?

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:15:09 GMT

Hello all,
I have heard great things about steno keypads, but I have never used them myself. I am currently in the 180-200 class, and I finally bought some keypads. How are they working out, you may ask? Well, Im too scared to put them on. : ( Can anyone tell me how long it takes to get used to these things? I have tests to take tonight, so Im definitely not applying them this evening. I have a mock depo in three days, so Id like to make sure that Im used to it by then and hopefully loving them. Any thoughts?Thanks!Shanna

Appeals Transcript help - page numbering

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:18:24 GMT

Im reformating a transcript for the appeal in the case. It appears I have the normal numbering including new cover sheets plus transcript, but I also have the numbering on my original transcript as well. Does anyone know how to do this in Case Catalyst? Thanks!

Know anything about steno language books?

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:42:08 GMT

I am currently taking an online course in scoping, but the program wont allow us to print any of the pages. Is there a book that one could purchase that would give some of the steno language? Maybe an e-book that could be printed out? Im having to hand write everything so that I can remember it and study it, and its getting quite tedious. Thanks for anything that would help with this.Janelle, future Scopist

Reporters Salaries

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:49:49 GMT

Is it possible for a Court Reporter to make a six-figure salary?

how do I create a blurb

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:44:28 GMT

After restoring my crashed laptop, I discovered several blurbs were missing from my realtime writing (such as exhibits marked) dictionary. I forgot the process of creating them (I use CaseCat8.) What is this called and how do I do it? I feel really dumb for asking this question, but I can follow the instructions on the Help category if I can identify what it is Im looking for. When I write quot;ZEUB/ZEUBquot; that brought up my marked exhibit blurb. Can someone help me identify this process so I can re-write my blurbs again? Thank you.

Attorney brings recording guy to depo to make his record, but...

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:29:21 GMT

Okay. I have worked with this attorney before, and he never orders a transcript. He brings his own quot;recording guyquot; to tape record the procedures and provide him a transcript. The problem is, he wants his clients to read and sign my transcript, which essentially gives him a free copy of my work. Ive told him his witness can read and sign, but I would make the transcript available for him at my office or I could meet them at his office and they can read it. He argues this and says that I cant do that. Is there case law or something that I can show him that says yes, indeed, I can do that? I am in Pennsylvania.

And Mac-Based Steno software in the works?

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:14:08 GMT

Case Catalyst is terrible: their technical support is terrible amp; just plain rude, their software is inferior, and I desperately want to switch so I NEVER have to deal with them again. Not to mention I just bought a $5,000 machine from them amp; you would think they would be more polite and helpful. I was wondering if there any MAC-based software programs in the works? Its about time the Steno community acknowledges that Mac has been, is, and will continue to dominate the technological world. So why are there no mac-based programs? Baffling. I hate Boot Camp, so I run Fusion, which is a wonderful program. But simply running 2 operating systems simultaneously is asking for unnecessary trouble. Case Cat will flat out tell you they will not help you and the conversation is over if you are not using Boot Camp. The problem doesnt not lie within Fusion, or Parallels, etc., the problems arise in Case Cat; yet the wont acknowledge that. Often times if you dont tell them you have a Mac, they will walk you through the steps and fix the problem. My file is red flagged and I cant get anyone to help me; I have managed to do it all on my own. The company that writes a mac-based program will dominate the market, as sooo many PC users are discovering the unparalleled quality and remarkableness of Macs.

What is the easiest way to insert a picture on a deposition cover page?

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:50:16 GMT

What is the easiest way to insert a witness picture on a cover page?

in need of asbestos briefs

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:28:38 GMT

Starting an asbestos case and need some good ideas for a mezo case??

Court reporting jobs available for students without using their machine?

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:04:32 GMT

I am currently a court reporting student. Are there any court-reporting related jobs out there I can apply for that do not require a steno machine? I am going to be seeking employment very soon and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or can refer me. Thank youstenophopl

does your laptop have good quality audio?

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:03:33 GMT

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop, and the audio is HORRIBLE, with or without a microphone plugged in. I use my diamantes audio which works great, but then I have to upload the job everytime to transcribe it, and so there is basically no point in hooking up my laptop at jobs because to listen to audio I have to upload the job from the diamante to casecat. Its really annoying. I want to be able to just have good audio quality on my computer so I dont have to keep uploading each individual job from the diamante. So basically, which laptop are you using and does it have good audio quality? Thanks in advance~!

Anyone offering Case CAT training in Dallas on 5/20 and 21?

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:47:05 GMT

Ill be in Dallas for a May 22 wedding and am hoping to find a certified trainer to train me in Case CAT. Im running V9 now but may be upgraded by then. I know enough to get by, but I know theres so much more to learn.

Finding agencies in the Bay Area, California

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:41:56 GMT

Hi everyone,I read a very helpful comment on readback some time ago about how it is wise for students to contact agencies while theyre still students to sort of get a foot in the door. Although Im just starting my second semester of theory, I think this sounds like a great idea, except for the fact that I dont know the first thing about finding agencies, let alone contacting them. So my question is: does anyone know of any reporting agencies in the Bay Area, California that I can contact? Or know of any resources that will help lead me in the right direction? Thank you!

How do you designate a speaker when youre transcribing a CD and the speaker is not identified?

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:50:24 GMT

I transcribe a lot of audio recordings from courts that are only open a couple of days a week and use a recording system and not a court reporter. Occasionally, Ill have a situation where a speaker is not identified. In this particular instance, there are two defendants, both female. Most of the time they are referred to by name when being asked a question and I designate them by name. Towards the end there are a couple of times where the judge speaks to one or the other and does not identify who shes speaking to. I just used quot;Female Voicequot; for the speaker when they are not identified. Any suggestions?

How do you transfer large files?

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:53:27 GMT

Im wondering what most people use to transfer large files back and forth over the internet? Are there any free ones that you know about? I know about some of the paid services out there, what is your experience with them?Also, did you know that you can now transfer files using ReadBack.org? Just login to your ReadBack.org account and go to http://www.readback.org/ReadBackFTP.

Whats a brief for double quotation marks?

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:43:40 GMT

Can anyone share their briefs for opening and closing double quotation marks? Im currently using CaseCat8.

North Dakota Agencies?

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:05:07 GMT

How is court reporting in the North Dakota area? And could someone recommed an agency that may service that area or areas?

Who needs paper free?

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:56:55 GMT

Hi everyone,I have about 20 stacks of steno paper that I would like to pass on to whoever wants it. I would donate it to the local school; but, unfortunately, that has closed down. All I ask is that you pay for the shipping. Let me know.

How do I pay myself if registered as a C-Corp?

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:34:37 GMT

I have a corporation set up for my court reporting firms that I do work for to pay the corporation when the job pay. Just wondering how do other court reporters that have themselves set up as court reporters go about paying themselves through their corporation? Do you pay by the job, on a set payroll timeline? Any and all information you have would be appreciated.

How do I properly set up a speaker ID

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:59:34 GMT

I have Case Catalyst and when I have THE COURT: what follows afterwards is sometimes three spaces and then the next word or one space but usually never two. Some of my COURT entries in the dictionary are THE COURT:^ The same thing happens with THE WITNESS:, etc. I have tried entering it and adding a space after the colon and that adds four spaces, sometimes three. Any suggestions?Thanks,Trudi

Express Scribe v 5.13 rewind

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:26:01 GMT

Hello, I am trying to set my express scribe to rewind a few words when I hit my rewind button. I am using Hot Keys, and already have them set, but when I hit the rewind button, its not backing up the audio. Does anyone know where it should be set in order for it to back up maybe five words. It seems to stop exactly where I left off, and I dont want that. Thanks.

Finishing school while on sea-duty...

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 10:15:15 GMT

Back in August I tranfered back to the Va Beach area from Jacksonville Fl. I attended the Stenotype of Jacksonville for a year and got my theory out of the way, and started some speed work. The only court reporting school they have in the Va Beach area only takes day classes. So I have narrowed my choices from Brown and the CCR. My question is how easy will it be to continue with my education on sea duty? Has anyone done this? I got a quot;miniquot; deployment comin up this year and a full deployment next year. Any help anyone can provide would be great. Thanks for your time.Mike

2- What if questions

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:31:23 GMT

How do you handle the following situations:1) You are at home working on your transcript, and the attorney calls and says he wants to add a new exhibit to the record. What do you say/do?2)A lawyer has ordered a copy but he wants the opening statement removed from his copy. How should a court reporter handle this?

New reporter going on an EUO...

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:24:00 GMT

Hi!Im a new reporter going on an examination under oath tomorrow morning. I have a very vague idea of what that is. Do I give the oath the same way? Is the protocol the same? Are there going to still be two attorneys? Im so green! Oh, and it is two different people. So do I just make two completely separate transcripts, or do they all go together in one file??Thanks!!

Case Catalyst freezing - Help!

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:21:15 GMT

Hi! I just had to get a new computer (long story involving a can of coke and a naughty two-year old) and its got Windows 7. I have Case Catalyst 10.06. When I do a job, it always stops inputting into my computer and freezes and I have to restart the computer to get it to work again. Has this happened to anyone? Im on my fourth new computer thinking it was a computer problem but now I think it might be a compatability issue. Any suggestions? Would upgrading to Catalyst 11 or 12 help this?

Any suggestions on how to sell student steno machine and books?

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:43:09 GMT

I have a case catalyst with carrying case, instruction books, dictionaries and other course books. Originally priced at more than $4,000. Will sell all or part. Any suggestions on the best way to sell? Contact shoupdeborah@yahoo.com

is anyone familiar with bremmer (?) shorthand?

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:52:22 GMT

A student I attend school with used something called Bremer shorthand way back when. (my apologies for not knowing how to spell this...cant find anything online a/b it)Shes back in school now and cannot find a dictionary that is compatible with our software. Does anyone know where she can find a dictionary she can download and use?Shes struggling terribly, and I would love to be able to help her.Enlighten me if you can!!Thank you so much!!

Multiple State licenses after my name?

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:35:19 GMT

I am a California CSR and work in California, and I am also a Nevada CCR, but dont work in Nevada. Should I always include my Nevada license letters (CCR) after my California CSR on business cards and correspondence? I dont include it when I sign my depo reporter certificate sheet, but should I? I certainly am proud of it and I worked very hard to achieve it.

How do I get over this wall?

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:25:44 GMT

I am a student and I have just passed my 120Qamp;A. I am now working on my 140s and my teacher is encouraging me to get quot;something for everything.quot; I simply cannot do this, Ive tried, believe me. I can be writing fine and if I stroke something that I know is an error, I simply stop, dead in my tracks. Its like hitting a wall. She also says my notes are too perfect, which means my fingers are not moving fast enough. I am very frustrated at this point, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Does anyone know how to set up for cross on an opening statement?

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:26:40 GMT

This is an arbitration where both sides make opening statements. Then the arb. asks if the first atty. would like to respond! Ive never come across this before...Not sure what to call it or how to set it up. I did the opening statement like this:(cenetered and single-spaced) OPENING STATEMENT BY MR. SMITHThank you!Colleen

RPR practice Question- True or False

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:43:36 GMT

Page 223, Test B, #8... Why is the answer to the following statement False?quot;A reporter may be required to mark exhibits in evidence during a depositionquot;

How do I achieve my career objective with court reporting/captioning?

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 10:16:34 GMT

After a difficult year in school, Ive done two things I think will help me:1. I have switched to College of Court Reporting in Indiana and will begin classes there on February 8th.2. I have a career objective in mind: Freelance court reporting and/or captioning and freelance transcription work. Im also open to doing scoping.Aside from the obvious--practice, practice, practice--what should I be doing to help achieve my career objective?

Does anyone else have problems shadowing certain keys on the Diamante?

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:10:53 GMT

Does anyone else have problems shadowing certain keys on the Diamante? I came from the 200 SRT in school and now have a Diamante. Maybe because it has a much lighter touch than the 200 SRT Im always going to have the problem..? I just dont know if I should global in each occurrence or if there is something else I can do. Its pretty frustrating when I see the same strokes always shadow. Some common ones for me are shadowing the final -L, or when I try to add ing (-g) I will often shadow the -l or the -s with it, or when I stroke the -s ending I shadow the -g...etc I continually shadow the -l on T-FLS (it was), THR-FLS (there was), and EFLS (he was). So, it is mostly my ring finger on my right hand that has a problem. I am not aware that it is possible to change a key to be quot;harderquot; to stroke for the Diamante, does anyone have any suggestions or know more than me? :)I am also misstroking my Qs amp; As if I dont hit enough keys on one side or the other. Should I global it in every way I possibly do it as a separate stroke? I use Eclipse. The weird part is that I am sometimes hitting enough keys for a Q and hitting a key from the opposite final side (usually my -L) with the Q stroke! Craziness! I never had a problems with these shadows with my 200 SRT. I was always one of the cleanest writers in school. My only explanation is that I am anxious to hit the next stroke. I am always practicing at high speeds because Im trying to pass my state right now.Suggestion from seasoned reporters and Diamante users are greatly appreciated!

Originals, wait for errata page or not?

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:23:53 GMT

When a witness is reading and signing a transcript, do you keep the original until the errata page is sent back to you, then attach and send the original to the ordering attorney or do you send the sealed original to the ordering attorney and request the witness send the errata to that attorney when they have finished reading and signing?

Is there some special setup for Toshiba Satellite L670 to run Case Catalyst?

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 02:29:00 GMT

I just bought this laptop and at first it was logging on to CC okay but then it started giving me a security device error and wont log on to CC at all. When I was able to log on, I could not get the computer to recognize my writer. I attempted to fix that with Stenographs instructions to change the com port, but that didnt work. I am running CC9 in XP virtual session as my computer guy said it wouldnt run in Windows 7. Please help!!!

Using Eclipse and a Diamante

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:23:45 GMT

Can anyone provide quick step-by-step instructions or send me a link on how to:(1) export your dictionary to the Diamante(2) how to dump your file

Any thoughts on cleaning up stuttering?

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:16:51 GMT

Im wondering how much people clean up double words that are -- are more just a habit, not real and true quot;stutteringquot; but -- but things that, honest to Pete, I really dont -- dont even HEAR when Im reporting, but then you find out that a -- a scopist hears every danged one of -- one of them! There was an article that dealt with this in the JCR a few months ago, but now I cant find it. It might have gotten thrown out, drat. But my memory from glancing through the article is that they basically said its more of a nervous thing and its okay if they arent put into the transcript. I mean, trOOOly I am amazed at how often this happens and I dont even write the extra word. When you hear someone speak like this, your brain can just skip right over the extra words, and when reading a transcript that has them all in, you dont catch the quot;flavorquot; of how the speech flows, if I can put it that way, and I think it confuses the message.Anyway, just wondering if other folks have been surprised to find out they havent been hearing many of these things.

Anyone have a brief for differentiate?

Sun, 9 Jan 2011 13:54:40 GMT

Does anybody have good briefs for the words quot;differentiatequot; and quot;differentiationquot;?

Adjudicational Claim? Judicational Claim? Help!

Sat, 8 Jan 2011 22:24:34 GMT

I had an attorney refer to something called (I think) quot;adjudicational claim.quot; It might have been quot;judicational claim.quot; I should have clarified. I made a mental note of it but forgot later. Im a fairly new reporter and have never heard this term before. I even googled it, but I didnt really come up with anything. Can someone tell me if either of those spellings is correct? Thanks!Cheryl

Length to maintain records in FL?

Sat, 8 Jan 2011 07:04:36 GMT

Does anyone know how long it is required to maintain your steno notes/transcripts in Florida?

need a Court Reporter in Sacramento January 25th 2011.

Fri, 7 Jan 2011 16:41:32 GMT

I am in need of a Court Reporter on January 25th for 3 hours. Is anyone available? or do you know someone that may be?

Progressive Insurance not ordering copies of depos

Fri, 7 Jan 2011 09:27:20 GMT

In Massachusetts, we recently have the issue of competitive auto insurance. As a result, several new companies are in town. One of the clients of the agency I work for is Progressive Insurance. The adjuster comes to EVERY depo (I think they dont have enough work in the office). At the beginning, Progressive did mostly Examinations Under Oath, for which we bill an O+1, because the insurance quot;givesquot; a copy to their insureds. I think because of that, they now do only depos, but dont order most of the depos. This is not a practice in our state. Almost every depo I report on, the original is ordered (I can only remember maybe one or two where they settled at a break). Also, in Massachusetts, each party orders his own copy and there is no appearance fee if the depo is ordered, only a minimum charge if its a very quick one. Have reporters in other states encountered this issue with this insurance company, and how do you handle it? Of course, no one wants to lost business and tell them no. Many thanks for your input!

How to format multiple people asking for copies

Fri, 7 Jan 2011 06:50:14 GMT

At the end of the depo, I asked (on the record) who would be wanting copies. All at once all ten attorneys answered me yes, and someone even said quot;all of us.quot; Since they all spoke at the same time, should I format the transcript with everybodys name on a separate line saying that they want a copy? Ive never had this type of situation before, but since it is on the record, my guess would be to write everyones name individually with their quot;yesquot; response. That way I know Ill get paid my copy fee. What say you all?

Does CCR Seminars have live video of presenters

Thu, 6 Jan 2011 18:12:13 GMT

Do you know if the online webinars for CCR Seminars are live video of the presenters or is it just audio and power point.

Do you use a front cover logo on your transcripts?

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 22:10:19 GMT

Hello, Im just wondering, for any reporter who prints his/her own trancript, if you use a blank front coversheet or a front coversheet with a logo on it?I have a firm that provides me with a coversheet, and it has her firm logo on it. When the coversheet prints out, it looks so sophisticated and professional. I recently took a job on my own where I had to print it out, but I have no logo on my front cover and it just looked blah. Im just wondering how many of you have logos or how many of you just have a blank front coversheet. If you knew you were going to be doing a lot of your own work, would you create a logo for yourself?

Dark courier font for Windows 7, 64 bit, where are you?

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 22:54:27 GMT

I got a new computer, Windows 7, 64 bit, and am having a heck of a time finding the dark courier font. There are plenty of sites to download the 32-bit version.Any suggestions on where to hunt for fonts?

Information on being a California Court Reporter

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 21:08:15 GMT

Can anyone give me any input on how it is to be a working reporter in California and about the schools there? What are the requirements to take the state exam? I currently live in NYC and it seems so much easier to become a reporter here than in California.

Charge a per diem for working on December 31st?

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 20:51:47 GMT

So I reported a deposition on December 31st from 9:30 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. The videographer and I have been having a back-and-forth about charging a per diem for this day. Whats your opinion? Would you charge an extra fee or not?

Would shortening strokes create too many conflicts for real-time?

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 21:05:07 GMT

I do stenomaster theory. Some examples of what I changed:-incarcerate- normal: I-N//CA-RS//E-R/YAET new way: I-N//CA-RS//RAEU-T-incriminate- normal: I-N//CRI-M//I-N//YAET new way: I-N//CRI-M//NAEU-T-california- normal: KA-L//I-F//O-RN//YA new way: KA-L//FO-RN//YA Basically I skip a vowel on some words; would this make too many conflicts on real-time?

Does anyone know?

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 17:09:59 GMT

Does anyone know of some legit agencys that you can do legal transcrition work while still a student?

Know anything about Cerritos College?

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 14:14:57 GMT

I am thinking of transferring to Cerritos College for financial reasons. Is there anyone out there who can give me any information? Is it hard with only two days of dictation/tests/attendance?

How do I find a file that I think I deleted?

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 11:27:27 GMT

I took a job on December 7th and 9th of the same doctor. I think I deleted the 7th job by mistake and I cant retrieve it anywhere. Not my Elan nor my Litter Box. Does anyone have any recommendations? Ive searched everywhere. Where is the FBI when you need them? Thanks,Dawn Mack

A little help with a caption?

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 14:11:52 GMT

Hi,Im a new reporter, and I just got a job where the name was misspelled on the caption. Ive been told that I have to keep the name misspelled in the birdcage portion of the caption, but what Im wondering is this: Should I spell the name properly on the same cover page where I type in the blurb underneath that goes something like quot;Deposition of Jane Doe, Los Angeles, CA, Thursday, December 23, 2010quot;? Or should I misspell it the way it was spelled in the birdcage?Thanks!Cheryl

Need help with Index of Examinations

Sat, 1 Jan 2011 11:33:46 GMT

Hello!What is the order of examinations? direct, cross, redirect, recross, and then what comes next? further redirect, further recross? and then what is the next step after that? and even after that? attys had a lot of questions for this witness!Thanks in advance!

Does any know about South Coast College in Orange, CA?

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:14:58 GMT

I want to move to California and am looking for a good court reporting school to transfer to. If any one has any information about South Coast College it would be very helpful. Thanks!

Tell me about the big national firms

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:43:48 GMT

Anyone out there work for a national reporting firm? Id like to know if your work has slowed with the economy, what type of work you get (i.e., corporate, med-mal, etc.) and if you are treated well by the firm, basically how it compares to freelancing or a small, local firm.

How do I share RTF files between different CAT systems?

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:03:36 GMT

We have reporters in our office on Eclipse and CaseCatalyst. How can we transfer RTF files between our systems and keep the formatting intact? When I import an RTF from Eclipse into my CC, the margins are changed. Applying a new layout format does not line things up properly. We are trying to create a master index for a multi-volume trial, and being able to easily transfer that index file and maintain the formatting would be extremely helpful.

I need a brief for...list/lift

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:15:17 GMT

I need a brief for these two words: list, lift. Currently I use HR-EUFT for quot;lift,quot; but that coincides with how I write quot;listquot; since -FT is my final quot;-stquot; in my theory. Grrr.In school I always transcribed from my notes so I could separate the two, but now that Im writing realtime, I truly need to find what works for these words and Im just stuck! Hope someone can help. Thanks in advance.

How does ascii work?

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:53:56 GMT

Does anybody know if you can make an ascii disk or file if typing in word perfect? And also, doesn anybody know if you send a txt.file and the formatting gets all goofy if there is another template or program that will load that txt.file and have the format go back to normal? Thanks very much.

How do I find NY job postings for officials?

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:43:11 GMT

I read on this web site that there was an opening in the Supreme Court in New York. Can someone help me find the job posting?

Has anybody out there taken the Realtime System Administrator seminar

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 13:29:49 GMT

Has anyone taken the Realtime System Administrator program and the test? Is it possible to pass the test immediately after the seminar?

Which writer is better?

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:15:30 GMT

Diamante or Passport?

Billing Question

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 13:33:43 GMT

Hello, I have a question about billing. I took a Masters hearing in October. They did not want it transcribed, now they do. I have already sent out a bill for writing time and apperance fee. It was promptly paid. Now, I am about to transcribe the transcript. How exactly would I bill for that? Do I deduct anything from what was already paid? Any help you all could give me. I dont need exact dollar amounts, just a method to go by. Thanks.

Where do I find used Eclipse edit-only software?

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:51:18 GMT

I am a notereader/scopist currently working on Case CATalyst. My area seems to be mostly Eclipse though. I am just starting out as a scopist and have already spent a considerable amount of money on CAT software. Any ideas on where to buy Eclipse used? Anyone know someone who is wanting to sell? I am also looking to expand my client-base, so if you or someone you know is looking for a scopist, please contact me.

Do you report verbatim?

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:04:09 GMT

This is a bit of a silly question, but Id like to know what other reporters are doing. Do you report verbatim, specifically relating to false starts and partial words? Ive run into a lot of people starting to speak a word, and then not completing the word. For example, I had a gentleman utter the words quot;North Carol -- um, Floridaquot;. This particular instance happens to be a video depo, so I want to make sure I transcribe appropriately. Would I complete the phrase quot;North Carolinaquot; or simply quot;North Carol -- ????

Deduct proofer/scopist fees

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 16:14:00 GMT

I am just wondering if you reporters out there claim the fees you pay your proofers/scopists as deductions on your taxes.Thanks!

Does anyone know where to get the NCRS Ca. Codes for Court Reporters?

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 06:23:40 GMT

I was told that the NCRS California Codes for Court Reporters was necessary to study for the Ca. CSR. Does anyone know where to locate it?Thanks,Trudi

Not sure if there are problems with my Stentura 400 or if it is user error?

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 16:09:33 GMT

I am a new court reporting student that has been practicing on a manual machine for the past 4 months. I just received an electric machine and leave a tail on a lot of my strokes. I adjusted every setting I possible could, figuring I was probably just hitting my keys too hard but my final T and D when I press them by themselves will not advance but they show up in my next stroke. Also, my number bar doesnt advance at all (which isnt that big of a deal because I write out my numbers, but its still annoying). Does the machine just need to be lubed or should I send it to get serviced?

Brown College of Court Reporting

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 14:29:30 GMT

Does anyone know anything about Brown College of Court Reporting in Atlanta, GA.

Can you be a reporter with a felony conviction

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 14:18:29 GMT

Merry Christmas Everyone!!I am a current Court Reporting Student and I have a classmate who has a federal felony conviction and actually spent time in prision. She has been out for a few years and obviously she is very interested in getting her life back on track or she would not be in school and has done a great job. However we had a discussion with regards to our state certification requirments and it indicated that even though she had the felony conviction that was over two years old she could quot;make applicationquot; to the state. She has recently been able to obtain her Notary. So my question is do you think she is just wasting her time and money trying to become a reporter when there is no guarantee she can get certified or is that strickly on a state by state basis.

Is Sage College in San Diego a reputable reporting school?

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 18:00:15 GMT

Hi,Im currently studying reporting in NYC but I am thinking of moving to San Diego...does anybody know about Sage College and their Court Reporting program? Pros, cons?Also, can any San Diegans chime in on the current job market there?Thanks in advanced!

Is this right for me?

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 07:11:52 GMT

I am strongly considering reporting as a career. I have been interested in it since I graduated high school 17yrs ago. I am not the best typist in the world and have no way to measure my aptitude. My work ethic and determination will not be lacking if I take the plunge.I am also interested in opinions on how to choose the school. I have the luxury of having several programs locally. Is a trade school better than a community college?Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

NYC reporting.

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:04:57 GMT

I am a new reporter in NYC, and I dont know what going page rates are today. Can someone help??

Some advice for my first depo?

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:39:11 GMT

Hi everyone,Im a brand new reporter and tomorrow Im going on my first big-girl real live depo. Im just looking for some words of wisdom. What is the one thing you wish that you had been told prior to going on your first job? Thanks,Cheryl

Transcription jobs

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:32:25 GMT

I live in the NJ/ NYC area, I am a student in the 175 wpm class. I am looking for/need work, and I want to try audio transcribing. Does anyone know of any agencies that hire students for that type of work?

Internship questions

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:33:53 GMT

Im going to be starting my internship hours really soon, and I wondered if anyone had any tips or information I could use regarding the dos and donts.

Difference between using the Passport with CC or Eclipse?

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:56:32 GMT

Hi guys, Im a student considering buying a Passport once Im done with school. In school they taught us CaseCatalyst and its the only software I know how to use. Can I use the Passport with CaseCat and if so, are there any features of the machine that do not work with CC as opposed to Eclipse? Is there anyone out there with a Passport that uses CaseCat that can give me some info? I would really appreciate that. Thanks

What is a steno reporters read back responsibility?

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:23:48 GMT

The name of this forum is enough to inspire this question, but Im a scopist/scoping trainer with more than 20 years experience in the field and am observing changes in the field that may not be in our collective best interest for the future.The growing use of dependence on audio backup has led to situations where a reporter is unable to read back because they did not get the testimony down in steno.I would like input from reporters about this issue.Please understand that, years ago, I used to take sworn testimony for the Office of Naval Intelligence. I know how hard it is to make the record at times. My question now is not to put anyone on the spot, but to get a feel for trends that are having an impact (and not necessarily a good one) on our field.Your comments will be appreciated.

Can I sue an agency if the attorney refuses to pay for transcripts?

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:55:34 GMT

Can I hold the agency I work for responsible if the client does not pay? The attorney ordered transcripts from me but, now is refusing to pay, his reason is he did not order. I am seriously, considering suing the agency. Need advice, thanks.sent from my iphone

The Moody Method

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 02:05:11 GMT

Has anyone heard of the The Moody Method Theory? The Theory is taught at College of Court Reporting in Indiana.

How do I seal a portion of the transcript?

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:05:07 GMT

During the depo, it was agreed between the attorneys that a portion of the transcript will be sealed. How do I do this? Is there a parenthetical that I put in? Do I put blank pages in the actual transcript where the sealed portion is? Do I put anything on the title page? Does the sealed transcript need the same title page, index page, oath and cert pages, and does it actually have to have a sticker on it to seal it? Thanks!! (Oh, and Im a reporter in Florida)

What blurb do I put to show an exhibit being unmarked?

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:27:25 GMT

Hello,I had a depo where they marked exhibit a, then had a discussion off record about how they were no longer going to mark it as exhibit A, and once back on the record they didnt mention anything about the unmarking of it, and they later marked another document exhibit A. How do I show this in the record? what blurb would I use?

What is the correct format for military time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:46:57 GMT

Hi everyone,I am working on a transcript where they marked a prior transcript as an exhibit. Flipping through the pages of the prior transcipt, I notice the reporter formatted the military time with a colon (i.e., 14:30). Its my understanding that there is no colon when writing military time.Any suggestions on what to do when they flip back and forth (i.e., they say quot;1430quot; but they also say quot;8:25quot; or quot;11:30,quot; would you write 0825 or 1130)?I know, Im being waaaaaay too anal, but the colon thing is bugging me!

Copies in Maryland

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:05:04 GMT

Took a dep with some Maryland attys. At the end of dep, the opposing side asked the atty taking the dep if he would attach the exhibits to his copy of the tript. Do attys in Mayland provide a copy of tript to the opposing side?

What does it mean to shim a machine?

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 22:06:33 GMT

Hello, What does it mean to shim a writer? I have heard this term before, but would love for someone to explain it. I have a Stentura 8000. Thank you.

Can I do CART/Captioning right out of school?

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 05:50:44 GMT

I very much prefer to do CART and captioning once I graduate from school, but heard it would be hard due to writing in realtime and whatever else that is involved. I dont want to work in courts at all, its just too boring for me. I would love to do CART, especially since my husband is deaf. I would like to even make my own CART business and maybe even have my husband as a personal secretary (ha ha). Also do captioning, which I heard you can do from home. Any feedback is much appreciated! It would just suck if I have to start out working in the court system.

How much money do I spend on managing partners of court reporting firm?

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:48:42 GMT

How much money should I spend on Christmas presents for the managing partners of the court reporting firm I work for? I want to be appropriate and not spend too much or too little. Thank you!

Are there any steno writing games out there?

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 05:58:44 GMT

This may sound a bit silly, but are there any steno writing games out there? Something thats kind of similar to games from Mavis Beacon softwares? Practice would be more interesting and fun if something like this were to exist. I hope someone out there knows what Im talking about and can relate to my curiosity.

Student wants to say thanks

Thu, 9 Dec 2010 16:34:29 GMT

Thanks to all for your information. The interviews were a success. They were fun, educational and inspirational. I hope to return the favor. Thanks again,Elizabeth M. Curry

What are the requirements to work in Canada?

Wed, 8 Dec 2010 21:32:15 GMT

Just curious. . . What certification does one need in order to work in Canada?Thanks!

Where can I find 4-voice text?

Wed, 8 Dec 2010 13:54:49 GMT

I was wondering if any of you know where I can purchase 4-voice textbooks? My school assigns us books that have congressional, jury charge, and testimony tests in text form but they dont have a 4-voice one. Im more of a visual learner so I think I would get down the change of arbitraries faster if I could practice it from text. Any ideas?

Collequey or not collequey? That is the question.

Wed, 8 Dec 2010 09:42:38 GMT

When the depo begins, and the attoreny give his blurb about the rules of the depo, ie all answers must be verbal, no nods of the head, blah, blah, blah.Should that be in collequey or in Q amp; A format?I was taught it should be collequey, but the agency I am with tells me Im wrong. Feedback please.Thank you!

Is there a website to report a non-paying law firm?

Wed, 8 Dec 2010 09:35:04 GMT

I would like the name of the website, to report a non-paying law firm. I need to warn court reporters and agencies about a firm in Miami, Florida that burns small agencies; they actually search for new agencies, freelance reporters and end up owing them thousands of dollars. They only way to collect is to file suit.

What do I do if an attorney orders a transcript, but doesnt pay for it once its typed?

Tue, 7 Dec 2010 13:13:25 GMT

I received an order for a transcript from an attorney, typed it, and when I went to deliver it he informed me that he hadnt been paid by his client, and would neither take delivery nor pay for the transcript. Hes telling me now that he, quot;doesnt have to pay his clients fees.quot;

How can I get an invite to Court Repoter Connect?

Tue, 7 Dec 2010 09:45:05 GMT

I tried to make an account, but you must have an invitation code number. How can I get one?Thanks,Elizabeth

Court reporting student has questions for an Official Court Reporter

Mon, 6 Dec 2010 17:30:29 GMT

Hello,My name is Elizabeth Curry. I am a second year court reporting student at Luzerne County Community College, located in Pennsylvania.For our final project of our Technology 2 class we must interview an Official Court Reporter. If anyone has the time, and would be willing to do so, please contact me at tigerlilly@student.luzerne.edu.Thank you, and have a nice day.

I was asked to alter the record. Feedback, please.

Mon, 6 Dec 2010 15:46:44 GMT

In a depo after the witness gave his Social Security number, with no objection or going off the record, the witnesss attorney asked me to only put the last four digits. I just wrote the request with no comment. On a break I explained to both attorneys I couldnt alter the record. I feel it was their job to keep it off the record in the first place and that he was putting me in an awkward position. I later explained this to my quot;employerquot; who told me to alter it. I havent decided. Im still not comfortable changing anything and would appreciate any input. How would I even go about that when on the record hes asking me to change it? Am I protecting the record and my own butt or just being difficult?

Stenography Speed Accelerators, Any thoughts?

Mon, 6 Dec 2010 10:37:17 GMT

Hi everyone!
Ive been stuck at 120wpm for about 10 weeks now, and I was thinking of using the Speed Accelerators to give me a better push. Ive been practicing clean outlines and my control is at about 110, but I need some solid practice at the tempo of 120-140 to train my fingers. I like the idea of practicing the same material at different speeds.
Has anyone used this program? Is it worth the money? Thanks!

looking for steno machine

Sun, 5 Dec 2010 20:58:46 GMT

Im trying to find an inexpensive steno machine (ok if its manual) to use for practice. Can anyone direct me to some sites or know of someone wanting to get rid of their old machine

What documents do I send in for DUI over ten years ago?

Sun, 5 Dec 2010 13:07:50 GMT

I received a DUI October 6th, 2001. On the CSR application is says if you answer yes to do below. Does anyone know what documents those would be? A copy of the arrest record? Completion of Drug and Alcohol School? I have been sober since September 15th of 2006 but you do not receive a degree for that. I just passed the qualifier and want to make sure that all of my ts are crossed and my is are dotted.Thanks,Trudi YesNoIf answer is YES, please provide ALL the following certified documents for eachoffense:1. Court order showing final disposition, sanctions, and sentence imposed.2. Court documents showing all sanctions and sentences have been satisfied.3. A letter from you, signed quot;under penalty of the laws of the State of Californiaquot; indicatinga) the circumstances which led to each conviction, b) the specific terms of sentencing for each, and c) the current status of each term of each sentencing order.IMPORTANT:Falsification may result in the denial of your application

When to take Medical and Legal terminology?

Sat, 4 Dec 2010 20:21:17 GMT

I am nearly finished with my first semester of theory (and then on to my second semester), but I am considering taking Medical Terminology next semester as well. Im worried about taking it and then forgetting a lot of it by the time I graduate in however many years it takes me.Im in California, and I am extremely confused by whether or not the material in Medical and Legal Terminology classes will even be on the exam. I assume that Legal terminology will be on the RPR because of Jury Charge and Testimony, but will Medical?Id guess Id just like to know whether I can find out in more detail what will be on CAs state exams, and if each state exam is different. Ive been to the NCRA Certifications page where Ive looked through the pages for RPR, CBC, and CCP as well as the California Court Reporters Board website.Sorry for the convoluted question--basically, what is the best time in court reporting school to take these academic classes?Thanks!

Do you have the correct draft format?

Fri, 3 Dec 2010 23:10:29 GMT

In this *economy,* its becoming ever-more apparent the importance of sending out a *true* draft. Dont make em too pretty, my fellow reporters. They wont appreciate the value of the final *Certified* Copy, right? Right!So after comisserating with my fellow CSRs after our client proclaimed right in front of me at the depo that she would simply *forward* my draft to opposing counsel for free, I have reinforced my *draft* strategy to the following: I send all roughs with no page numbers, no line numbers, and a footer that says UNEDITED/UNCERTIFIED ATTORNEY WORKING COPY ONLY.I also pop in an include file that says the following (Thanks to April McMillan and Deborah Meyers) that I think covers ALL bases: PROVISO: This DRAFT transcript is unedited/uncertified. As such, it may contain computer-generated mistranslations of stenotype code, reporters notes, electronic transmission errors resulting in nonsensical word combinations or untranslated stenotype symbols which cannot be deciphered by persons untrained in stenotype theory.Citing from uncertified draft work product is prohibited pursuant to CCP Section 2025(r)(2). Copying prohibited pursuant to Government Code 699549(d).An uncertified transcript may only be distributed to ordering parties to the case. Upon acceptance of the delivery of this electronic draft, client acknowledges, dissemination of such is prohibited to anyone not affiliated with his/her law firm. I hope you will do the same - never send drafts with caption pages or index pages or reporter name/license number.

Do you any of think that the Phoenix Theory is better than RWG (Roberts, Walsh, Gonsalez) Theory? Or the other way around and why?

Thu, 2 Dec 2010 15:32:49 GMT

Does anyone think that the Phoenix Theory is better than RWG (Roberts, Walsh, Gonsalez) Theory or the other way around and why?

Hooters question

Wed, 1 Dec 2010 22:22:00 GMT

The restaurant Hooters. I looked it up and they spell it, H-o-o-t-e-r-s. So when they refer to their servers as Hooters girls, how would I write that?Hooters girls?Hooters girls?What say ye? You know how you look at something so long, youre just incredibly confused -- well, thats where I am. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

questions for a freelance reporter

Wed, 1 Dec 2010 18:55:28 GMT

I am currently a student and I am required to do a project where I interview a freelance court reporter. I have 14 questions and I am just looking for someone that would be interested in answering these quesitons for me. my email address is ahunsinger@student.luzerne.eduthank you,Angela Hunsinger

marking things on the fly for future reference.

Wed, 1 Dec 2010 15:17:04 GMT

I dont like having to constantly interrupt an attorney or witness for the spelling of names, drugs, etc, during testimony; however, by the end of the morning or day, IM NOT going to remember what those were. How can I mark my transcript so that I can easily scroll to them and ask for the spellings?

Got a blurb for getting your equipment almost knocked over?

Wed, 1 Dec 2010 01:32:05 GMT

Everythings fine, but I nearly had a heart attack today when the doctor/deponent tried to quot;slip byquot; to show the lawyers something and my computer started to head for the floor. I managed to save it without toppling my machine. We went off the record, and I started a new file for the rest of the depo. Any thoughts on a blurb besides (Discussion off the record)? I would like a quick but diplomatic blurb. And the poor doctor was actually a super sweet older guy. The lawyers were a bit of a peanut gallery, too. It wasnt anything contentious - just hyperactive. And I know Im asking for some potentially cheeky comments on this one...

Is it possible to add a court reporting program to a local college?

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 23:24:05 GMT

My state has no court reporting schools or programs. I am really interested in starting a court reporting program at a local college or technical school. Has anyone done this? Any advice? Where/how do I start? Is this even possible?

Book of Short Forms

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:55:44 GMT

Does anyone know how I can get a manual or book showing short forms? I usually write everything out and sometimes briefs would be helpful.

Pro Se, can I take video depositions of witnesses in Wyoming

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:05:55 GMT

I am acting Pro Se in a slander/defamation suit in Fremont County District Court. Can I take video depositions from witnesses who are acting in my behalf, and later use these instruments when I file against the corporation in U.S. Federal Court

How do I correct a transcript?

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:12:10 GMT

transcript error. Im not certain if it is an error. Jury trial. A video deposition is played to jury. I prepared transcript and filed with the clerks office and the attorney has received. The attorney has requested where it is in transcript. I put parenthetical in transcript stating that the video deposition was played in open court. I did not reference who the witness was but the attorney stated to the Court before the deposition was played the name of the witness. Then the Court instructs to jury regarding the deposition. I did not put the witness name and I did not reference it in my index. Need advice on how you would handle this.

Are you incorporated?

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:42:33 GMT

Are there any freelance reporters who have incorporated themselves? If so, what are the advantages. Someone suggested being incorporated would allowe me to lease my vehicle back to myself. What tax advantages or benefits would be received under an incorporation as opposed to a 1099 employee/independent contractor?

Whats the best computer for reporters?

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:52:28 GMT

My computer crashed on Thanksgiving, and it looks like its not worth repairing. Regretfully, Im in the market for a new computer! In your opinion, what is the best computer for CR work? I was using an HP with Vista and a dual-core processor, and it seemed to have a lot of hiccups and it would overheat very quickly. I was told that Macs were good for running multiple applications for people like gamers and designers -- would this hold true for court reporters? Id like to find an alternative to Mac because they are 1) expensive and 2) VERY SLLLLOOOOW at startup and for word processing, browsing the web, etc. Are there any PC users that have computers that work seemlessly?

Anyone studied the court reporting at home program?

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 09:58:01 GMT

I have been researching several online programs. I spoke with Linda Bland and it seems like a good program. I am hesitant to spend all the money before speaking with someone who has actually purchased it and successfully completed it. Any feedback or information would be helpful.

Does anyone know of a successful court reporter who began learning the craft after the age of 50?

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:39:25 GMT

I recently washed out of a court reporting program by not progressing fast enough. My experience while there seemed to indicate that older students were not progressing as quickly for the amount of effort expended as younger students. I began to wonder if anyone who started learning steno later in life, say after age 50, ever actually obtained a certification.

What parenthetical do you use when the witness makes a blowing or swishing sound?

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:23:56 GMT

What parenthetical do you use when a witness makes a blowing or swishing sound?

What do I do when a witness says a word in Spanish?

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:39 GMT

My witness was Spanish. The depo was in English. When he couldnt think of the word to say in English, he would say it in Spanish. Do I have to write the Spanish word, or is there a parenthetical that I would use?

How do I get invited to join Reporters Connection site?

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:11:32 GMT

I found a website that I would like to get connected to, but you need to have an quot;invitequot; code. Does anyone know how I get quot;invitedquot;?? The site is Reporters Connection.

How do I become more educated re hyphenation?

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 13:42:04 GMT

I understand all the basics like T-shirt, self-reliance, know-how; but Im having trouble with the double adjectives modifying the noun.I once was told in school that right-hand lane was not hyphenated, which screwed with my head because that seems to me to be the quintessential example, two adjectives in front of a noun that wouldnt make sense without each other. I know many reporters hyphenate it, but Im more interested in what is gramatically correct. Is right-hand lane hyphenated?I am hyphenating things like low-back pain. Is that wrong?Right now my transcript is saying tramatically-induced injury. Because of the -ly, does that make it wrong to hyphenate?I do have One Word, Two Word, Hyphenated, which helps a lot. Planning on entering the whole book in my dx one day.Thanks in advance.-Clay

Does Anyone have feed back on CaseCatalyst?

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 02:12:34 GMT

Hello, I am currently a student in Washington state, and the program I am enrolled in teaches CaseCatalyst. I currently have the student version, but was wondering what people thought about CaseCatalyst professional version for working reporters?Thanks!Anne Bunn

Problem with translation stopping in middle of job

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:46:53 GMT

I didnt know how I should title my question!!! I have the Diamante, Eclipse software, and write to my laptop during jobs. Never had a problem in the 15 months Ive been using, but during my last 2 jobs, what I was writing stopped coming up on my computer screen - Diamante was still working , my quot;keyquot; was still lit up, so that didnt stop working, and nothing came up that translation ended or anything like that. I just stopped working together. I happened 2 times last time and 3 times today - I had to open up a new job each time, and after Im done editing, Ill have to read the jobs in together. Has anybody had this happen? what do I do??

For Federal reporters, I have questions about uploading transcripts onto CM/ECF

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:18:53 GMT

Im wondering how frequently reporters upload their transcripts, if anyone has found it burdensome to do so, and how closely do reporters stick to the date deadlines, such as the 90 days when the transcript is to become public. Thanks!

Question about battery life

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:06:43 GMT

I have a student writer and I always have it plugged in. Is it true that my battery life would last longer if I take the battery off of my machine? Does it make a difference whether I leave the battery in or not since Im not using it?

Do I furnish a audio tape to the attorney?

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:00:11 GMT

An attorney would like a copy of my audio tape to play for the judge so the judge can hear the opposing attorney quot;yellingquot; at her? Should I provide it only after the transcript is prepared?

How do you get CART jobs?

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:14:54 GMT

Hello, I am looking into getting into CART. I have done a lot of realtime jobs and have worked on my dictionary for years. I want to start branching out into other parts of court reporting, and I think CART might be the way to go. So I have a couple questions, how does one get into CART? How does one find employment? Where can I find information on it? Is there a class that I can take to make sure Im ready? I eventually want to be a captioner, and I practice with the news to start putting in unfamilar words, loations, et cetera and writing shorter. I am also starting on earning certifications. I just dont want to be someone who goes out there am Im not ready. Any information you can give me or point me in the right direction would be most helpful. Thanks.

Have you been asked to sign a vendor agreement?

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:16:48 GMT

Has anyone been requested to sign and/or has signed an agreement with a law firm which basically states that your contractual relationship will be solely with the client; that the law firm will not be held liable to pay for your products or services?

I tried hypnosis and sadly.....

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:44:15 GMT

After reading about a previous poster about hypnosis I definitely wanted to give it a try! I was hypnotized yesterday and sadly, I do not see a difference AT ALL! She (the lady who hypnotized me) told me that I would see results immediately and I am not seeing any results at all. Am I being too anxious too soon?????

Does drilling at 20wpm reinforce bad steno outlines?

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 22:31:06 GMT

Ok friends, Im at a weird spot in my speedbuilding. I am trying to pass a 120. It seems that using the pyramid method on RTC (realtime coach) isnt working at the higher speeds (140 and 130) because the dictations are too dense. Ive built up a lot of vocab and briefs by doing these drills, but I find that they are only REINFORCING bad steno outlines when I drop back down to my testing speed (120) or my control speed (100). I actually do WORSE on my control/test speeds after speedbuilding at 20 wpm above. Are there any website I can go to that have 130/140 dictations that arent dense, and that I can use for the purpose of pyramid building (not writing for accuracy, writing for speed)??? This technique used to work well for me, and now Im thinking that it may be holding me back. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks~

Is it possible to get a job.

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:13:58 GMT

Is it possible to get a job before you get your license? I mean I just got into speeds, but I need a job NOW! Are there any jobs that I can get in the industry like maybe just transcribing??

Diamante Protection Plan -- is it worth it?

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:05:00 GMT

My Diamante is about to celebrate its first birthday, and as a present, Im getting slapped with my first protection plan renewal contract. My question to you: Is it worth the money? Or is this just another way to squeeze more money out of me?

Work for Students?

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:06:11 GMT

Is there any kind of work available for people like myself who are still in reporting school? Is there a certain speed you must reach before becoming a scopist? I would love to find some part time work, but I am not sure if I need to be certified. Thank you!

Where can I find high-speed Q/A dictation besides NCRA?

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 11:53:09 GMT

Does anyone know where I might find high-speed Q/A dictation besides NCRA? Im talking 250+wpm.

Anyone selling a Stentura Fusion?

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 11:04:32 GMT

I am looking for a Stentura Fusion, but dont want to pay the exagerated prices of some of these used dealers. If you know of anyone looking to sell one of these beauties, please reply to this post or shoot me an e-mail at sunshine8370@hotmail.com.

Attention all reporters: Will I get used to this tiny netbook I just purchased?

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 08:22:08 GMT

I would appreciate any advice. Just purchased an ASUS netbook. Please tell me I will get used to this small screen. I have not used it yet. My HP is too large to bring on jobs, and it is killing my hands from editing. I have developed a swollen tendon on the palm of my right hand. Help!Thank you,Susan

Refilling Protege Ink Cartridge

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:20:30 GMT

I have a Protege, and Im just wondering for others who have Proteges, is it bad to refill the ink cartridge with ink rather than buying a new one? One of the teachers aides at my school who also has one said that it is bad, but I recently refilled the ink cartridge for free at my school (the cartridges I ordered hadnt come in yet), and now the ink is showing up perfectly. Ive already spent $44 on two ink cartridges and they are unopened, but if it wont do any damage to the inside of my machine to just refill the ink for free while I can, I definitely want to keep doing that!

Has anyone tried hypnotherapy?

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:39:40 GMT

I spoke with a veteran court reporter who says sessions of hypnosis helped him greatly when he was stuck on a speed in school. Has anyone tried this?

What is your best advice on building speed?

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:19:35 GMT

Hi! I am currently a student in court reporting school and am just finishing up theory and starting speed building. I am looking for any suggestions that anyone can offer that may have helped you in building your speed or any CDs, etc that you have purchased that have helped. Thank you so much!

Found a reporter-friendly computer store

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:19:17 GMT

If you need a new laptop but cant afford the price tag, get a refurbished one at Alltech Electronics Co., Inc., in Santa Ana, 1300 E. Edinger Ave., #D 714-543-5011. I just bought a 2006 Dell for my reporting work and they put in more RAM and downloaded everything. $199.00 ($216.00 out the door.) I highly recommend them. They are familiar with the needs of court reporters. I am on CaseCat8 and needed a laptop with Windows XP, but couldnt spend $$ for a new laptop. I brought my steno machine and they made sure everything was working before I left. Thank you, Lucien Mehanna and Vince for helping me get up and running again!

Anyone know about the Lightspeed writers?

Tue, 9 Nov 2010 22:20:22 GMT

Hey all, I was just wondering if anyone knew about the Lightspeed writers by Stenovations. I was wondering if after using a quot;traditionalquot; writer, you found the Lightspeed writers easier to use, less shadowing, etc? Thanks!

Where should I intern in Sacramento?

Mon, 8 Nov 2010 15:02:00 GMT

Hello everyone! Thanks for reading my question! Im a student working on my last 200 (almost there!), and I am working on my internship. I have to do 40 depo hours, and I would like to intern with a couple firms in Sacramento in the hopes that I will find the firm I would like to work with when I graduate. I was hoping anyone who works in the Sacramento area may be able to recommend some good agencies. Thanks in advance!

Why do court reporters scope for others in addition to their own reporting duties?

Mon, 8 Nov 2010 12:26:46 GMT

In doing internet research on scoping vs. court reporting, I have noticed a number of advertisements from actual working reporters wanting to do scoping work for others on the side. One was even an official reporter! Could someone please explain why a court reporter would even need to do scoping work for other reporters in addition to their own workload? I am a former reporter (years ago, before realtime) and, at 47, have been back in CR school for two years now. I have finally figured out that I really dont like writing on the machine, but I absolutely LOVE the scoping/transcribing aspect of this field and am seriously thinking of switching to scoping soon. I just found it so interesting to discover that court reporters are also doing scoping work on the side. Before I switch, I would love to know why!

Should I call the law firm to see if they paid for a depo if the agency effectively ignores me?

Sun, 7 Nov 2010 22:52:35 GMT

Im getting close to a year out on payment of an Oamp;1. Its not a huge number of pages, but it was the depo of a neurosurgeon on a med-mal case. Cliche time - its the principle of the thing.Im aware that the agency has been through some changes, but the only person I am supposed to contact at this point is not picking up or returning my calls. Supposedly someone with the new incarnation of the agency has left a message for this individual as well.Im pretty sure Im being ignored, and I would like to call the law firm to see if they ever paid the agency for my job. Is that unheard of? Should I warn the agency first that Im going to do this?

Proper deposition attire.

Sun, 7 Nov 2010 21:25:13 GMT

Okay. Ladies this is a question for you. No offense, men. I was just wondering, what do you consider proper deposition attire for females. I am having a problem finding suits because I have to shop in the Juniors section. And sometimes, I really dont want to be in a suit. I know you have all seen the sweaters they have out now. Most of them are longer, which to me, they dont really go with dress pants unless they are the longer cardigan types. Most I see are not. They look better with leggins. So Im asking, do you think leggins are proper deposition attire. I think if worn correctly, they can look very nice. What do you think?

Question about student taking RPR

Sun, 7 Nov 2010 18:49:56 GMT

I graduated court reporting school in PA back in 1995 and worked in the field for about a year. I am currently back taking some speed classes in California to try to pass the RPR in order to qualify to take the CSR. I still have a way to go as Im just passing the 150s now. My question is, it it smart to start taking the RPR early, especially the written knowledge portion? I read that as a student you should start trying the RPR when you are writing 200 just to get yourself familiar with the testing? What is your opinion on this? Thanks!!!

Student machine to professional machine

Sat, 6 Nov 2010 17:19:17 GMT

My question is for reporters in the field. Can you give me the 411 on the transition from a student machine to a professional machine. What I mean by that is:- When did you get your first professional machine? Beginning of school? Tail end of school? As soon as you passed your certification exam? After you became established as a reporter?- How was the transition from a student machine to a professional machine?- When should I consider looking into getting my professional machine? Im currently a student in 160.

Any advice/encouragement?

Fri, 5 Nov 2010 09:53:00 GMT

I am a new reporter. I have been working a little over a year now. It seems as though work in Michigan has pretty much dried up except for those already seasoned and in with a good agency. I have been trying since March of this year to find a new job and I am having no luck. It is mostly because of quot;inexperience,quot; or I dont have software (because where Im working now, theres no way I can even afford to rent or finance it) So my question is, how do I make myself for marketable? I certainly dont know everything and I certainly still make mistakes as new reporters often do, but I DO love this job. How do I get agencies to take me seriously? Im almost tempted to go back to school for something else because Im scared my career choice isnt going to work out. Any tips? Thanks.

Do you use Live Note?

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 22:21:00 GMT

Hi there! Im a student reporter who has been sitting out with reporters on depos, and I am hearing more and more about Live Note. I was just wondering how widely used it is. I am also curious to know if the reporter needs to purchase the software to run the program or if the software is only required on the attorne...ys part. Any info would be helpful, thanks.

How long does it take to become realtime certified?

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 21:10:47 GMT

Hi, Im a new user. Ive been reading the site and enjoying the questions and answers for a while, and here is my first question: Im wondering how long it took other reporters to become realtime certified, meaning youre able to write anything you hear at 95% accuracy the first time you hear it. When I started at my school, they said it could be done in 2 years, but knowing what I know now, I dont think that is realistic. Two years to learn theory, add every single obscure word you might encounter to your dictionary, build your speed up above 225, then battle your test nerves to the point where you can write perfectly on the first try? It seems crazy to me.Ive been speedbuilding for almost two years, practising about 15 hours a week on average (I work full time). I just passed my first 16o test, but with many, many mistakes (though I was able to decipher them and edit to achieve a pass on the test). Of course, I am doing this part-time, so I dont expect that I should be making full-time student progress, but Id love to hear how long it took the realtimers among us to get there. Anyone able to do it in two years? What is a realistic timeline? Thank you.

Do all proceedings in Georgia automatically write up?

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 19:59:17 GMT

Im a reporter in Cleveland, Ohio and we charge $63 an hour for our services here. I recently interviewed for a position in Atlanta, Georgia where I learned reporters only charge $25 an hour. This is the base rate before anyone takes their split. Im trying to figure out why theres such a difference in the hourly rate. Thanks

What is phonics table?

Wed, 3 Nov 2010 21:55:18 GMT

I read this somewhere in Mark K.s book when talking about captioning. I have no idea what that is. Can somebody please clue this student in?

What is E O Insurance

Wed, 3 Nov 2010 17:06:55 GMT

I read in the JCR the other day about E amp; O insurance. What is this exactly? Do all reporters have it? If so, is there a certain kind you should get? Thanks.

Stentura 400 SRT question

Wed, 3 Nov 2010 01:56:10 GMT

I have a Stentura 400 SRT. I went on vacation for a few days. I took my machine without the plug, but I ended up never using it. Now that I am back, I plugged it up and the green light is flashing constantly. I cleared the memory, but it is still flashing. Any idea why this is happening? I also unplugged it, removed the battery, put it back, and plugged it back up to no avail.
I can still use it to practice using realtime. Its working fine, but the green light just keeps flashing like crazy.
Thanks in advance!Shanna

How do you maintain speed after school?

Tue, 2 Nov 2010 21:46:23 GMT

225 wpm seems to be the magic number to graduate and to qualify for many court jobs. I was wondering how often do you hear people speaking at 225+, and hwo do you maintain that speed outside of school? Is it a matter of once you have it, you keep it?

Anyone selling their professional machine?

Tue, 2 Nov 2010 21:01:53 GMT

Hi. I am a student and I am about to graduate. I am looking for a professional machine that is in great condition. I have heard that a lot of people having the Stentura 8000lx and was wondering if anyone was selling their machine? I am looking at a price about $500 in cash. It doesnt have to be the Stentura 8000lx just any kind of professional machine. Thanks in advance!

How do you handle a rough being used in place of transcript for trial?

Tue, 2 Nov 2010 13:05:39 GMT

Expert deposition on Thursday. Trial scheduled to start on Monday. Attorneys hooked up with realtime and both ordered a rough. At the end of the depo they stipulated to use the rough as a quot;statementquot; by the witness and told me not to write up the transcript -- all in an effort to avoid the cost of an expedite. How do we deal with this and/or charge for this situation?

Do you accept credit cards?

Tue, 2 Nov 2010 12:13:14 GMT

Im an official and I have a lot of people ask if I accept credit cards. Besides the firms, is there anyone set up to accept credit cards? If so, what method do you use?

what do court reporters do to help with concentration?

Tue, 2 Nov 2010 00:06:09 GMT

Hi I am a court reporting student, and I want to know from court reporters what helps you with concentration? Do you practice in the dark? or practice with a lot of noise in the background that forces you to concentrate? Help!!Rosalina40

Start-up cost as a freelancer?

Mon, 1 Nov 2010 21:36:42 GMT

I am a student, paying school with loans and out-of-pocket. Id like to know straight up, what do I need in terms of equipment to freelance with, and how much will all this cost? Thanks much!

how to install Eclipse on Windows 7

Mon, 1 Nov 2010 21:13:34 GMT

I know! I should have support help me install it...dont have the $800 to get back up on my support plan. Was successful in loading software onto W7, with exception of audiosync. There are some compatibility issues. Anyone have a step by step fix for this too-poor-to-pay-support reporter??

Anyone using pdf-it?

Mon, 1 Nov 2010 16:02:23 GMT

I asked this question on FB yesterday, but I dont see my question. Not sure what happened so Im trying again. I am considering using something else besides RealLegals E-Transcript. Has anyone used pdf-it? What are your thoughts about this program? Its about half the cost.

Passport writer compatibility with CaseCatalyst

Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:17:45 GMT

Can anyone please tell me if there are any compatibility problems between the Passport writer and CaseCatalyst?

Which is the best machine, the Passport or the Diamonte? And why?

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:14:36 GMT

Which machine is a better to get, the Passport or the Diamonte? What are the differences between the two?

What digital recorder do you recommend and why?

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:16:27 GMT

I use a tape recorder for back-up, but it finally gave up the ghost and Im thinking its time to go digital. Because Id be using it as a back-up, I need one with an indexing function so I can easily jump to areas where I only need to listen to specific parts of the recording. I turn my transcripts around in under 2 weeks, so I dont need a ton of storage capacity. And of course price is always a factor.

Has anyone seen a correlation between court reporting and hypertension? (sorry if this is a waste of a question)

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 02:51:02 GMT

So this could make me sound like a hypochondriac, but my blood pressure readings have gone up over the past few years since I became a working reporter - no, for real. Sure, it may the quot;white coat sydromequot; of being in a doctors office, but most of my readings are now in Stage 1 hypertension.I know Im making a ridiculous cause-and-effect analysis, but I dont fit a lot of the criteria for hypertension either - other than heredity - and it was much lower before. Has this happened to anyone else?

How do I quit repeating words in my head?

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:11:24 GMT

I have just noticed that I started repeating what I hear in my head as I hear them, its making me fall behind and write slower than what I should be. I just got to 180 speeds and not sure why I started this but its very frustrating!

Transcribing Steno into English

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 04:01:51 GMT

Im in Theory 1 studying StenEd, and were using the GlobalCat program for our drills, one of which is NoteReader, where we are presented with the steno outline and then need to type in the corresponding English word. When I find that I do this right after I finish a steno drill, I get a little confused with my typing--meaning, I know what the English word is, but when I go to type it on the regular keyboard, I mistype it. One of my classmates says she doesnt bother typing it out; she just says each word to herself in her head, verifies its correct, and does the whole exercise that way. Is this a better way of going about it, or is it more helpful in the long run to be able to switch between the two easily and quickly?Since Im a new student, Im thinking it might be good for me to absorb the steno keyboard completely without bringing the regular keyboard in as interference, especially when Im in my quot;practicing zonequot;. What do you all think?

Who has the best Eclipse tutorial DVDs?

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 20:32:04 GMT

Im looking for some good Eclipse tutorial DVDs on the market. I know Keith Vincent does some, but theyre kind of quot;stiffquot; and I sometimes get lost. Are DVDs worth the money, or is it better to just attend a training seminar?

Is it a style issue?

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 06:48:08 GMT

Do you nish cap Internet? Do you nish cap Web site? Is it: Web site, Website, website, or web site? Is it a style issue or is there a rule somewhere?

Centimeter vs. Sonometer

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:11:40 GMT

When a doctor pronounces quot;centimeterquot; as quot;sonometer,quot; how do you spell it in your transcript?

What is a macatel

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:29:30 GMT

I had a 911 dispatcher say the officers communicate by radio and phone. They also have macatels that the use as well for communication.I cannot find that word anywhere.

Has anyone ran out of time because of financial aid?

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 17:02:58 GMT

I am hearing that I have 4 years to receive financial aid before I cant get it anymore. If I need longer than four years, is there a solution (other than paying cash for tuition)? Can you take time off and go back and be eligible again or does it not work like that? Would switching schools change anything?

What do I do if I dont get through school in the time given?

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:32:52 GMT

I am faced with having a certain amount of time to get through the speeds and receiving financial aid. I do not want to be done but I am behind on the speed I should be at and have a year left of financial aid. Can students take time off and come back to finish or do I just have to be done when I quot;run out of timequot;? Has anyone had this problem and are there any solutions?

Trying to find someone close to service my writer

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:51:51 GMT

I live in California in the San Fernando Valley. Its time to get my machine serviced (well past time) and Im trying to find someone close to where I live. The closest place is about an hour away and my car is incapacitated, which means at least a four hour bus ride round trip to get it serviced. My other option is to mail it to San Diego, but then I wont have my machine for school.Anyone know a place close to Los Angeles or the San Fernando Valley who can service my writer.Thank you!Aunyx.

If you need a conference room in Houston near Hobby Airport...

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:33:09 GMT

They have nice new conference rooms now, $300, I hear. 713 640-3000 x29-4100 Room 201.2A or B. I would recommend B, because A is close to a door where there is a lot of traffic. They are nice and large for videos. If any reporters remember the old Hobby Airport conference rooms, they are nothing like those! Its nice for clients flying in for a depo. And we can park in short term for 5 hours for $7 which isnt bad. If you want to park longer, park across the street. GYI.

What is good about the Diamante?

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:27:18 GMT

So I was looking into buying the Diamante. I need to trade my student one in, and I was wanting to know about the Diamante? What is so great about it? Is it easy to use? Do you need a computer to do realtime with it ? Please help me. I dont want to spend that much money and be dissapointed. Thanks!

Help! Can I buy a charger at retail store for Stylus?

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 11:01:27 GMT

I have a fairly new Procat Stylus. Yesterday while sitting in criminal court, I realized that my charger for my machine was not working. I tried everything I knew to do to make it work, but it wouldnt. Can I go to a store such as Radio Shack or Best Buy and buy a charger that will work for my machine? I have a jury term that starts on Monday. Today is Friday. Dont think Ill get it in time if I order it online.....HELP!! Also, can anybody tell me where the battery is in this thing and if I can buy a spare to avoid situations like the one Im in now??

What is the average pay for a scopist?

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:52:26 GMT

I am a medical transcriptionist that is interested in getting into scoping if it is worth the cost of learning it. I have seen programs online that cost around $1800, so I am interested in the average pay for scopists.

What is the typical pay for a scopist?

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:23:52 GMT

I am a med transcriptionist that is interested in getting into scoping if it is worth the cost of learning it. I have seen programs online that cost around $1800, so I am interested in the average pay for scopists.

I am a member of Ethics First, are you?

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:17:49 GMT

Im proud to announce that Ive been appointed to the NCRA Ethics First committee this year. The first meeting of the committee was held this past weekend, and one of the tasks on the committees long to-do list is encouraging court reporters and firms to sign up with the program. NCRA membership is not a requirement to sign up and participation is FREE. It is my hope that all reporters will become a members. Each of us must do our part in upholding the integrity of our profession, and this is a great way to demonstrate that commitment to the public at large.The committee will be hard at work this year promoting and encouraging involvement among our colleagues and educating on the importance of the Ethics First program to the members of the bar.More detailed information on Ethics First and a sign-up form can be found by visiting: http://ncraonline.org/ethicsfirst/logo/Proudly display that you uphold the highest degree of professionalism when it comes to your gift-giving practices. Join today!

Are you losing business to national court reporting firms?

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:50:24 GMT

I freelance for a small firm in Boston. We have lost several insurance defense clients who are being told by the insurance company that they must use a certain national court reporting firm or can only use a firm on their quot;approvedquot; list. One of our clients went to bat for us after seeing what this national firm was charging, and got the okay to keep using us. We have anti-contracting in Massachusetts. This seems to be happening more and more. We provide good service at a reasonable for our clients, and yet theyre being told they cant use us. Have other reporters/agencies come across this? What have you done to fight it and how do you get on the quot;approved listquot;?

What are the rules to practice in Wyoming?

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:09:44 GMT

I understand that they do not have a state certification. Do I have to be a notary in their state to swear in witnesses? Thanks!

Case Catalyst Formatting Speakers

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:47:41 GMT

Hi, I just got Case Catalyst 11 and have a question. I work for a company where I transcribe audio files and email them the transcript. For their format, they want a space between each speaker (initials), for example:JB: Speaking something about something.single space in betweenRS: This is my reply to the previous speaker.So far I have had to (after copying the file from case to Word) manually go between each speaker and hit the Return key, and was wondering if there is an easier way to format Case so that after every speaker it puts a single space? Thank you very much for your time!!

Where to buy ink for Protege?

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 01:50:38 GMT

Im a theory student with a Protege and I think I may be running out of ink soon. I was told by my instructor to buy at Stenograph; the cartridge seems reasonable at $15 but the shipping is $8.45 (regular), which seems like a lot. Is this just expected for buying ink or does anyone know of a better place to buy? Thanks.

Confused About RPR Requirements

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 15:51:09 GMT

According to the NCRA website, starting this month, you dont need to be a member of NCRA to take the RPR. But, I am so confused about the last sentence on this paragraph on their requirements: quot;Starting with the 2010 October WKT and the November skills exams, candidates no longer need to be members of NCRA in order to take the RPR. Candidates must be stenographic reporters in order to take the RPR.quot;Does quot;Candidates must be stenographic reporters in order to take the RPRquot; mean that you have to be a working court reporter, hold another certification, or have stenographic experience? Can students take the RPR exam? Thanks in advance! Have a wonderful weekend.

What advice do you current reporters have for students?

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:59:33 GMT

Olivia Minato Shirley ReadBack.org: I recently met a court reporting student who was discouraged by someones comments regarding electronic recording being the upcoming thing. I was a court reporter in California for 25 years and have heard about the threats of ER for most of that time. I have been retired for 7 yrs now and would like to hear from those of you in the field currently.

Are court reporters required to file transcripts with the Circuit Court when requested by a party?

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:28:34 GMT

I took a depo in June. In October, the attorney who ordered the copy had his secretary call me to tell me that I needed to file the transcript with the court and they would be sending me back the transcript that they received with copies of exhibit. Today I received an unbound copy with exhibits with a letter saying this is my responsibility and to do so as soon as possible. Is this my responsibility? Ive been in this industry for twelve years and have never heard of a reporter being responsible for this duty.

What are some things that can be done to pinpoint exactly what is keeping me from moving up in speed?

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:10:33 GMT

I am a student in my 140s. I have been in them for 3 quarters (1/2 of one quarter, all last quarter, and now this quarter.) I passed a 140 Lit the very first quarter I was in 140s, and passed 1 JC the last day of last quarter, but that is it. The thing that doesnt make sense is while practicing I am getting it at 140 and a lot of times even 150, but come test time I blow it? Is there any advice yall can give me?

requesting records

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:26:20 GMT

When an attorney asks the witness, especially a doctor, do you request a copy of that for yourself. Any document, per say, but especially if its a medical note/record? Thanks!

Finger drills specific to right hand pinkie and index finger?

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 02:02:58 GMT

I am a student at the 100-120 range, and Ive kept a running log of my trouble spots since beginning Theory. My pinkie and ring finger of my RIGHT HAND is where I need a lot of work. I commonly mistroke periods (ex: FPL, not FPLT), commas (ex: RGB, not RGBS), and the number 9, especially at higher speeds. I hope to one day create these common misstrokes as alternative strokes in my dictionary (whenever I figure out how to do that!)... but in the meantime...Is there anything I can do to strengthen those two fingers? I use Realtime Coach, so if anybody knows of any specific drills, that would work nicely. What about books, tapes and (preferably), videos/dictations from websites?
I think that strengthening those fingers might help with other words that Im misstroking, and will probably serve me better in the future as speed progresses.
Thanks so much! ~Jillian

Is there an online dictionary of hyphenated words?

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 11:01:33 GMT

I know there are books but does anyone have an online source?

How do I overcome those little words?

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 22:34:58 GMT

Hi! This is Rosalina (AKA) patty. I need help. I always drop the little words. I dont drop in chunks, just the small words. I know they are just as important as the big words. Any suggestions? I always think I passed a test because I feel I didnt drop, but when I transcribe the test, it is all the small words I missed. Thanks

Eclipse Support Contracts, are they worth the money?

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:41:49 GMT

Well, its that time of year again. Eclipse wants their $595 for a year of support. ($630 if you divide it into four payments) I used it twice last year and both times I called fellow reporters and got the answers I needed quicker than support could return my call! I had it for years, but let it lapse and got slammed with outrageous fees for each year I hadnt renewed, on top of the yearly fee. Anyone have any suggestions for cheaper alternatives? Thank You.

What is the correct parenthetical for a portion of the transcript that is confidential?

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 08:29:47 GMT

There is a portion of this expedite transcript that the attorneys want to be confidential and literally taken out of the middle of the transcript and made into another small transcript thats seperate because of a motion of protective order. How do I note that in a parenthetical at that point in the transcript and also on the cover/title page of the confidential transcript? Ive never run across this situation and after pulling an all-nighter to get this done my brain isnt functioning at this point! :) Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Student Test Transcription Suggestions

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:34:06 GMT

As if this schooling werent frustrating enough, I flubbed another test tonight. It might have been a pass too, which is why I need your help. Im an online student in the 160 class, and tonight I realized that I may not be transcribing my tests in the most efficient manner. It never mattered before, but now its becoming an issue. We have an hour to transcribe and upload a five-minute test. I have tried so many different methods of transcribing -- editing in CaseCAT, typing the entire test from my notes, printing the test and correcting it on paper then typing it, etc. -- but, now that the tests are longer, I just seem to run out of time. Im only short a couple of minutes each time, so I think that an efficient transcribing quot;processquot; may give me the minutes I need. What method do you recommend for efficiently transcribing tests? Do you have a step-by-step process that works well? How do you handle untrans that you cant decipher? Ive been at this speed way too long. I only need one more test to get out, Ive already passed four! Im willing to try anything. Please help!

What is the work like in Texas?

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:50:56 GMT

I know things can change from month to month, but in general is there enough work to go around in Texas, specifically Austin? What about Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, etc? Are there any places where business is booming? Thanks in advance :)

Interesting Dilemna... need advice!

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:47:21 GMT

I just moved to a new neighborhood where I met a very nice neighbor who wants me to meet other neighbors and set up a walk for tonight for a few of us. I got home late from my deposition and rescheduled with the women. There was a general group notice I replied to. Another woman replied that she was in quot;meetingsquot; all day and shell have to reschedule as well. When I got her reply, I realized it was todays deponent who was testifying for her husband who was accused of sexually harassing their employee. It was a pretty personal depo and Im mortified and dont know if I have any ethical issues now. Do I wait until I turn the depo in to meet quot;the neighborsquot;, or does it matter and just count as what it is, a coincidence. I would never tell anyone else in the neighborhood that I took her deposition and that part of it will be awkward enough, but do I need to disclose to anyone else anything?

New York City Court Salaries?

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:15:04 GMT

I dont know if this link will work, but I saw this job post for a court stenographer. Perhaps I am reading wrong, but it says the pay starts at $34k. Ive heard time and time again that court starts at $68k, so this is really disturbing to me. I will have school loans to pay, and to be honest, I could already be making $34k doing something else! Talk me down here!Kim http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/downloads/pdf/noes/201101013000.pdf

Fair and reasonable realtime rates?

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 17:01:55 GMT

I am interested in providing realtime to attorneys. I have worked on my writing and have spent time and energy perfecting my realtime translation. What should I expect to be paid per page extra from the court reporting firm? I live in the South. Considering that the attorneys are getting an immediate realtime feed, shouldnt it be more than $1.00 per page?I also have heard of additional charges, such as an appearance fee and extra hook-up fees.And should the firm receive any of the realtime commission, or should that all go to me? After all, it is my skill.

Will scoping be outsourced like medical transcription has?

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 15:03:30 GMT

I had seriously considered entering training in medical transciption a few years ago but decided against it after a friend shared with me that she had two close friends who actually could no longer find work as medical transcriptionists because of outsourcing of that work to India.I am now seriously considering enrolling in a scopist training program. But I just saw a website advertising services by scopists in Asia. Does anyone see a trend of scopist work also being outsourced out of the United States much as medical transcription work has?Thank you,

Is rumor true that the demand for scopists will decline because of....

Sat, 9 Oct 2010 01:15:15 GMT

Hello,I am seriously considering pursuing a scopist training course with the aim of working as a scopist while pursuing the rest of my court reporter education. I have heard mostly good things about the scopist program and the opportunities as a scopist..However, a former cr school classmate of mine told me that she had a heard a rumor that quot;the demand for scopists is expected to decline because of more court reporting writer machines going remote, wireless and paperless.quot; Is this true? Because of this rumor, she didnt pursue the scopist program herself.Any feedback would be much appreciated. I will wait to get any feedback before enrolling in the scopist program. Thank you :-)

Practice tapes or CDs

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 09:04:23 GMT

Does anyone have any high speed tapes or CDs I can buy? Or does anyone know of any websites where I can download or buy high speed dictation, as in 260 wpm?

What do you think of Min-U-Script?

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 07:32:43 GMT

I would like to know what other reporters think about Min-U-Script. Are you happy with it? Do the attorneys like it? Or do they want e-Transcript? Thanks,Vickie

Is the best choice for CaseCat11 laptop or notebook?

Thu, 7 Oct 2010 18:17:16 GMT

My working laptop is a 2003 Toshiba Satellite Pro and my software is CaseCat version 8. When I buy a new laptop my CC8 version wont work, so upgrade I must. Does anybody use a notebook to work with CC, and then transfer your work to a home laptop to transcribe and edit? I want to have the notebook or laptop as lightweight as possible, and I like the Toshiba. Does anybody have any suggestions on which model to chose, or perhaps another brand of computer they are happy with that works well with CaseCatalyst?

Are you interested in a CART assignment?

Thu, 7 Oct 2010 16:39:01 GMT

EveryWord is looking to network with CART providers interested in doing on-site CART or remote CART. Check us out at www.everywordinc.com. Interested? Please call us at 888-341-1114 or email us at scheduling@everywordinc.com

Theory for Spanish closed captioning?

Wed, 6 Oct 2010 20:16:26 GMT

I read somewhere that Spanish captioners get paid double. Is that true? Why cant I find anyone who does this? I cant even find what theory they use on Google. I speak and write both languages fluently so Im very curious about it. I know the JCR had an article about it in an old issue but there wasnt anything specific in it. It was a little broad and possibly outdated. Does anybody know where I can get more information about this?

Must you retake a class that you dont pass in court reporting school

Wed, 6 Oct 2010 16:09:12 GMT

In court reporting school, if you dont pass a class with the desired speed, must you retake the class and repay to take the class a second time?Thank you,

When students take longer than expected to finish court reporting school, is it because they are repeating classes?

Wed, 6 Oct 2010 13:15:02 GMT

Hello Everyone, I have a few questions. I hear often that it has taken many court reporting students on average 3-5 years to finish court reporting school. I am confused. Does that mean that for those particular students, they had to repeat many classes if they didnt reach the desired speed in them? Or is that these students went to school part time, taking only a few classes at a time? Is it allowed that you can take only a couple/few classes per quarter/semester instead of taking a full course load? And with online court reporting school, can you take only a couple of court reporting classes instead of a full course load at a time per quarter/semester? Thank you :-)

When students take longer than expect to finish school, is it because they are repeating classes?

Wed, 6 Oct 2010 13:00:06 GMT

Hello Everyone: I have a few questions. I hear often that it has taken many court reporting students on average 3-5 years to finish court reporting school. I am confused. Does that mean that fo those particular students, they had to repeat many courses if they didnt reach the desired speed in them? Or is that these students went to school part time, taking only a few classes at a time? Is it allowed that you can take only a couple/few courses per quarter/semester instead of taking a full course load? And with online court reporting school, can you take only a couple of court reporting classes instead of a full course load at a time per quarter/semester ? Thank you :-)

OFFICIAL REPORTERS: daily rough drafts

Wed, 6 Oct 2010 12:08:59 GMT

Hi - I am trying to figure out what to charge for daily rough drafts in a month long trial thats about to start. I have no idea what I should charges. Suggestions.

Realtime Coach: Is it worth it?

Tue, 5 Oct 2010 22:52:49 GMT

Hey guys.Im curious if anybody here has used Realtime Coach, particularly to help improve both their speed and accuracy? Im currently trying to pass my 140s, and while I do have the speed down, my writing cleanness could still stand to improve. Thanks in advance!Mike

How do you write cause when its short for because?

Tue, 5 Oct 2010 16:47:10 GMT

How do you write quot;causequot; when its short for because? Do you write it just cause, or with the apostrophe, cause?

What do you do with your JCR magazines after you read them?

Mon, 4 Oct 2010 18:53:17 GMT

I wonder what people do with their old JCR issues. I know that as a student, I have benefited immensely from reading old JCR magazines from my schools library that were donated by other reporters. With this post I was hoping to encourage reporters to donate their old issues to the school nearest to them.

I am an NCRA member and I know that as members we have access to an online archive. Unfortunately, the archive only has issues from 2000 to 2010. I was fortunate enough to have access to issues published before 2000 because of teachers at my school that were so kind to donate them to the schools library. Even though a little outdate, old issues have a wealth of wisdom to offer and information worth revisiting. I hope all reporters out there recognize the value that JCR magazines have and choose to not let them gather dust at home. :)

What do you do when a person interjects no in the middle of a sentence all throughout the depo?

Mon, 4 Oct 2010 08:40:43 GMT

I had a witness whose first language is spanish. And apparently in the Spanish speaking culture they say quot;no?quot; with the sound of a question mark in the middle of sentences. She did this throughouth the whole depo. It makes it look really strange when I surround it with dashes. What are your suggestions? Would also love to hear from a Spanish speaking reporter.

chronologically-brief. I write it 10 ways in one depo

Mon, 4 Oct 2010 00:21:58 GMT

Chronologically cant even really be interposed with anything-until you get to chronic, logic, logically, et cet. Tired of three strokes: cron/log/l. I want one:KRON/L maybe? what else could that possible be

When should one throw in the towel?

Sun, 3 Oct 2010 22:45:09 GMT

I am on my last quarter of financial aide and have one more quarter being paid for via a scholarship. But I am only testing 160 QA; 160; 160JC; and 140 LIT.I am now working full-time and then some to pay the bills and going to school 3/4 time.I feel like I have been training for court reporting for way longer then one should be and not even close to being there yet. When should one throw in the towel and just start trying to pay off the exorbinate school loans coming due? Should I have given up way before this?

Court Reporters that work in court

Sun, 3 Oct 2010 00:13:59 GMT

I am starting a job in court after freelancing and doing depos for a few years. Although I dont heavily rely on audio, I do find it a helpful tool just in case. I feel nervous to go to court and work without audio. Does anyone use audio in court? How can I make this transition effectively?

How high or low should the steno machine be?

Fri, 1 Oct 2010 19:05:40 GMT

I actually have two questions: 1) How high should the machine be? I see a lot of people with their machines right on top of their laps or even between their legs but have also heard that the wrists and forearms should be parallel to the floor. Im a pretty short person with short limbs, so if I adjust my machine to nearly on top of my lap, my wrists and forearms are definitely slanted down. A real quot;parallel to the floorquot; would be the position that piano players use, and I have played piano for years and can sit for hours in that position without feeling tired, but as you all know, piano keyboards are much higher than steno machines. For instance, here is an example of a pretty low machine, and his wrists and forearms are definitely slanted down. Maybe if someone could provide me with some videos or pictures of really good postures/positions, I would really appreciate it. I already feel myself getting a little uncomfortable with tension in the back area after an hour or so, so I definitely want to learn the correct position before it turns into a bad habit.2) Im about a month into theory and have learned almost all of the letters of the alphabet; what Im struggling with are the vowels. Whereas all the other fingers have their quot;placequot;, I tend to confuse A/O and E/U, because one thumb needs to take care of both. Its like I will accidentally stroke a letter and then a split second later realize my mistake, but I would love it if I could just not misstroke in the first place. Do you just keep the thumb hovering above the A/O and E/U and go to the left or the right as needed? Sorry if this isnt clear; I hope my question is at least a little bit understood =p

How much of a problem is stacking with pro machines compared to student machines?

Fri, 1 Oct 2010 19:00:30 GMT

I have a problem with stacking, I end up having lot of them in my transcript and I was wondering if this is due to the fact that Im writing with a student machine. I know that the professional machines have a feature specialized for decreasing the stacking problem so I wanted to ask reporters out there who had a similar problem when they were in school, if they noticed a significant change in the stacking problem once they purchased and started using a pro machine.

I only notice the stacking when editing my transcript, so it is hard to correct this habit while writing. I stack words like quot;andquot; as SKP, quot;toquot;, quot;ifquot;, quot;thequot;, quot;thatquot; with bigger words. Most of the time I can figure them out but sometimes I cant. For example, I write the word quot;wonderfulquot; as WUFL, I noticed I stacked quot;wonderful toquot; and it looked like TWOUFL so when editing I first though I meant to write quot;twoquot; and I figured it out but sometimes the slipped by unnoticed and mess up my transcript. Its a concern.

How do I get started as a proofreader?

Fri, 1 Oct 2010 12:47:09 GMT

I would like to do proofreading as a way to earn extra money while in school. What equipment do I need? Just Microsoft Word? Or should I have professional Case Catalyst (I have only the student version).

For attorneys eyes only?

Fri, 1 Oct 2010 10:23:44 GMT

How would yall handle this situation? During a depo there was talk of what percentages that certain companies pay to certain route drivers and the attorney asking the questions said this basically. He wanted an agreement from the other side that the questions containing these figures be for attorneys eyes only and that he would get with the reporter later. Well, at the end wed both forgot I guess. Now in transcribing Im wondering how to handle this. He agreed that the witness obviously knew this information, so maybe he actually answered his own self. Maybe thats why it wasnt brought up again. Obviously, the copy goes to the other side ordering it (being an attorney) and a copy to the questioning attorney and one for the witness. Is this just something that has nothing to do with me as the reporter and everything to do with the attorneys working it out for themselves if need be?

How do I find Conference rooms nationwide?

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:57:49 GMT

Im looking to do depositions in NY and elsewhere and would like to offer my clients conference rooms free of charge. Unfortunately, at the moment all I have found is Regus and their pricing is exorbitant. How are the agencies offering these services free of charge?

How do I find conference rooms nationwide if I want to take depositions in other states?

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:54:21 GMT

Im based out of NY.

How do I bill a non-party witness deposition - out-of-state?

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:03:40 GMT

I took the deposition of a non-party witness, out-of-state. I was told by a freelance reporter (where I live) that there are no quot;freequot;copies - to bill the ordering attorney per page, plus appearance fee amp; shipping, and for the other 4 attorneys, bill the same per page rate, split by 4, but charge each of them the same appearance fee, plus shipping. Its my own job, no agency involved - its not a client. (I am also asking to be paid before I ship the transcripts.) Any thoughts??

Stenographs Michelle McLaughlin Diamante on Law Order Los Angeles tomorrow!

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:40:51 GMT

The Diamante and I recently had the opportunity to film an episode of NBCs Law and Order Los Angeles, which premiers tonight at 10:00 PST. Tune in and you might catch a glimpse of us! Lets celebrate having a real reporter with up-to-date equipment appearing on film!Heres a link to NCRAs Facebook posting regarding the episode:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vienna-VA/National-Court-Reporters-Association/122735322780

What do you do when have NO AUDIO from that depo?

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:23:19 GMT

I am a new reporter who recently did a job for a friend. I was having a terrible morning that morning and I forgot to plug my computer in. I didnt realize until we were in the proceedings. I thought, its okay, my Diamante is recording even though my audiosynch is not. A certain unnamed person at Stenograph told me that there was a mic in there with equalizer, etc, and I did NOT need to purchase a mic. Also, the batteries on my digital recorder went out. I did not freak because I thought, and I am a new reporter, that it is being recorded on my $5,000 machine.Well, it didnt record, because it DOES need a mic. My notes are pretty good, but I need audio. I am so stressed. This is a good friend of mine and I do not want to let her down. I feel like a disgrace to the profession and that I should quit. Advice would be nice.

Does Passports audio sync with text in CaseCatalyst?

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:49:29 GMT

Does anyone that uses CaseCatalyst have the Passport steno machine? Are you able to sync the audio file from the Passport to your CaseCatalyst file? I know a few months ago they were having problems with it. Theyre telling me theyve fixed it now and that it does work. Just would like to hear someone who is actually using it confirm that its working. Thanks, Karen

How many copy orders for an 01, same firm?

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:14:18 GMT

If you have one law firm paying for an 0amp;1 but requesting three transcript copies or roughs, or whatever, for three attorneys within that firm, is this normally accepted practice to bill it as one copy or one rough but it is actually being distributed to three attorneys within that firm?

Free copies to attorneys: where does the reporter draw the line?

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 08:38:20 GMT

Should the reporter give away five copies that would be charged at 100% expedited copies and rough drafts? In other words, these are given away free due to an arrangement between depo agency and law firm but with a guaranteed 0amp;2 daily copy order. In other words, there are seven copy orders, but reporter is paid for the 0amp;2 only. (this is a class-action lawsuit, many more depos on the horizon.) Or does the reporter compromise, given the fact that there are more jobs to come in same case and at least two of the copy orders are expedited and/or roughs? Plus, theres the plaintiffs copy order: 0amp;2. Nonetheless, five copy orders are still given away. Please tell me what youve experienced and how this should or should not be handled, and what you would do. I love my work as a freelance reporter and would like to continue doing this for as long as Im able, but I dont want to shoot myself in the foot either. Thanks.

A website for individual reporters?

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 10:30:40 GMT

What is your opinion of a freelancer launching his/her own website listing services, etc., even though the reporter works as a staff reporter? When work slows down for whatever reason, one can feel out-of-sight/out-of-mind.

Brief for parenthesis.

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:50:09 GMT

This is a four-stroker for me and I ALWAYS hesitate on it. I need to shorten it and fast. Thanks.

Would you ever sic a doctor?

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 17:28:08 GMT

I took the deposition of a neuro oncologist in a brain tumor case. He kept referring to the placement of the brain tumor as the suboccipilary, which is not a word at least anywhere I can find. I think what he means to say is suboccipital (and he does say it later in the depo). Would you sic it or would you change it? Its not a video. And maybe I have the wrong word, but thats what it definitely sounds like.

Do you send reciepts for paid invoices?

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:02:38 GMT

Hello,I just want to know if any of you send reciepts for all invoices that were paid. For example, I sent an invoice to a law firm about two weeks ago. It was paid by their client within five days (yowza). My question is, should I send back an invoice marked paid?Thanks

Anyone have a brief for intermittent?

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:51:01 GMT

Anyone have a brief for intermittent?

Does anyone have problems with Windows 7 and CC?

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:46:03 GMT

Im new to CC. I have a Toshiba Satellite, Windows 7 and CC-11. My first job out after two hours, my realtime feed stopped working. I shut down, started back up and it ran for nine more pages. Shut down again and ran for two. Was wondering if theres some glitch with CC and Windows 7? Anyones suggestions would be appreciated.

Are there any steno readers out there?

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 11:33:48 GMT

Hey friends, are there any books out there that are printed in steno? I want to do more steno reading, but Id like to read something that isnt coming from my practice notes. Id like to be confident that Im actually reading something on-the-fly and not something that Ive spent time practicing and memorizing. Thanks!

Where do I find grammar punctuation websites?

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:58:58 GMT

I would like to practice writing punctuation and grammar sentences. Is there a website I can go to that has these types of exercises? Im a working reporter, but I need to keep my skills sharp. Thanks.

How do I bill for an out-of-state deposition?

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 09:00:17 GMT

I did an out-of state deposition - I was with the non-party witness in one state and the 5 attorneys were in another state over the phone. I was told because they are out-of-state to bill them COD. I did this job on my own (no agency) so Im not sure how to handle this. Do I just mail the transcript COD? Do I send them a copy of the bill first so they know how how much it will be in advance? Do I bill first and ask for payment before mailing the transcript?

How do you feel about transcribing from an audio recording?

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:25:22 GMT

I am doing a four-day trial that was recorded electronically. Of course, for the appeal, it needs to be transcribed. I know this is the trend for the courtroom of the future, but even with the very best technology it is taking me almost twice as long to listen and write as actually took place. There are four quot;channelsquot; or microphones in the courtroom: One for the Judge; one for the witness; one for the prosecutor; one for defense counsel. The problem is, I can listen to one channel at a time, or all channels at the same time. One channel at a time sounds great....no background noise, very clear. Until someone else speaks. Then I have to switch to their channel to clearly hear what they say, which requires going back a step and relistening. If I listen to all channels at the same time, it all sounds muffled and I know Im not writing verbatim. Granted, this will save counties money, not hiring a court reporter, but in the end, especially with an indigent defendant, the time it takes to transcribe is almost twice the cost of being there in the first place, and that cost falls, of course, back on the county.The entire time Im writing, Im thinking...if only theyd had me be there in the first place! And its so frustrating. Sitting my big butt down and actually writing on my machine when the laundry is calling in the other room, and that sounds so much more entertaining!

Is it permissible for an attorney to only order a rough draft?

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:38:27 GMT

Is it permissible for an attorney to only order a rough draft of a deposition and not the final transcript? This would be the noticing attorney, assuming the opposing attorney isnt going to order a transcript.

Starting All Over With School

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:11:02 GMT

I started school back in 2007 but due to lack of support and always comming short of a baby sitter I had to drop out of school. I want to start back this January but I have forgotten almost everything that I learned. When I left I had just passed my 80s and was moving on into my 100s. Do you have any advice or tips on how to get back into the swing of things so when school starts I wont be the only one feeling like its my actual first day?

What is the time it takes to edit

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:27:25 GMT

What is the time it takes to edit and proofread a transcript of 200 pages, ballpark?

Where to find tripod w/tray for laptop?

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 08:47:18 GMT

Hello everyone. Once again Im coming to yall for the answer. Does anyone know where to get one of those tripods that your machine will fit on and on the other side it has a tray that comes off of it to put your laptop on? I saw a reporter with one who was finishing up one witness before mine began and I asked her where she got it and she gave me the info, I wrote it down and lost where I wrote it, ugh... Naturally she was a reporter Id never met before and so I dont even remember her name. Thanks in advance!

Court Reporting Student Stuck at 225. Any tips???

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:34:30 GMT

I am a court reporting student who has passed all 3 jury charges and I just cannot get my lits or Q amp; As. I am missing my lits by 2-3% and recently I missed a Q amp; A by 11. After reviewing my notes, it looks like Im dropping only small words. I have no clue what to do to get over this hump. Does anyone have any ideas?

How do you transcribe years spoken incorrectly?

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:47:05 GMT

How would you transcribe the year 2005 when the witness says, two-oh-five? He did this with every year he stated, and I know he was referring to the year.

How do I fix my microphone recording problem?

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:41:31 GMT

I have a Martel USB mic, about six months old. As of a few days ago, it will start recording just fine, and throughout the depo, the recording will get quieter and quieter, with more static in the background, practically to the point of being useless. After a lunch break when its paused for a while, the recording will start off strong and then get quieter and quieter again. Ive tried cleaning out files on my computer to make for more space as to not slow down any programs, and Ive defragged the hard drive. These have helped slightly, but Im still having this problem. Help!

How do I properly take care of a Stentura Protege?

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:54:49 GMT

I just bought a used Stentura Protege that I want to make sure I take proper care of so it will see me through school. The only thing I know about it is never leave paper in there overnight. Now my questions are:- Is it better to use it plugged in or on battery power?- Is there a way to turn off the manual function (so the paper thing...sorry dont know what its called) does not turn? (When I am doing drills on the computer.)- I read in the online Stentura Protege manual that you can switch between manual and electric mode, but moving the red lever does not change anything for me.Thank you to anyone who can answer any of these for me.

How would you format the following question?

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 09:54:45 GMT

Question is: quot;Did you have occasion to review section Roman seven A of the policy?quot;
I need suggestions how to format quot;section Roman seven A,quot; please ... thanks!

Does anyone have trouble with Windows 7 and CC?

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 13:24:09 GMT

Im new to CC and on my first job I was reporting for two hours and my realtime feed stopped. Shut down, started up again and it only wrote for 9 pages and stopped again. Started again, only two pages. I have a Toshiba Satellite, Windows 7 and CC-11. Is there some glitch that I should be aware of between Win 7 and CC? Not sure where to start. Stenograph said try the specific USB adapter they use. Anyones suggestions would be great. Thank you.

I need help trancribing Prelim Exam, can anyone help?

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 10:00:39 GMT

Hello,So Im transcribing my first prelim hearing and I need some help because I dont know what to do on some parts.First off, the DA calls one witness, and then she calls three more witnesses, and then recalls the first witness. In the index, what should I put for that? Further direct, further cross...? And should I make an alphabetical or chronological index? I have alphabetical, so the witness name would appear twice...i dont know what to do on the index.... Also, I need help with the exhibits. I put a paren in (exhibits being marked for identification.) when they are marked. and then later, the judge receives the exhibits into evidence. Do i put a blurb saying (exhibits received into evidence) and then note that in the Index??Please Help!!

Have you seen the Dee Boenau video?

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 08:46:53 GMT

Dee Boenau won the NCRA realtime competition this past August in Chicago. She was featured on quot;Daytime,quot; a show she captions every day. She did an incredible interview that will make you proud to be in this industry. They even tried throwing her a curve ball, but she was right on top of it! Im so grateful that we have leaders in the court reporting field who do a great job representing our profession, especially these days when we have crazy governors saying reporters are old fashioned. If you havent seen the video, please check it out.Daytime Interview

Videographer states: Reporter appearing on behalf of defendant/plaintiff

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 22:18:33 GMT

Ive noticed the agency I work for has the videographer read into the record the following statement: On behalf of the plaintiff/defendant, the court reporter is (name of reporter). Does this give the implication that we are siding with one party or the other? And what if the plaintiff notices a deposition and the defendant cross notices? I dont feel we are appearing on quot;behalfquot; of any party, but more so at the quot;requestquot; to make a record. Does this statement give the appearance of impropriety, or is it perfectly acceptable to appear on quot;behalfquot; of one party?

Is it possible for Lightspeed BT to connect to a Mac?

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:59:44 GMT

I partitioned my macbook with Bootcamp and run Windows XP. My Lightspeed software works fine, but due to issues with the USB port conecction problems/damage, I figured using bluetooth would resolve future issues. I got a BT adapter and it was able to recognize the Lightspeed however it rejected the passcode. Stenovations confirmed the Lightspeed was not the problem, and so did the BT adapter company. So Im thinking the issue must be the fact Im using a macbook. Has anyone had issues with connecting their Lightspeed to any PC or a Mac Windows setup? And were you able to resolve it somehow?Thanks!

Is it possible to connect Lightspeeds bluetooth to Windows XP side of macbook?

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:54:16 GMT

I partitioned my macbook with Bootcamp and run Windows XP. My lightspeed software works fine, but due to issues with the USB port connection problems/damage, I figured using BT would resolve future issues. I got a BT adapter and it was able to recognize my Lightspeed, however when asked for passcode, it rejected it. Stenovation confirmed the lightspeed was not the problem, as did the BT adapter customer service. So Im thinking the issue must be that Im using a macbook.
Has anyone had issues with connecting their Lightspeed to any PC or a Mac Windows set up? And were you able to resolve it somehow?Thanks!

Southern California Market for Depo Reporters

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:42:06 GMT

What is the market like for Deposition Services in LA and OC?

My experience is that its been very slow the last two years. And yet the Bureau of Labor and Statistics state that job prospects are excellent: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos152.htm#outlook

Why the disconnect between what we hear, and our personal experience looking for work?

Style question about quotes

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:15:55 GMT

Stylistically, when an attorney says the word quot;quotequot; as in quot;Do you see where it says, quote, Today I sent an e-mail...quot;, do you leave in the word quot;quotequot; and still put quotation marks or take the word out if he is actually quoting from a document? Whats your style for this scenario?

Where do I find non-licensed work?

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:45:43 GMT

Where do I find non-licensed work, such as hearings, conferences, and podcasts in the San Franscisco Bay Area? Signed, Nancy Needs to Work

Which Organization Should I be Member of?

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 03:42:03 GMT

With so many wonderful Court Reporting organizations out there, Im a bit overwhelmed in deciding which one to be a member of. Of course, I plan to join the NCRA, but is being a member of any other organizations necessary? Theres the DRA, CCRA, COCRA, etc. Should I be members on all organizations? Also, is it beneficial to be a part of the NVRA? Thanks!

How do I re-choose software?

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:58:04 GMT

Next year I plan to buy a new laptop, but my current software doesnt work on Windows 7 (CaseCat8), so I will have to repurchase the latest version. To lower my repurchasing costs, Im reviewing other editing software programs. Has anybody got an opinion about ProCat? My goal is to go to court. Id appreciate any honest feedback from working reporters.

case catalyst software

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:56:52 GMT

When I read my files from El Mira, only notes get read and not the audio file. Is there a setting somewhere that I havent set? ( Had computer to crash and reinstalling software and its out of support.)

Licensing Requirements in Oregon?

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:06:02 GMT

I am a licensed reporter in California (I have my CSR), but I am thinking about moving to Portland, Oregon. What are the licensing requirements in Oregon? And do I have to pass the Oregon CSR in order to freelance? What is the average page rate in the Portland area?

csr new format guideline rules for california

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 07:39:17 GMT

crb has a quot;new minimum transcript guidelinequot; which is adopted for california. csr canidates MUST be within these guildliines or their test will not be graded; however, although they gave us the information and a sample format - which looks so crazy we know its more of a sample NOT to imitate - NO ONE uderstands it! if we call and ask for clarification, they just refer us back to the sample. IF WE COULD UNDERSTAND IT, WE WOULDNT BE CALLING!!!! even instructors arent sure. is there anyone out there who DOES understand it, and if so, there are a ton of people who can use your advice, including me!

How Do I Train a Scopist?

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:11:25 GMT

I have read a lot about scopists, and it seems that a good one is worth his or her weight in gold. I know a VERY meticulous person that would do a great job. I would like to train her to scope for me over the next year, if shes interested. Are there any training programs you would recommend?

How do you like your Lightspeed writer?

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:51:56 GMT

Anyone working with a Lightspeed out there? I had the chance to borrow one for a couple of months, and although it takes some time to get used to it, when I finally did I loved it. Nice to be able to sit back and truly relax my shoulders. And it was so amazing not having all that heavy gear to carry around!
And now they have a couple of new models out, and I cant stop thinking about taking the leap...

What should I expect from a scopist?

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:43:02 GMT

I had a scopist/proofer that was recommended to me scope some work. This person did sort of a crappy job. The witness was hard, yes, but there were questions and answers missing, a lot of phrases missing, some words that were wrong, some words that were not looked up and incorrectly spelled, problems with punctuation, etc. I am re-scoping and re-doing the whole thing. Do I just have to pay this person anyway and never send them stuff again?

Working with a Macbook

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:27:29 GMT

Does anyone work out there using a Macbook? Ive come across my share of unreliable PCs and Im wondering if using a Macbook (running on Windows while I work, of course) will make a difference. Are steno machines compatible with Macs? Also, so I dont break my back, would a Macbook Air be a wise investment? Thanks!

When to hyphenate the degrees of murder

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:00:04 GMT

Do you hyphenate quot;first-degreequot; when it is being phrased something like, Joe committed murder in the first degree?

How do you write distinct/distinction?

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:25:34 GMT

I hate this word. Can anybody help me with a brief for distinct? At the present time Im using STK-EUPBGT and I hate it. It was from my old theory, so Im ready to try something new. Thanks

Does anyone have a stroke for new line?

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:46:04 GMT

Can anybody give me a stroke for creating a new line when writing on the machine?Thank you,Trudi

What should I practice to pass the qualifier

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:56:35 GMT

I just passed my ten minute, and now I am in the qualifier. What should I practice to pass that qaulifier soon.

Can I get a transcript out of Autoarchive and back into its rightful place?

Thu, 9 Sep 2010 21:04:48 GMT

Here is a good one. I was working on a transcript for my internship in CaseCAT and went to change the layout from 2 to 1. When I did, I told it to overwrite it. What came up was the unedited version. Oh no. I found it in the Autoarchive area and am now trying to move it back to where I had it in the first place. The help section of CaseCAT hasnt been much help. Any suggestions? If I cant get it back to where it was, can I continue to work on it in the archive section without stressing?

Connecting Steno machine Ethernet/VGA?

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 18:36:25 GMT

Sorry for the vague title, but heres whats going on. I have a steno machino whose only port is a VGA (9-pin serial port). I would connect one of those ethernet-like cords together with VGA converter at each end, one to my machine and one to my computer. Well... now I bought a new computer because I upgraded to CaseCATalyst 11. I dont have any spare VGA ports to attach my machine to (only one, and thats for the monitor)!! I tried using the VGA adaptor from machine then straight into the new computers ethernet jack, but Steno couldnt find it. Does anyone have any solutions or any ideas? I could return this new computer, but can I buy one with extra VGA ports? Sorry for all the questions, Im in a $360 jam!

What hand-held digital recorder do court reporters recommend?

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 20:38:14 GMT

What hand-held digital recorder do court reporters recommend? I am a student using a Sony Model Number: ICD-UX200WHT, but Im not sure if I need a quot;betterquot; recorder to use as a backup if my laptop mic fails. I would like to hear from you guys as to what brand/model you use and why you like it. Thanks!

Idaho reporting prospects

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 17:51:03 GMT

Im wondering how busy are the courts in Idaho and if they are even hiring. Does anyone know? Do you need to pass the states license certificate test or is an RPR sufficient to work in the courts there?

How is court reporting in North and South Carolina?

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 15:04:54 GMT

Hi Everyone,Im almost done with school and Im thinking about moving to North or South Carolina right after I graduate. I would really appreciate any advice/information about your experiences as a court reporter in these two states, good or bad! Please share which city you work in and if you know of any agencies that are great to work for and if they will hire someone right out of school. Also, Ive heard that there is no state certification required for North and South Carolina. If anyone can confirm that for me, that would be great. I do plan on getting my RPR, but it will be nice to know that I can start working right away. Thanks in advance!

StenEd Discouragement. PLEASE HELP!

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 14:38:43 GMT

Hi Everyone,I am a student in the 180s and I am starting to feel very discouraged because I learned the Sten Ed theory and it is VERY stroke intensive. (Im talking about most words being 3 strokes and some 4 because they always want you to come back for the inflected ending as a separate stroke.)I switched schools and everyone at my new school learned a different theory and it feels like I am having to stroke out a lot more things than they are.It doesnt really bother me in the slower speeds stroking everything out like I usually do, but with the higher speeds, when I am trying to stroke out the 3 stroke word, I am missing like 3 or 4 words that go by.I was thinking, should I try to slip in the inflected endings somehow? Im just kind of going back and forth with that idea and if it would be worth it because I would have to change a lot of my dictionary entries.Do you think it would be worth it? Or should I just continue the way I am and it will become quot;easyquot; once Ive mastered the speed?Really confused as to what to do and Im becoming very discouraged.. please let me know your thoughts.

How Often Do You Use Fix Mispronounced Words?

Sun, 5 Sep 2010 09:50:54 GMT

How often do you change what someone says in a transcript if its a mispronunciation or slang? Does it matter if the attorney or witness says it? Do you sic afterwards or leave it be? Specific examples: would you change quot;heighthquot; to quot;heightquot;? or quot;irregardlessquot; to quot;regardlessquot;? or a mispronounced medical term but you know what the term is theyre trying to say? Im trying to think of other examples but the quot;heighthquot; one is one that just came up for me so thats kind of sticking first and foremost in my head right now. Thanks.

What is the best theory for broadcast captioning?

Sun, 5 Sep 2010 03:30:24 GMT

I am currently attending West Valley College and learning Sten Ed theory, but I have recently heard some disaparaging remarks made about West Valley and also about Sten Ed being stroke-intensive. My ultimate goal is to work in broadcast captioning, so I am just wondering what theory you use (especially if you are a captioner!) and how well it has served you. I also have a feeling that I may end up transferring to another school (but I do want to give West Valley a try for at least a semester, since this is the closest brick and mortar school to me within miles and miles and it is NCRA accredited). The school will probably be online, and Im considering CCR, SimplySteno, or learning StenoMaster (though Im not sure if any online schools teach this). From my understanding, the only school that will not need me to switch theories is SimplySteno, but that cuts out the other options. I just want to make sure that I quot;prepquot; myself to be a captioner in the right way and give myself the best opportunity for success, as I know it will be a long hard road anyway.Thanks for reading.

Problems with getting paid.. what should I do?

Sat, 4 Sep 2010 16:34:26 GMT

I would love some advice. One of the agencies I work for is getting worse than ever with payment. Im due a significant amount of money from months ago. The only time I get paid is if I ask if the invoices have been paid yet. Even then, Ill be told my check is coming and it never does. I have to keep calling and asking where my money is. Im getting a little fed up with it. I hear all the time that its normal to wait a long time to get paid, but months and months and a lot of money later?? What should I do?!

What is the best invoicing software for freelance reporters and sole proprietors?

Sat, 4 Sep 2010 11:17:33 GMT

Whats the best billing software for court reporters working as freelancers and/or sole proprietors?

Does anyone know when the next California CSR is?

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 17:49:22 GMT

Does anyone know when the next California CSR exam is? I cant seem to locate the answer anywhere.Thanks,Trudi

How do I format interpreted videotape

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 17:00:08 GMT

Ive got a trial with a videotape and an interpreter live translating the video for the judge. How do I format this and especially when she (the interpreter) continually stops her translation and says she does not understand whats being said in the language she is translating from. Thank you. All help is appreciated.

Effect vs. affect

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 16:16:28 GMT

Im still having troubles with this word. I know the noun/verb scenario, but is there an easier way to remember the difference? I have struggled with this word for years. Thanks in advance!

Are other courts not paying invoices?

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 16:29:16 GMT

I am an official in CA and was informed yesterday that my court would not being transcript invoices until a state budget is passed. I am wondering if this has happened to any other CA officials? And if it has, are we able to charge late penalites on invoices that arent paid timely?

Any advice about prison depositions?

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 14:26:22 GMT

Hi, Im going to take my first prison deposition next week. Would appreciate any advice from anyone who has taken one on what to expect, what to wear, what to pack/not pack in my bag.

How to politely ask to SLOW DOWN.

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:02:43 GMT

I started working earlier this year, and when I went out interning, I was taught not to interrupt if I can help it so as not to annoy the attorneys and throw off their quot;flow.quot; I was told that if the speed was getting away from me, just go back and check the audio later. Well, needless to say, that creates much more work for me when transcribing, AND it makes me feel very frustrated.So my question is this: How do you politely and respectfully ask the witness and/or attorney to slow down?Thank you!

Does anyone have SearchMaster and if so do you like it and use it?

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:11:46 GMT

Im jut wondering if anyone out there has the SearchMaster program and if so do you use it and like it? I bought it several years ago. Never able to really get it working. I even went through the tutorial. Am I doing something wrong?? Any ideas? I love the idea of it, would love to get it working, but so far -- nothing.

Confusing Definitions: involuntary manslaughter and manslaughter.

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:50:56 GMT

Okay, so I was wondering what the real difference between involuntary manslaughter and manslaughter is. Involuntary manslaughter: The unintentional killing of another while in the commission of an unlawful act or while in the commission of a reckless act.Manslaughter: The unlawful killing of one human being by another without malice aforethought. These are two different counts that a person can get charged with, correct? So I assume that an example of involuntary would be if you were driving drunk and you killed someone in another car because you were in the commission of a quot;reckless and unlawful act,quot; but what if you got in an accident and killed someone while not drunk? And it was totally not expected? Could you be charged with manslaughter since you fit under the definition of quot;without malice aforethoughtquot; and you werent doing anything reckless or unlawful?Also, which is the lesser of the two sentences?

Just Curious to Find Out if you edit on your laptop or desktop?

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:02:48 GMT

When I started reporting, reporters were taking down their jobs on a laptop and transferring the job to their desktop computer and then editing the job. I would like to know how many reporters only use one computer to take down and produce the final product.

Diamante Writer vs. elan Mira?

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:02:09 GMT

I am thinking about trading in my elan Mira writer for the Diamante writer. Anyone have any comments about the Diamante versus the elan Mira? Do you still use the laptop with the Diamante? Looks like a full-size screen it.

What is the best way to pass the RPR literary?

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:44:09 GMT

Does anyone have ANY suggestions as to literary material to pass the RPR? I have taken the RPR lit. several times and have had a hard time passing it. Its the last leg that I need to become certified. Any help would be appreciated.

Should I change my covers to reflect how witness spelled his name?

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:10:59 GMT

On the caption, my deponents name is spelled Medeiro. The notice of deposition is for Medeiro. They were addressing him as Mr. Medeiro. It is being interpreted. 25 pages in, it is testified that his name has an S at the end, Medeiros. Im going to leave the caption alone, but should I put the deponents name as Medeiros on all my covers?Im thinking yes, other than the worry that someone might think were deposing someone other than the person on the caption.What do you all think about this? Thanks.Clay

Whats the best way to recover after a short lapse in practice?

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:41:08 GMT

Two weeks of outside obligations kept me from practicing enough. What works the best for getting back up to speed and accuracy? Lots of slow dictation? High-speeds? Simple drills? Hard vocab? Im close to passing 100 (more accurately, I was two weeks ago!)

How do you personally maintain accuracy w/ Realtime?

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:26:14 GMT

Im in my last semester of speedbuilding and my concern is maintaining accuracy should I have to do realtime. What percentage of accuracy are you able to maintain on an everyday basis? Did you struggle with quot;keeping upquot; in real life after graduation or was it easier or about the same as your schooling? If you use realtime, do you get a lot of untranslates? How long did it take to get used to the change in speakers (such as 4-voice in a courtroom)?Thank you very much for your help!

Approaching the bench

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:55:17 GMT

I am a freelance reporter and just took a trial. Is there a parenthetical that I should put into the transcript for when there is a conversation at the bench, and then when we go back when the jury can hear?

Stentura 8000 dictionary

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:01:53 GMT

Hello, Does anyone know how to get the dictionary from the Stentura 8000 onto a Floppy disk? A reporter friend of mine lost her dictionary and wanted to know if there was a way to get it from the machine to the disk. And now for my Public Service Anouncement. Remember ladies and gents, always backup, backup, backup. You can never have too many backups of backups.

What is the equipment needed to use a scopist in another part of the USA?

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:50:43 GMT

I have a scopist locally who is not keeping me happy enough. So I need another scopist so I never have to do it. I have the E-transcript software. I still have Stenocat Explorer -- it is OLD, but I love it.If I bought a digital recorder and used that, what else would I need to be able to send the unedited job to someone via e-mail? Thanks, Carol DeBee Martin

Professional looking invoices

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:09:33 GMT

Hello,I need to make an invoice, ASAP, but I dont have Microsoft Office or Word, and cant really afford to get the program right. now. Does anyone know where I can get an invoice template that I can type in to send out. I took a hearing for a lady and she wants me to bill it out myself. Ive never had to send out invoices to an attorney where I needed something official and professional. I have always just made my own to send to firms. Can anyone point me to a site? Thanks.

anyone ever experienced...

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:56:23 GMT

has anyone ever had their machine start beeping in the middle of a job and a box come that says something like: All audio data will be lost in ten seconds, insert a formatted sd card??? and then the mic stops working and it says: all audio data lost?

Mine just did that and I guess I lost the audio on the file i was workin...g on and now it wont turn back on. now I dont know if I lost all my audio on my sd card or just this file.

In-class vs. Online Court Reporting Programs

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:48:00 GMT

Weigh in on the advantages and disadvantages of in-class vs. online court reporting programs.

Has anyone transferred from going to school on campus to online?

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:06:09 GMT

Im currently going to school on campus in FL and Im thinking about transferring to an online school. Has anyone done that, and if so, can you share your experience and which online school you transferred to? Thanks!

Working in New Jersey

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:19:26 GMT

Does anyone know if you need to be certified to freelance in New Jersey? Ive been freelancing in NY for 21 years. I got a job right out of school and have been lucky enough to be busy since then. Im thinking of sticking closer to home now that I live in NJ but dont really know if I can get something here if Im not certified. Im considering the tests but I want to see what is out there. Thanks!

Trouble Punctuating 1 digit year

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:59:34 GMT

This has bothered me forever. Im so glad theres a venue where someone probably knows the answer and I feel inclined to actually dig, lol. In this sentence where would you put the apostrophe for the year thats spoken by using only one digit?A. I graduated in the year 2003 or 4. Im not really sure. Could have been 04 or 5.

Depo Transcript Fees

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:16:32 GMT

When preparing a 5-day expedite transcript for my agency, I was surprised to find out, I, as the reporter, wasnt allowed to charge an expedited rate. The agency itself charges the attorney expedited rates, but will only pay the reporters expedited rates on 3-day expedites. In other words, I prepared a 5-day expedite while getting paid for 10-day turning around. Im a new reporter and they told me that no agency gives their reporters expedited rates. Im wondering if this is true for most agencies, or just mine. Seems to me the agency I was interning with paid reporters expedited fees on 5 days. Hope it doesnt sound petty on my end, but being a new reporter, it does take a long time to prepare transcripts. I guess I learned my lesson that in the future, unless Im actually getting paid for an expedite, there will be no late nights to complete that particular job.

How do you do realtime hookups?

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:38:49 GMT

And do I really have to purchase that $140 kit from Stenograph? Thanks!

Can Case Catalyst software get audio files from Mira?

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:17:28 GMT

When I read my files from El Mira, only notes get read and not the audio file. Is there a setting somewhere that I havent set? ( Had computer crash and reinstalling software and its out of support.)

Do you correct witnesses when they say shake their head, point instead of describe, or say uh-huh?

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:59:45 GMT

Do you correct witnesses when they say shake their head, point instead of describe, or say quot;uh-huhquot;? Or do you think that is the attorneys job and not your problem? I always cringe on the inside when a witness does these things but dont really know if I should point it out to the attorneys or just take it down the best I can.Thanks!

Overseas court reporting?

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:19:00 GMT

Does anyone know anything about court reporting outside of the U.S.? Are we in high demand anywhere specific? How is the pay? Job outlook? Additional requirements of the job not found in the U.S.?
Its a dream of mine to live and work overseas for a while and to raise my child in different cultural settings. I am still a student, so perhaps I could use this time to plan. I am hoping for info specific to Europe, Canada, and South America, but any info helps! Thanks...

Any reporters in the Toledo area interested in a 2-day depo? Contact me through FB.

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:57:55 GMT

Any reporters in the Toledo area interested in a 2-day depo? Contact me through FB.

I am a freelancer, what are the transcript formats in Superior Court?

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:32:40 GMT

A client has requested that I report a trial in Van Nuys Superior Court in a department where apparently there are no official reporters. Are there specific transcript format requirements for these trials? I have a format that I use for arbitrations, but Im not sure if this is allowable for a Superior Court trial transcript.

What is the purpose of an agency asking how long it took you to go through school?

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:15:03 GMT

Ive had two agencies ask me how long it took me to go through school. Why is that relevent? This question was asked prior to me doing the first job for them. My length of schooling was long due to personal conflicts and school closings, but it in no way reflects my professionalism as a licensed reporter. The fact that in spite of adversity I didnt quit should be proof enough that my love for this field, as well as achieving two State certifications, is a testimony to my qualifications. Should I be feeling irked by being asked this question, or am I being too touchy?

Once you get to 225, how long does it take to make good money?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:08:59 GMT

Although I probably have a couple years to go, hopefully, before achieving 225, I was wondering how long it usually takes to get enough work to support ones self and pay back those school loans? I am so nervous about those school loan payments coming due once school is done!!

How do I identify the interpreter in the transcript?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:20:08 GMT

I am a student and sat in on a deposition where a Spanish interpreter was present. When I am writing Q and A how do I include the interpreter? Do I put answered by interpreter as a blurb at the top, or before every answer, or?Thank you in advance,Trudi

When did you take the RPR?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:17:17 GMT

Hi Everyone!I have been speaking to a lot of court reporters who told me they waited until they had a few years of work experience before they took the RPR. They said they had more confidence and was able to pass it a lot faster. I still want to take it right after Im done with school, maybe even before. When did you take it and how many times did you have to take it before you passed all of the requirements?

Does it really matter if the school you attend is NCRA approved?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:49:46 GMT

if the school you attend is NCRA approved? Will it make a difference once you get out into the real quot;workingquot; world? Im thinking about becoming a Court Reporter but the 1 school in my area that is NCRA approved is costing about $40,000. Thanks for any feedback.~Tika

Is it ethical, polite, etc. for me to start going to other firms?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:08:52 GMT

I am a new reporter with a few years of CART experience. I just started with an agency that seems to be slow/unwilling to give me work due to my inexperience. I am worried that I am going to lose my nanny for my kids (who they have already developed a rapport with) if I dont get jobs soon (I had one today, but it was cancelled). I am also making payments on my macine and software. My finances are in bad shape. I dont just need a job, I need a cash advance. That is how stressful things are right now.
This is a quot;Mom and Popquot; firm, and one of the owners said that I am on a freelance basis and am welcome to get work at other places (when I asked if I could handle some jobs for a long-time friend, I was not shopping around at that time). That doesnt seem entirely the case, because they had cards made for me and they are training me.
Basically, I am really stressed and need to start working. I dont want to compromise my relationship with this firm because they are really great people. They just seem to be waiting for the perfect, easy job to give to me. I need to be thrown in. I am ready to hire an experienced scopist who can train me on the proper formatting of transcripts and start asking other firms for work. Is this right? What should I do? Thanks.

What do you do if an attorney wants to post a transcript of a court hearing you took on their website for all to download for free?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:02:05 GMT

What do you do if an attorney wants to post a transcript of a court hearing you took on their website for all to download for free?

How do I get a deponent to stop mumbling?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:20:27 GMT

I have tried asking, quot;Can you please speak as deliberately as possible.quot; But its not working. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Examination Under Oath Guidelines?

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:47:26 GMT

Where can I go to get guidelines on what job responsibilities I have for doing an Examination Under Oath? Ive checked with NCRA and they were as perplexed with this question as I. Just background, Ive done these here and there over my career and have never provided errata sheets nor the Certification Rule 203 TCRP for the return. (Im a Texas reporter). Ive always just done the short certificate. Now all of a sudden, and I might add these have been young attorneys, but theyre requesting that I provide errata sheets so that the witness can review, sign and return. Is this something I should be doing? I guess would be one question. And, if I do go ahead and add errata sheets to a transcription understood to just be a sworn statement where theres no review, do yall think I could be found to be in the wrong for complying?Eager to hear from someone who knows,Lynda B

Where do I find a couple of busy reporters?

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:08:08 GMT

I am looking for a couple of very busy reporters to add to my client roster. I am a scopist and a proofreader, and Im currently on CaseCat and DigitalCat, but hope to be on StenoCat by late October. If anyone out there is looking for help with their transcripts and needs a scopist, proofreader or transcriptionist, please feel free to contact me at Accuscribe@aol.com. Thanks in advance for responding.Susan

Todd Olivas, Double Points, Really?

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:33:24 GMT

Can I be enticed by the offer of double points?

Where can I find a rolling case?

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:52:38 GMT

Im looking for a reasonably priced rolling machine/computer case online. the one I have is a generic one, not made for steno machines, and it broke. Id like to find one specifically for machines so I dont have to pad it up. any suggestions?

Which software do reporters prefer?

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:23:07 GMT

I know everyone is different, and Im not trying to generate a lot of emotion with this question because I know people can get very passionate about their equipment, but, what kind of software do reporters in the field use and prefer and why? I appreciate any and all input. Thank you!

What is the purpose and benefit of wide keys?

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:53:23 GMT

I just purchased a used Stentura 200SRT to start school with and I noticed that the right most keys (Damp;Z?) and the asterisk key (in the middle) are wider than the others. Ive seen this option offered on manufacturers sites, and Ive searched my CR sites to see if I can find the rationale behind this, but no luck. Can anyone explain what the benefit of this key configuration is to a newbie? Thanks! Kit

I need a proofreader

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:10:57 GMT

Since it is time for me to find a new proofreader, I am hoping some of the proofers in the readback group might reply. Id like to see if Dee, Laura, Lisle and/or Michelle S. and anyone else who has proofed are currently proofing. I didnt see how to respond individually to the replies, so if its okay per the readback website, please either give me your e-mail or heres mine: denisejones4@hotmail.com.Thanks.

Eclipse note files...how to...

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:52:51 GMT

Hi Everyone.

Wondering if anyone can help. I for some strange reason cannot seem to get my note files to view in 3 columns. I get one column only, with timestamping next to it, and theres a second column that shows a reflection of the same strokes as the first column and the background color is turquoise??? I have no idea what thats about or how I even got it that way. Eeeeek.

Ive tried and tried. So if anyone knows how to fix this, I would GREATLY appreciate it!!!!

THANK YOU!!!

How do I get a header to print on the page?

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:39:23 GMT

How do I get the header text to print on my page? I go into change header text and it comes up on the page but gets cut off when I print the page. I have tried to do it in compress print and put it on the lowest line but that doesnt work either. I am trying to put my name, date, and the test at the top of the page for the RPR. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.Thank you,Trudi

How do you find work as a Freelance Reporter in South Carolina

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:33:18 GMT

I am in the process of moving to South Carolina and I need to find an agency to work with. Does anybody have any suggestions??

Any worries with a paperless writer?

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:52:37 GMT

Im wanting a new paperless writer. Been reporting 30 years and about to head into my final 10 years and thought I should upgrade myself. BUT Im so nervous about giving up the paper as that final backup. I do not, and never will, take a laptop with me to realtime. I know all the new paperless writers have several backup systems in place, but is that good enough? Has anyone ever had your machine totally fail and you have lost a job or a part thereof due to electronics of the machine failing? Are my fears justified or not? I really dont want these stacks of paper notes in my life anymore. Help!!

Does anyone have work available?

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:55:28 GMT

I am looking for work in the San Diego area. I have been an independent freelance reporter for over 20 years, specializing in medical and expert depos. I havent worked in a few months due to a death in the family and caretaking my mother. I am REALLY anxious to get back to work. Can anyone help with any leads?

Need advice, looking for a mentor in Houston, TX

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:51:43 GMT

I just moved to Texas from Ohio and have been in court reporting school for 4 years. I am currently at 160 Literary, 160 Testimony (been stuck there for a while), and 190 Jury. I am contemplating quitting school and getting a job so I can meet people here (we dont know anyone here). I need some serious encouragement to stay in school. I am afraid that since I need to be certified to work here (in Ohio you do not have to be certified) that I still have two more years of school left and cant imagine sitting at home writing on this machine for that long. I would also love to connect with a reporter in Houston, TX to mentor me, that is if I stick this out. Any suggestions or words of encouragement???

What is the best high-quality microphone?

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:25:11 GMT

Im am beginning to work in court next week and need a discreet, high-quality USB microphone. Any recommendations???

Self-taught court reporters?

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:42:55 GMT

Does anyone know of people who are self-educated with regard to steno and are now working reporters? Is formal schooling really necessary? Im a current student who is currently testing at 80 wpm and am at the point where I may have to quit school due to scheduling issues.

Is it really possible to replace an already learned theory with a totally new one?

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:07:15 GMT

Student here needing info from seasoned reporters as to whether you believe it really is possible to replace your original theory with a totally different one. I graduated from CR school in early 90s (before realtime) and did work for a while as a freelance reporter. I left to stay home and raise my family. Fast-forward almost 20 years and I am now back at my original school studying CR all over again. Im at the end of my 2nd year. My school wanted me to totally replace my old theory (very basic and simple) with a conflict-free realtime theory. I agree the new theory is definitely much better; however, it has been a real struggle for me in that my old theory is still naturally in my head. My old theory put vowels in every syllable and the new one leaves some vowel sounds out in certain syllables. I think I am writing well only to read back and see untranslates because I actually stroked my old theory in some parts. Now that I am in speedbuilding I am really struggling with old vs. new. (Examples: The article quot;aquot; I used to stroke as a long A, new is with a short A; many briefs are now different translations -- the brief I wrote for automobile now translates as audible; before I used the asterisk to make corrections only, now it is incorporated into many, many words and briefs.) I was told to adjust and add to my dictionary as I see fit and I have done so as I go along, but at higher speeds I now get so confused and hesitate trying to decide which brief should or shouldnt have an asterisk and do I write a certain word my old way or the new way!!! I thought having been a CR already would be beneficial to learning it again, but now I feel so handicapped by my prior knowledge that I am getting very discouraged. Practice IS helping but I am starting to believe it will take me twice as long to finish as my fellow students and that should NOT be the case since I have done this before!!! My interest this time is becoming a CART provider (my school just got certified with a CART/Captionist program), but I am so frightened by not being able to write realtime well because of my theory situation. I am so frustrated I no longer want to practice but am in too far financially to quit! Has anyone else gone through this situation and how did you handle it? Any words of wisdom would be more than appreciated!!!!

Wheres the eject button?

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:03:38 GMT

Have you been in situations as a reporter where youd have given your FR finger to have had access to an eject button to get you out of there ... grabbed a couple of beers and slid down the emergency chute like Steven Slater?

What SD card brand do you use for your Mira??

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:06:31 GMT

I have a Mira which is one year old....It seems every brand of SD card I buy my time codes work fine for a while and then mess up. Am I buying the wrong SD card or am I formatting the card wrong? Any suggestions??

How long to wait for payment before collections?

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:02:01 GMT

What is the appropriate length of time to wait for payment before I commence a collection action?

Does anyone know how to erase old files on the Diamante?

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:09:19 GMT

I just got the Diamante today! I am so excited and I love it... but I dont know how to work it! I was on a Stentura 8000 Lx for 12 years! Can someone tell me how to erase old files from the memory? I was just messing around learning how to work it all and I dont know how to get rid of all those files that I created in my quot;playtime.quot;And if you think I should know something else about the writer, please share! I am so excited to learn everything I can about this machine!!

Court Reporting Agencies in NJ

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:27:57 GMT

hello, Ive always worked with only one agency, and I am looking for another agency to also work with. any suggestions?

Trashy Notes and writing Realtime

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 22:47:24 GMT

I am at Mock Level and have just started working on my realtime. My notes are extremely trashy. I find myself globaling a lot and creating conflicts. Its not really what I want to do. I believe my problem may be my theory. Though, I dont want to get out there and start working only to find out that its not and that maybe court reporting is not for me. Please Help...

Can certification be stipulated to?

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 13:38:26 GMT

Can the attys on a case stipulate to use the CA CSR amp; RPR for their Nevada deposition (even though NV has their own CSR)?

Please pray for me today.

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 10:14:35 GMT

I need my 120 Literary tonight in school to move on to the next course. Last week of school. I am on my 140s for everything else but the Literary is quite challenging as you all know. I prayed to God already of course but it would be great to have others knowing what Im going through put in a good word for me. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!

Which word is used more in the field: aesthetic or esthetic?

Sun, 8 Aug 2010 19:19:00 GMT

When youre out in the field, which word is used more quot;aestheticquot; or quot;estheticquot;? I see only the word quot;estheticquot; in my Phoenix Theory dictionary. Not sure if I should add in the quot;aestheticquot; one too (into my Phoenix Theory dictionary)...Thank you for any suggestions :-)

Do court reporters have cut off dates?

Sun, 8 Aug 2010 12:08:28 GMT

How does everyone get paid? Do you all have cut off dates or get paid twice a month, for example, in the middle of the month and the end of the month? It seems that agencies that Ive worked for never had cut off dates and I never seemed to know when a check was coming in.

Transcript Web Repositories?

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 23:52:10 GMT

I want to be able to offer my clients the ability to go to my website and log in to transcript repository where they can view or download a transcript/exhibit/jpg and perhaps audio and video. There are a few products out there. Im not interested in Real Legal. Does anyone have any suggestions for the best program out there? Thanks!Linda

Do you have to be certified by the State to work in NC?

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 23:46:45 GMT

I currently work in the Chicago area, where its pretty busy, at least in the city. I would love to move down to NC, but need some input on whether I can work there or not. I read that you dont have to be certified, but I wonder if you get hired without being certified. Im a certified shorthand reporter in Illinois, but that doesnt transfer to other states. Ive been a reporter for almost 20 years, so Im at least experienced. Any input?

Did anyone graduate from Business of Informatics, Valley Stream Long Island?

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 16:03:51 GMT

Do you feel the school prepared you?

How do I find freelance work?

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 13:09:31 GMT

So I have been court reporting for about four months now, and I cannot find steady, if any, depo work at all!! Ive only had five depositions in four months time. How should I go about finding work in northern California? It seems as soon as I mention I am somewhat new firms lose interest, or depo firms say they are too slow. But other reporters I know are keeping super busy!! What am I doing wrong? How did you guys start out finding work? Any tips or advice would help!!

Any Phoenix Theory Drills?

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 21:31:37 GMT

I am a student who like to go back and review some Phoenix theory principals. Does anyone know where I can find any Phoenix theory drills? Are there any available online? I am trying to clean up/fix up/paint up my skills to improve my speed and pass some tests!

Is it ever okay to leave things out of a video depo?

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 08:44:15 GMT

Im about to start editing a video depo, and Im dreading it because the taking attorney was constantly interrupting and cutting off the witness (which seems to be happening more and more, for some reason). My question is: The attorney frequently talked through the witness answers by saying, quot;Right. Right. Right...quot; OMG! Im wondering if I should chop up the transcript with all of those quot;rightsquot; because it is video or just leave them out, which I usually do for an attorney who says quot;uh-huhquot; through the answers. Thanks!

What level of accuracy should a reporter expect from his/her proofer? I have noticed my proofer missing major mistakes, such as notes I put in for her to double check.

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 10:14:54 GMT

What level of accuracy should a reporter expect from a proofer? I understand that ultimately it is the responsibility of the court reporter to ensure the accuracy of the transcript, but I have gotten proofed transcripts returned to me where obvious errors have been overlooked. It seems to be a pattern where every third page is proofed but the remainder are not proofed. This has happened with two proofers so far. Granted, they are being paid .33 cents per page. Thats why Im asking what to expect from a proofer. Seems to me $40 for proofing an average transcript should return better results.

Does your state association accept voice reporters into your association? Im curious which states do and do not.

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 09:26:53 GMT

Does your state association accept voice writers/voice reporters into your association? Either way, would you mind listing your state?

What is the best way to run audio backup?

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 23:19:45 GMT

What is the best way to run audio backup? Im thinking of purchasing Eclipse professional software, but I have a Mira A3, so no audiosync? I dont like interrupting to change tapes either, what should I do?

Change in payment terms?

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 22:03:11 GMT

I worked for a firm for about three years. The agreement when I started working there was that I would get paid for my originals and copies up front, once a month. About two weeks into the beginning of the year, the owner switched the terms to where I would only get paid when the attorneys pay. I did not like this sudden change in terms, so I left. Some people can work like that, I couldnt with her. Im still owed for copies and originals that I turned in about a year ago. Every time I ask about payment, Im sent some amount under 100 bucks or totally ignored. My question is, can the terms of your payments just be changed suddenly like that? Any suggestions on what I should do to get my money?

Do you have experience with an ergonomic writer?

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 15:20:26 GMT

Im a court reporting student, trying to decide what kind of writer to get when I graduate. Im really interested in something more ergonomic than most of the writers I have seen (including the student one I am using!). The Gemini Revolution sounds like maybe what Im looking for, but it is hard to tell from one or two reviews and a couple of pictures.I am surprised that there are not more ergonomic machines on the market!What are your experiences with ergonomic writers? Any you would recommend?

What is the best online CR program?

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 19:40:49 GMT

Hello everyone!Im so glad to have found this site!I am very interested in going to school for court reporting. Can anyone give me some insight into the online programs out there? Its all a bit overwhelming to sort through, so Id really appreciate some first hand accounts!Thanks!~Victoria

I am court reporting in Texas. Our Uniform Format Manual has recently undergone changes. Did I read correctly that we must all write the affirmative and negative interjections as follows: Uh-huh and huh-uh?

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 03:44:11 GMT

I used to have the negative interjection as uhn-uhn so that they werent one letter apart and easier to read. After interpreting the UFM as I did, I changed it in my dictionary, but I feel it is harder for attorneys to decipher. But are my hands tied?

When to use one word or two?

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 21:46:56 GMT

I am confused on some one word, two words. For example, every time, evertime, everyday and every day. I have to refer to my 1w2w every single time I have this in my transcript. Does anyone have a quick way of remembering which word should be used?

What is your favorite brief?

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 13:19:21 GMT

What is your favorite brief or brief phrase? I know -- Objection -- overbroad :), but I just thought maybe it would be fun to hear of that one brief that always seems to save your you-know-what :). One I like is: quot;fair to sayquot; I write FOS. And quot;to your knowledgequot; I write quot;TOURNquot;

How do you set up your title pages when an interpreter is involved?

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:04:26 GMT

Just want to get peoples feedback on how they set up their title pages when theres an interpreter involved.

How do you write fortunately and unfortunately?

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:50:24 GMT

Anybody have any good briefs for quot;fortunatelyquot; and quot;unfortunatelyquot;?

What are other jobs court reporters can do besides freelance?

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:57:14 GMT

Ive been reporting for a while now and all Ive done is freelance. I got my job with the agency I currently work for right when I got out of school. I love the flexibility, but Im getting a little tired of depositions and hearings - and the unsteady pay schedule! My firm only pays when the jobs are paid, so there is no consistency. And it seems like lately its taking longer than ever to get paid.Ive heard about someone working for a police station as a police stenographer. What are other avenues I can explore with my court reporting skills? Thanks!

Ive heard about people practicing via listening to the testimony on court shows like Judge Judy, etc. Is this a good idea?

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:22:15 GMT

Im in the lower speeds at present (aiming for my 100 wpm) but figured itd be a good idea to broaden my horizons, practice-wise. It also dawned on me that these shows are examples of what are referred to as quot;mini trials,quot; and that court reporters are not present at such proceedings. Is it worth my time to even do this? Thoughts?

Can conflicts show up on my writer?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:54:45 GMT

I use the Case CATalyst software, and I use TPH*EBGZ for intersection and in connection. Both words show up on my computer so I can choose which one I need to use, but only one word shows up on my writer. Is there a way for both words to show up on my writer in case Im not hooked up to my computer?

How do I find specific sections on an MP3 from the videographer at a deposition?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:38:06 GMT

How do I search efficiently through an MP3 sound file from my videographer after the deposition?

Has anyone been using a serial-to-USB adaptor

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:27:32 GMT

I heard there are problems with realtime while using the serial-to-USB adaptor. I am just starting to use a new Acer netbook and hope I dont have this problem since I use an older machine, Stentura 8000LX. Your experience?

Does anyone know how to convert an Eclipse file to a Case Catalyst file, with audio, for a scopist?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:17:10 GMT

I have Case Catalyst software and would like to be able to scope for a reporter that has Eclipse software. We can get the .rtf file into my software, but we havent been able to get the audio file, too. It shows its there, but there is no sound. I thank anyone who knows this answer. Case Catalyst people say it is possible and that people are doing it.

Wireless Realtime choices

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:35:31 GMT

Placed an order with Stenocast for the X7 only for it to be back ordered, a sales rep called trying to get me to change to RED, another model they sell in stock, but I dont know anyone that uses it so stuck with the X7....any feedback on either system would be appreciated...for 900 bucks I want the thing to be perfect!!

Do you proofread hard copy?

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:51:52 GMT

I am curious if reporters are still printing out and proofreading a final version of your transcript. Ive always done it and am afraid of missing something if I dont look at a hard copy. But the toner cost is getting prohibitive.

Would a MAC be a good choice for a laptop for reporting?

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:17:55 GMT

Was thinking about buying a MAC Pro Laptop because Im almost out of school...
I would have to install windows on it so I am capable of using Case CAT... any thoughts on this?

Is there a website to download dictation to put on an iPod?

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:15:47 GMT

Does anyone know how to get practice dictation on an iPod or if there is a website we can go to to download the dictation to a computer then transfer it to an iPod?

I was able to advertise a free listing with Superpages, now, I have a question about taxes.

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:45:35 GMT

Hello, Im just curious, if you do advertise such as online at Superpages.com, do you have to report it on your taxes? Are you considered a business? Is there anything else I should know about it.

Can I discuss rates on this website or is that an anti-trust No No?

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:10:45 GMT

From time to time people may wish to discuss particular court reporting page rates. Is this allowed on ReadBack.org?

How do you feel about reporters having a tattoo or a facial piercing? Obviously not covered, but a discrete piercing or tattoo.

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:46:23 GMT

How do you feel about reporters having a tattoo or a facial piercing? Obviously not covered, but a discrete piercing or tattoo.

I am stuck in 160 for a very long time! How do I push myself to the next level?

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:51:42 GMT

I took a home study course through The School of Court Reporting of NJ and started about 5 years ago. I havent been practicing throughout as I had a baby and started working about 3 years ago as an office manager. I am so frustrated and am about to just give up. I dont see how the speed will ever come. I cannot reach 180 and have mostly been practicing Qamp;A. Any advice as to how to move forward? My fingers just refuse to cooperate! Is this something that anyone can do if they just practice long enough or should I just cut my losses and look for something else?!

Do you update your availability using agencies online calendars?

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:30:27 GMT

If you can post your availability to an agencys online calendar, do you? Or do you typically let them know when youre available by phone or email? or at all?

How exactly are Court Reporters paid?

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:03:35 GMT

There have been a lot of discussions in school about how court reporters are paid. How I understand it, we are paid by the hour, and we are paid a certain rate per page. So even if I were to sit in a deposition for 5 hours and the job was not ordered, I would still be paid for my five hours. And we are paid a higher rate for the first hour. Am I correct or incorrect?

Heres a question. Has anyone successfully figured out how to connect using Livenote and Windows 7 on their computer? If so what usb are you using?

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:34:33 GMT

Heres a question. Has anyone successfully figured out how to connect using Livenote and Windows 7 on their computer? If so what usb are you using?

Do you print your transcripts?

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:49:50 GMT

do most freelance reporters print their transcripts and send them out or do you email them to an agency and they print?

Anyone know about Colorado Captioning or online captioning?

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:56:58 GMT

I am trying to make a big decision in life. I want to move back home (Iowa) but I am hearing reporters are layed off and the judicial system is poor. I went to a seminar and learned a little about a company called Colorado Captioning and captioning strictly online. Does anyone have experience with this?

What is the best speed building/realtime course out there?

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:52:28 GMT

Ive been realtiming since 1999. But its time to start streamlining my realtiming so I can anticipate proper names and the like to get even cleaner writing. Anyone have suggestions for courses or books on the subject?

What is the contracting/anti-contracting status in your state and how is that working for you?

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:08:04 GMT

What is the contracting/anti-contracting status in your state and how is that working for you?

How do you handle reading back?

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:03:11 GMT

Can anyone please share stories of when they had to read back and they didnt have it? What did you do or say? That is my biggest fear as Im sure it is for others too! If you can offer any other tips on how to read back, that would be great too.

How do connect with this through Facebook?

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:52:09 GMT

Im noticing the reporters that are coming in through Facebook. Is there a way to connect with reporters through Facebook?

How do I heal my aching hands, wrists, arms at the end of a day?

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:46:47 GMT

I think I might have a soft tissue injury in the left hand, which I have been too chicken to have confirmed. I am a secretary by day and a court reporting student by night! Ouch! By the end of the day my hands ache. I use a night hand guard for people with carpal tunnel and sometimes use jasmine oil which relieves the achyness. I also sometimes do home parafin treatments.Any other suggestions out there????

Employment status

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:28:57 GMT

What are the disadvantages of freelance reporters receiving W-2s (as opposed to 1099s), if any? I realize most freelance reporters receive 1099s, but a few firms still issue W-2s. Im curious what specific advantages and disadvantages may be applicable to each.

New Writer on the market?

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:41:51 GMT

Has anyone seen or heard anything about this new writer? I have seen it shown on two websites now. It looks really great but I dont know much more about it. I like some of the adjustiblity features and the size and weight are amazing. I would like to know more about it. If anyone knows anything...http://www.depoman.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7932 and www.cheapandsleazy.com

How do I combat test anxiety?

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:10:08 GMT

I am a court reporting student and am only two semesters into my training, and I have bad test anxiety. I can reach the speeds Im going for in practice, but when it comes to test time I fall apart. I lose focus, my hands shake, I drop stuff. If you had test anxiety, what did you do to get past it?

What kind of online backup services do you use?

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:55:23 GMT

I would like your opinions on online backup services. Which one do you like and what do they charge? How easy is it? Etc. I need to start backing up off site and somewhere I can get my work if Im away from the office and need to send out a transcript. Thanks!

How do I handle new reporter anxiety?

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:40:43 GMT

how long did it take to become comfortable and totally confident with your skills on the job? and if you felt anxiety, what caused it?

What should I do when a judge says he doesnt allow recording.

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:17:03 GMT

I went into a hearing today, which I always record because things can get so heated, and set up my machine and the microphone and the judge proceeded to tell me that he doesnt allow recording in his chambers, and that he is old school and prefers for his reporters to know what they are doing and not rely on audio. I DO NOT rely on my audio, but sometimes things can get really crazy in a hearing, even in a depo. I use my audio to double check and for my scopist. Any ideas on how I can politely inform a judge/attorney my reasons for recording is just to double and triple check to make sure I have an accurate and complete record, and not to do my job for me?

Has anyone taken a seminar through CCR Seminars?

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:16:56 GMT

I just got a postcard in the mail from a company called CCR Seminars (www.ccrseminars.com) about a seminar being offered in September in New Jersey. Has anyone ever heard of them? Has anyone ever taken a seminar through them?
Thanks for the info!

Case Catalyst 4 on Nettop computers?

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:24:38 GMT

I have Case Catalyst 4 (ancient I know, dont want to pay for upgrade at this time) and can therefore only use comps with windows XP (heard XP mode on a windows 7 computer doesnt work). Anyway, the only new desktop computers that still have XP are those mini quot;nettopquot; comps. Besides Case Catalyst I would only use it for Word and internet, so Im wondering if you think this would be a good option, or if the software would be too resource-intensive for such a small computer. Thanks for your time!

What is the market like in South Carolina for Court Reporters?

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:58:08 GMT

I am a recent graduate from NY, and I am thinking about moving. South Carolina, specifically Myrtle Beach, may be one of the options. I am wondering what the market is like there for freelancers. Options from other states are welcome information as well. Thanks in advance!

How do I tell a pro se client

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:14:47 GMT

This wasnt me, but our state transcriptionist who transcribes all pro se hearings in the state on appeal:I want my money back; you made me sound like and idiot!

What do you do when the answer to an attorney on an expedited is just plain NO.

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:04:04 GMT

It has happened to all of us, but what is a tactful way of saying: I cannot get this to you tomorrow, or the next day? Is there a trial date? Does this need to be filed? Do you have more depos set in the near future that you need this to prepare? Would you like me to e-mail the pertinent portions?BECAUSE I AM LEAVING ON VACATION, THAT I HAVE NOW MISSED MY PLANE OVER. Of course there will be no expedited charge... my ass

Discouraged theory student: Did you feel this way?????

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:31:01 GMT

I am currently in my 1st year of court reporting school. A of right now I am doing exceptionally well. Passing all of my quizes with eaze. It is getting harder as I go tho. My concern is I am asking myself quot;Can I do this?quot; I think my problem is that i look too far ahead and say quot;How is that possiblequot; as in the big words and then the SPEED! I am good to get 40-60 words a minute right now (I am only in Theory) and wonder how i will ever make it in speed. Did anyone else ever feel discouraged like this but still make it????

How can I find a scoping job

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:12:44 GMT

What are some ways to find a scoping job?

Help with CSR preparation: Where do I find information for case scenario protocol?

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:36:21 GMT

Where do I find information for case scenario protocol for studying for the csr exam? Theres a lot of things I didnt know because it deals with information youd learn from actual work experience.

Tips on cleaning up attorneys?

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:57:28 GMT

Hello fellow reporters, question regarding cleaning up attorneys...if they start their sentence and then restart it of course I -- it. But...what if they are consistently do it and or start a question, stop, start another, stop and then ask another question that they finished, do you clean him/her up and just put the sentence that he/she finished? I dislike messy transcripts even though I know its not us!!! THX!

What is a good telephone depo ending?

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:39:07 GMT

What is the best way to end or stipulate an out-of-state deposition when youre in California and the lawyer is on a conference call and is calling from another state? At the beginning of the depo, he stipulated all of their State codes apply to their deposition. I am working for a California agency. There was just me, the claimant, and the interpreter in a small conference room. As it was, we just ended the depo with the last question and he said, quot;Are we done?quot; This was a first for me.

How long has it taken you to finish school?

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:50:22 GMT

I have a big problem. I just found out that my court reporting school is shutting down by August 2011. I am currently on 180 jc 180 Qamp;A and 200 lit. I dont know what to do, where to go. This fall will be 2 years that I have been in this program. I like court reporting but now I am questioning whether it is for me or not. I dont want to waist 2 years of my life. How long does it usually take to finish? I know I still have a ways to go, so I was just wondering how long it has taken any of yall? I live in Texas. I dont know about the online programs if they are good or not? Im just so confused and would love some great advise! Please help me! Thanks!

What is a word index?

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:40:10 GMT

What is a word index for a depo and how is it formatted in California?

Any voice writers out there?

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:04:31 GMT

What kind of assistance are you receiving?

How do I format police officer testimony?

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:28:05 GMT

Im a very new reporter, and Ive had a few police officer depositions, and for the most part Ive got it, but when it comes to them answering in numbers, it gets a little hectic.This transcript being a little difficult because Im getting a lot of answers similar to this:A 0705 by 1540. A Yeah, 0530 by 725.I was taught that besides addresses, social security, phone, and DOB you dont start with numbers , but I cant really quot;write it outquot; because he said quot;oh, seven, oh, five by fifteen forty. That seems a little ridiculous to write out, no?And the next A. Im kind of stumped because all Ive got is quot;ohquot; five, thirty by seven, two, five.I can assume he forgot to say the 0, but that doesnt really tell me how to make this look in the transcript. Ill ask my former instructors and my agency, but any feedback is appreciated.

How long does it take to get paid

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:20:46 GMT

I live in Florida and I took jobs from an agency in Middle part of May they didnt pay me until Mid to end of june. Is that normal? They paid me for all the jobs I did in May in June.I dont like that! I think I should be paid a week after I submit my work. Can you recommend an agency that pays quicker?

Why is it that when you send out emails (blind copy) telling of your availability for the following week, that some agencies get irritated and ask you take their name off your list???

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:41:08 GMT

Why is it when you email agencies (blind copy) to let them know of your availablility for the following wk, they get irritated by this and ask you to delete their name off your list of agencies???

What are your recommendations for RPR study guides?

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:36:26 GMT

Im a student looking to take the WKT in October. Im pretty strong with ethics. What can I use to study technology? Wouldnt those things depend on the software preferred? I have a medical and legal terminology textbooks to study from. Im also review LMEG and my schools transcription guide.What is your opinion on the set that Stenograph sells? What about the NCRA ones?

How often (if ever) do you practice?

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 07:14:46 GMT

Since I started working, I have seldom practiced. I used to during the first year of my career but after four years of working, I have become lazy. I tend to think of work as practice. How do I develop a good practice schedule? Also, if anybody has some super drill that I can do every day, please let me know.

Freelancers: Do you advertise?

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 23:36:21 GMT

Hello, Im just curious if anyone -- who works strictly out of their house and is technically not a CR firm -- advertises in the phonebook or some type of online site? I guess the best way to do that would be to get a P.O. Box; right? Any other information you have about this would be great. Thanks.

Freelance reporters hourly rates and fee/page covering last minute add ons or overflow work?

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 16:36:57 GMT

As a freelance reporter, when we pick up last minute requests from agencies looking for a job to be covered, what is the proper procedure on discussing rates per page as well as hourly rates?

What exactly does relieving the court reporter mean?

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 16:23:01 GMT

What does it really mean when attorneys stipulate to quot;relieve the court reporter of her duties under the Code of Civil Procedurequot; and everything else they say after that? What do you do if they dont stipulate to relieve the court reporter of her duties?

Has anyone studied the Court Reporting at Home program?

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 21:10:26 GMT

Ive been researching several court reporting programs and found this theory on the NCRA website. I spoke with Linda Bland and it seems like a great program. Id like to get feedback from some students or court reporters whove completed it.

How do you spell this word?

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 15:40:09 GMT

Ive never heard it before, and an attorney used it this morning. He was referring to an expert disclosure, and he said the attorney drafting it gave a (sounds like) pray say of what your testimony would be.

What is a good professional machine to get?

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 13:20:51 GMT

What is a good professional machine to get? I am a student right now and was looking for a professional machine?

Question about exhibit marking

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 08:03:17 GMT

I feel embarassaed to ask this question because I should know this by now. I just want to see if I am doing it right. When you have, say, a Plaintiffs depo and atty marks exhibits, you say, quot;Plaintiffs Exhibit 1.quot; Then if the defendants atty marks and attaches an exhibit, do you say, quot;Defendants Exhibit 2,quot; or is it still Plaintiffs exhibit because it is his depo?

Are you allowed to go paperless in court?

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 21:36:24 GMT

I know this may be a silly question, but with the advance of paperless writers, is that even an option within most court rooms? I know in the dep world its neither here nor there, but what about you officials?

How did que pasa end up in my transcript?

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 20:52:35 GMT

So I recently had a reporter friend of mine ask me what should she do...She had an interpreted depo (Mandarin, I believe) and one of the attys also spoke Chinese. So ocassionally the atty would correct the interpreter. Weve all had this happen, right? She wanted to use the (unintelligible) blurb where the atty had corrected the interpreter and used a word other than English in her on-record conversation with the interpreter. This has happened to me before as well, and if for some reason I cannot get the spelling, I will use a blurb that indicates (Speaking Spanish) or (Japanese term used). But this got me thinking, What do other reporters do when a word is spoken in your record that is other than English?

Is there a place where I can see all of the NCRA 2010 candidates and their views?

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 20:05:14 GMT

With the NCRA election coming up, Im wondering what resources are out there that explain what the candidates stand for. Any help out there in ReadBack land?

Does your judge do realtime?

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 17:02:10 GMT

Do most judges have laptops connected to the reporters realtime feed? Im just wondering if this is prevalent in most court rooms these days or not?

Do you put all untranslates or misstrokes into your dictionary?

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 14:03:46 GMT

My personal dictionary has tons of what others might call junk. I have every single way Ive every misstroked a word combination. Its not pretty, but it gets the job done. Is that a good practice or am I alone in this?

Best advice for new reporters?

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 10:30:46 GMT

What is your best advice for a new court reporter?

Do you provide an e-transcript via email?

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 09:40:10 GMT

Does anyone provide transcripts via email?

What are some tips for selecting an agency?

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 09:04:08 GMT

What sort of things do you look for when selecting a court reporting agency to work for?

Is there enough freelance work out there?

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 09:00:47 GMT

Are you depo reporters getting enough work these days?

Do you turn down jobs?

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 07:03:33 GMT

Do you turn down a job that you know is going to be difficult for you or a job with annoying people on it? I had never done that before but I did it yesterday on a deposition with a very angry lawyer who was deposing an extremely edgy witness on a very difficult and all-day technical case. Its going to continue today without me. I like a challenge now and then but sometimes its not worth the hassle!

Are there any agencies that hire students?

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:29:44 GMT

I am a student in the 200 wpm class. I am looking for/need work, and I want to try audio transcribing. Does anyone know of any agencies that hire students for that type of work?

What do you say when an attorney asks you if you are using audio?

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:00:15 GMT

What do you say when an attorney asks you if you are using audio? Ive had that happen a couple of times. Ive always answered in the affirmative. It hasnt bitten me, but Im wondering if there is a reponse something akin to, quot;Its none of your business,quot; but said in a little nicer way.

What is Code for audio recording of a depo?

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:15:31 GMT

Has anyone ever had opposing counsel demand turning off your audio? He told me it had to be stated in the depo notice like videotaped depos. I called a few court reporter friends and they said no, there isnt a code for audio.

What is your oldest outstanding copy sale?

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 10:14:31 GMT

What is the longest youve had to wait for a copy sale to be paid?Do you ever write a copy sale off as bad debt?

Is there a list somewhere of agencies that do contracting?

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:06:40 GMT

Does anyone know of a list of agencies that do contracting?

Can I take a deposition in Nevada without being licensed in that state?

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:43:32 GMT

Can I take a deposition in Nevada without being licenesed there? I am a California CSR. It is a Nevada case. The attorneys are from California.

Would you/can you go to small claims if copies are unpaid?

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:12:50 GMT

Im a little unsure as to whether we can take an agency to small claims if the copy is unpaid.If the original amp; 1 is unpaid, then of course we can.But since most (90%) of the agencies out there tell you copies are paid when they are paid, can we really take them to small claims for unpaid copies, or is it just a matter of wait and see no matter how long it takes?

Anyone have a knock-out dead ringer brief for unified??

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:01:15 GMT

Anyone have a knock-out dead ringer brief for quot;unifiedquot;??

Are there jury read back guidelines?

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:07:08 GMT

Are there written guidelines reporters can use when deciding what to read back to the jury?

Brief suggestion for administration, administrative and administrator?

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:32:03 GMT

Hi,Do any of you have any suggestions on how to brief administration, administrative and administrator? I have been reporting for 25 years and still havent found one that sticks. Please help.

Are there any Realtime tutors/classes in NYC?

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:10:23 GMT

I am a fairly new court reporter; I have been working for almost two years. I would love to learn realtime but I dont feel the self-motivation to sit at home after a full day of work and practice.I was wondering if anyone knows of any classes or tutors in the NY area to help further my career.

How prevalent are Skype depositions?

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 06:32:41 GMT

My agency just did a Skype deposition and it all seemed to work out rather well. The client + opposing where in Ohio. We were here in California. And while Skype is typically a consumer level product, all sides seem to have been pleased with the results. So Im wondering how prevalent are Skype depositions? Have you ever taken one and what are the advantages or pitfalls?

What is contracting?

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 06:21:55 GMT

What is your definition of contracting? There is so much talk and discussion about this topic on chat boards and at conventions. And I believe it to be something like this: when a court reporting agency makes an agreement with an insurance company or law firm to provide services at a discount in exchange for exclusivity. Is that basically right?

Is strain in the wrist normal?

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:37:47 GMT

Hi I am wondering if anybody ever experiences strain the the wrist when writing. I am noticing that my wrist becomes fatigued in first few minutes of writing fast material, well 140. I am in the 120-140 class. I never really noticed this before but now I feel like I am concentrating on it too much. There are especially some strokes that make me turn my wirtst in a weird way, like for example when I am writing biz or something with the quot;iquot; and letters on the very right.

What are your thoughts about agencies that do contracting?

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:19:47 GMT

I have heard a lot of negative things about agencies that do contracting. What are your thoughts on this subject?

Does anyone have any experience with Realtime Coach by the NCRA?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:46:05 GMT

Ive seen it being demonstrated at conventions and it looks pretty cool. However, I wanted to get everyones feedback regarding Realtime Coach. Their recent ad in the JCR says that quot;thousands are using Realtime Coach to improve speed and accuracy,quot; so hopefully some of you are on here and wont mind sharing some feedback!

Do you number the pages on exhibits?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:05:21 GMT

I still did not really get an answer to my compound question about dealing with exhibits. Part of the question was, quot;Do you number the pages of the exhibits on the bottom right hand corner and then number all the pages of all the exhibits -- 1 through whatever -- on the bottom left corner? This is such a time-consuming thing and if it is not really necessary, I would rather not do it. The first agency I worked for had me do this, but I dont know if all agencies require it.

How do I go totally wireless?

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:58:21 GMT

Is there anybody out there with suggestions on going totally wireless...? I currently have a Stentura 8000LX -- Latest version of my software which is ProCat Winner 10.5. Im interested in hooking up to at least 10 other laptops at the same time with no wires... Im open to suggestions on how to get started. Thx

Which clients do you send transcripts COD?

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:19:32 GMT

Its been our policy for a number of years to send transcripts out COD if the bill is not going to an insurance company or if the client doesnt have a history with us. I cant tell you how much this policy has helped with cash flow since if a client balks at paying in advance, theres a good chance they probably would have balked after the fact. Whats your policy regarding CODs?

Agency putting Reporter (sub-contractor) on unpaid stand-by status

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:17:55 GMT

If an agency orders you on stand-by status for a period of four hours in case they may need you if an unscheduled job comes in, and such period of time is unpaid, does this not violate the independent subcontractor status of our subcontractor position and isnt it a violation of the IRA tax rules?

Are there criminal courts?

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:15:16 GMT

Are there courts that are specifically dedicated to criminal cases? I think these would be the most interesting, and I would love to work in them!

How do you deal with exhibits?

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:31:50 GMT

Dealing with exhibits is my least favorite part of being a freelance reporter. At times I wish I had a clerk that could deal with all of it. The first difficulty: Putting the info into your transcript. The quot;titlequot; -- what if there is no title? Nothing, nada. Then what? The quot;datequot; -- what if there are 14 different dates? Numbering the pages -- do you do that? Do you number the page for each exhibit in the bottom right corner and then number ALL the pages in the bottom left corner? The first agency I worked for had me do that, so I have continued to do that, but I dont know if all agencies require that. Its a big pain. Invariably I get them all numbered and then I discover that my numbers are off, so I have to go through and find the one page I missed, erase the wrong numbers (Ive definitely learned to use pencil) and then renumber. When youve got hundreds of pages, it can take hours. Since I freelance, I dont have the nerve to ask for extra $ for my time. Do you ask for extra $ or just suck it up? And then theres the EXPENSIVE mailing. Yikes! And then the other thing -- keeping track of the exhibits at a depo when the attorney is rambling on and hasnt given you time to mark anything. Do you stop them? Do you keep track during the depo? I have learned to TRY to quickly write down a number while theyre still talking because invariably they will ask me, quot;What number are we on now?quot; Im always grateful for a thoughtful attorney who will legibly mark them for me and keep them in order, but that doesnt always happen.

How do I not get my ass kicked on medicals

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 10:24:00 GMT

REPORTING ORTHOPEDIC DOCTORS
The reason I suggested getting a handle on reporting orthopedic doctors is because although we can report any medical specialty imaginable, we report the orthopedic doctors probably more often than any other doctor.

I want you to understand just a bit about me.
I have been reporting since I was 23. I went to Bryan College in Los Angeles. I guess you can say I am from the class of 68. I freelanced a little. I landed in court as an official. I worked in court for probably 10 years. Liked it, felt very comfortable, and then I got bored. I went to Hawaii and worked there for a while. Came back to Southern California, started Adelson Court Reporters in 1978. The mission was to keep myself busy and make more money than the average reporter. I accomplised that. I had a diverse reporting practice. I was the official reporter of the Malibu court while doing depos at the same time. My judge retired and I moved on. After working very hard at my shop for 30 years, I started slowing down and decided to cash out of California and move to South Florida. I have developed a neurological condition in my hands. I have a tremor in my hands. I can no longer handwrite, and my translation is horrible. I started teaching about nine months ago. I do enjoy it. I am going to be 65 on the 21st of this month.

I thought it might be interesting to do this. Some of you can probably write circles around me on my best days, but for those of you who do have a hard time going out on these medicals, lets fix it. By the way, I am certified in California, Nevada, and I am an RPR. I tried to complete the merit before I retired, by my hands would not cooperate.

What I am going to do is make an extensive listing of terms that might come up in a deposition of an orthopedic doctor. Some of my outlines may not be as up to date as yours. What I would like to do share what you have that would make the briefs better or add some of the things that I havent thought of.

Now, the only way to quot;fixquot; the problem is to work diligently on these outlines, developing some muscle memory where they become automatic. Probably take five of them a week. Put the briefs on a note pad and tape the note pad paper to the top of your machine while you practice some of the sentences you have recorded, and keep moving through the list five words at a time. Practice them at variable speeds. My tape player has a variable speed feature and so does my cat software. Start them at a slow speed. You want perfect outlines. Then when you are comfortable, move the slide up to a faster pace. Okay. Presently I am doing an orthopedic doctor, and they keep talking about cervicothoracic musculoligamentous sprain/stain. I mean, really. What a pain in the ass.
I mean, for Gods sake, cant they say whiplash. Well, it probably came up 15 times. That became KR*PLS the second time I heard it. That is called briefing on the fly. Sometimes I will just double stroke the first syllable. By the way, KRPLS is the way I write Christmas. Anyway, Ill start on this project Saturday. I am kind of excited about it. I hope some of you will get enthusiastc about it and go out on a doctor and feel good walking out of there. When you can really get it all down with a clean translation, you will feel like you are the man, or woman.

Now, some of this stuff will be very elementry to some of you. I dont know what theory you have had, so I will explain some of the reasoning as we go.

Coccyx - KOFX (F IS USED AS AN S SOUND)

Positive - POIF

Negative - TPHIF

Orthopedic - ORK

Orthopedist - ORPS

Disk - DIFK

Degenerate - JAIRT

Degeration - JAIRGS

Degenerating - JAIRGT
Degenerative -JAIV (FINAL V IS FRB)
Diabetes- DAOIBTS
Diplomate - DPLOMT
Disease - SDAOES (SD stands for des or dis)
Diseased - SDAOEFD
Clincal - KLINL
Comminuted - KM-PBTD (need wide keys for TD)
Crainal - KRAINL
SUFFIX OTOMY - TOEM
Condyle - KONL
Competent producing cause - KPK
Competent and producing cause - KPANG
Contusion - TUGS
Centimeter - SMAOET
Dorsal - DRFL
Dorsum - DRFM
Echymosis - KMOESZ (NEED WIDE KEYS)
Edema - DAEM
Elasticity - LAS/TIFT
Electrocardiogram - TROKD/GRAM
Electrocardiograph - TROKD/GRAF
Electrocardigraphy - TROKD/GRAEF
(GRAEF FOR THE SUFFIX GRAPHY)
Emergency - M-J
Emergency room - M-RM
(RM FOR ROOM ON MANY WORDS THAT ARE ROOMS LIRM- LIVINGROOM, BARM - BATHROOM, BEDROOM - BERM, OPERATING ROOM - PR-RM)
Encapsulate - EN/SKPULT
Exacerbate - KPAFRBT
Exacerbation - KPAFRBGS
Fascia - FARB
Fatigue - FAEG
Femur - FERM (er and or endings written on first stroke out of order
Fibula - FIBL
Finger - FIRNG
Fracture - FRAR
Infection - NFKS
Infectious - NFKZ
Intercostal - NR-/KOFL
Intermittent - NR-MT
Lacerate - LAEUFRT
Laceration - LAEUFRGS
Laminectomy - LAM/TOEM
Lateral - LARL
Laterally - LAERL
Ligament - LIGT
Lumbosacral - LUM/SKRAL
Malignant - MALGT
Manifest - MFS
Manifestation -MFGS
Metacarpal - MET/CARPL
Metatarsal - MET/TRFL
Milligram - M*G
Millimeter - MM
Myelitis - MAOILTS
MRI - PHR*EU
X-ray - KPRAEU
Narcotic - NARKT
Neuritis - NAOURTS
Neuro - NAOUR
Nucleus pulposus - NAOUP
Arthritis - THRAOEUTS
Osteoarthritis - OS/THRAOEUTS
Osteomelitis - OS/MAOEULTS
Osteoporosis - OS/PRRSZ
Outpatient - OUPT
Palpate - PLPT
Patella - PA/TAEL
Pelvic - PLFK
Peripheral - PRIFRL
Posterior - POER
Posteriorly - POERL
Anterior - AOR
Anteriorly - AORL
Prescribe - PRAOEUB
Prescription - PRIPGS
Purulent - PRULT
Radiation - RAIGS
Radiology - RAOLG
Radiologist - RAOLGT
Reflex - RFL
Remission - REMGS
Sacral - SKRAL
Sacro - SKROE
Sacroiliac - SKROIK
Sacrum - SKRUM
Scapula - SKAP
Skeletal - SKLELGTS (LGTS = itle ending)
Spondylitis - SPONLTS
Spasm - SPAFM
Stenosis - STEONSZ
Syndrome - SDROEM
Symphisis pubis - SMF/PUBS
Subclavian - SKLAIFN
Surgeon - SURN
Surgery - SURG
Surgical - SURG
Subjective - SUFBT
Objective - OFBT
Tendon - T-ND
Tenderness - TERNS
Thoracic - THRAFK
Physical examination - SKALGS
Therapist - THAOERPT
Physical therapy - FAIRP
Physical therapist - FAIRPT
Rehabilitation - RABLGS
Extremity - STREMT
Formation - FORMGS
Manipulation - MIP
Medicine - MED
Medical - M-L
Medication - MAEUGS
Muscle - MUFL
Inflammation - IN/FLAMGS
Inferior - IN/FR-R
Impairment - KBAIRMT (KB represents the imp sound
Care and treatment - KAIRMT
Chiropractor - KAOEUR
Chiropractic - KAOEURBG
Intervertebral - SPWRAEL
L5-S1 - HRAOEUFRB/SWOPB
Spinal column - SPLUM
Spinal cord - SPORD
Reasonable degree of medical certainty - RAOEMT
Within a reasonable degree of medical certainty - WRAOEMT
To a reasonable... - TAOEMT
Within normal limits - WNL
History and physical - HIFL
Medical records - M-RDZ
Blood pressure - BLUP
Degree of medical certainty - GREMS
Standard of care - STRBG
Standard care and treatment - STRBGT
Anti-inflammatory - AEF
Antibiotic - AEB
Antidepressant - AED
Practitioner - PRARBGS

Okay, guys. This is my list. I hope you will improve on it or add to it. Now, as you remember from your school days, there is no easy way. You have to work diligently, which would be maybe 15 minutes each day to incorporate five of these in per week. If you can do it faster, great. But do it. That is what is facinating about our profession. We are always thinking, always learning. My hands dont even work anymore, and I am sitting here trying to think of ways to make all of this logical so you can remember it. Anyway, good luck to you. I will pop in here from time to time and do things like this.
I have developed an interest since weaning myself further and further away from reporting, and that is writing. I do have a knack for it. I am trying to learn screen writing techniques. I love telling stories and have been tiptoeing into science fiction.
As I remember, it was around spring when I left my office to go out on that deposition on the second day of the Los Angeles riots. I had a client who insisted that we go forward with the deposition. I knew they were rioting close to his office. This was a witness who flew in from Eastern Europe after dodging his deposition for a year. I had to bite the bullet and go out on this job, even though the picture of Mr. Denny being dragged out of his truck and having a rock thrown at his head was clearly in my mind. As I got on the road to go to this job, I felt a burning in my throat. It was an extraordinary burning. It felt like my throat was on fire. I felt disabled. There is no other way to explain it. I was having a heart attack. I didnt know what to do. Being a court reporter, sometimes we take amazing strides to service these clients. Should I continue to this job where this gentleman had flown all the way from Europe to be deposed? Maybe this pain would go away. Maybe a deus ex machina would come down from the heavens and save my ass once again, but then...

What do you do when attys ask you about their case?

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:59:23 GMT

So what do you say when the atty elicits your opinion about his/her case or the witness? Do you pull out your notes and point out all the discrepancies and contradictions in the testimony, or do you decline to comment? Whats your reporter/pre-trial juror style?

What are some arthritis prevention tips?

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:33:04 GMT

Hello, I am 26 years old and have been doing CART for three years. I am going to start taking depos in the Fall. I am worried because some of my joints have been hurting pretty bad. I manage the pain with fish oil capsules (three per day), Glucosamine(sp?), and Condrointin(sp?). That keeps the pain to a minimum. Will this go away? Is there anything else I should do? I take ibuprofen as a last resort.

Do you reject certain jobs?

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:29:43 GMT

Well, theres several schools of thought on this subject; *Team Player,* *Trooper,* or *Prima Donna!* Where do you stand? Do you *regulate* the jobs you will accept and scope them down to location, rate, and content in true Prima Donna style... or do you take anything and anything hungry for it all in? Have you had just one too many brain surgeons reading their operative notes into the record to stand one more or do you sail in taking one for the team in covering that Judgment debtor exam in the basement of your towns local Superior Court? Whats your calendar, *Yes, Ill take it* calendar style?

What are some helpful medical briefs?

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:23:49 GMT

Anybody have some helpful medical briefs or ortho terms they are willing to share? Also, what are some tips for writing fast medical depositions? Anything you can share would be much appreciated!

How do you show firm/attorney specially appearing for another firm?

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 12:13:37 GMT

Mr. Jones gives you his card and says he is specially appearing for another firm, how do you show it on your appearances page?ie, this attorney/firm is present:Jones Jones
by: Bob Jones, ESQ.
1234 A Street
SJ, CA 95113
he is specially appearing for:for the Defendant ABC Company:
Smith Smith
by: John Smith, Esq.
789 B Street
SJ, CA 95113
How do you show it on your appearances page

Do you capatilize medicine names? (Ultracet, Celebrex)?

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 08:59:46 GMT

I am curious if we capatilize these names in transcripts because they are brand names??

Whats required to produce a quality transcript w/videographer?

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 00:03:07 GMT

So far, in my career as a freelance reporter, I have not done a video depo. I am fairly new, and I was wondering what the reporter and the videographer do to produce a quality transcript with video? What role do timestamps play? Why do we have to incorporate timestamps? I have heard some type of term like quot;syncquot; with the videographer.....not too sure? Would like to know more about working with videographers and what reporters must do when working on a depo with video. Ready to learn!

Just curious about complaints from attorneys regarding transcripts.

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 15:41:51 GMT

do you find that the attorneys/clients have much to say about the qualtity of their transcripts, and do THEY have a common complaint?

Networking with out-of-state reporters in Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis

Sat, 5 Jun 2010 00:24:26 GMT

How do I get out of town firms to refer work to my firm when theirclients are coming to the Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis areas andvice versa? Is there possibly a Website or database reporters can link to?

How do you handle critical comments made by an attorney?

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 13:33:55 GMT

I had an agency call me today with a criticism from the deposing attorney that quot;the reporter was having hearing issues.quot; This particular job was a young and extremely shy witness with an embarrassing and humiliating topic. She was extremely soft spoken and kept fading out. She really didnt want to be there. I did have to stop her several times and ask her to repeat. (Isnt that something we are SUPPOSED to do??) Do they want us to write what we quot;thinkquot; we heard or what we really did hear?? The agency said this was a very big client of theirs. Oh, boy, I hope I dont lose a client. This deposing attorney was related to the wicked witch of the west. Extremely rude to the witnesss attorney. At one point the witness used the term quot;blocking outquot; and then the deposing attorney kept saying quot;blacking out.quot; So I stopped and asked for clarification. There is a big difference between blocking out and blacking out. The deposing attorney said she was saying blacking out, but then another attorney for the same side came in and said, quot;I think the witness said blocking out the first time.quot; Im thankful for him. But I guess my question is, do we have a defense? I seriously do not have a hearing issue. Do I just let this rest and hope it will work itself out or do I call the agency back and try to defend myself more?

What do you do when one side says oops, I didnt mean for you to get that document?

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 12:00:38 GMT

I have a case where one attorney says they inadvertently produced a document which the other attorney has marked as an exhibit. Attorney #1 is requesting that I return the original exhibit to her. The original transcript has already been prepared and the copies have gone out, with the exhibit in question attached. My gut instinct is that this would require a court order. They already have a protective order in place and could deem the document confidential, but this apparently is not a suitable solution.

NYC freelance reporters, where are you?

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 02:12:21 GMT

Im new to this site. Does anyone freelance in NYC?

Do you indent the Q and A?

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 22:53:15 GMT

Ive been indenting the Q and A 5 spaces for 10 years now, ever since the California Court Reporters Board published minimum transcript guidelines. I strictly follow their sample page from 2000 in setting up my formats. A firm I work for has asked me to start the Q and A at the left margin. My first thought is thats so old school, but is it? No other firm has ever brought this to my attention.

Are you only a CSR? Gaining other certifications.

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 21:46:58 GMT

I have been a reporter for 15 years. In CA we have to pass the State exam to be a CSR. You cannot work here without a license. Thats all I have to my name. But recently Ive gone through a lot of changes and have wanted to attain further certifications. Just recently taking the Deposition Reporters Association CCRR realtime exam. I had taken my RPR years back and passed a some of it but not all and then I let my membership lapse. For me it was so exciting to take a test. I was excited about it. I should find out my results in a few weeks, but I felt really, really good about it. So Im asking, what are your thoughts about further certifications, continuing education? Have you done any? Why? Why not? Do you go to conventions? If you dont, why dont you? I think conventions are so GREAT and informative. I think that our state SHOULD have continuing education. Im quite shocked at the fact that we do not have mandated continuing education. I know anybody who holds a NCRA certificate needs to have continuing education. NCRA testing is next on my list.

A question for Washington reporters... how many characters per line are required?

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 16:10:07 GMT

Hi,Im new to the Seattle area, and Im trying to find out the formatting requirements for the state of Washington. Can someone please tell me how many characters per line are required? Is there some kind of debate about that? It seems some firms have one answer and other firms have another answer. I just want to be sure Im within the states guidelines.Thanks!

Do you still certify questions in California depositions, or do you just index them?

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 20:09:45 GMT

Do you still quot;certifyquot; questions in California depositions, or do you just index them? I thought the law had changed at some point, but it doesnt come up enough that I remember what to do.

Reading back on the job if you dont have it... what to do?

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 16:16:20 GMT

I want to know peoples stories regarding reading back, specifically, if you dont have it, whats the deal? What is the best thing to say? Is it absolutely expected that youre going to have everything always?

Do you recommend buying software and machine from acculaw?

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 14:00:50 GMT

Hello!I have student versions on both my software and machine, and I am looking to buy professional versions. I have heard good and bad things about different writers, and I am trying to hear more of that, I guess.Has anyone ever purchased their equipment through acculaw.com? Its thousands of dollars cheaper than going through stenograph, and I am wondering if there is a catch to it?Does anyone have any advice on what machine to get? I am thinking about the elan mira g2 or the new diamante. Theres a two thousand dollar price difference. Is the new diamante worth the money?Has anyone passed the CRR on the Mira? Has it been good for writing realtime?Well, I will appreciate any input anyone has on the machine and software they are using, and the companies who sold it to them.Thanks!

What happens with the Original Copy?

Mon, 31 May 2010 17:36:26 GMT

What do you do when you ask an attorney, quot;Would you like to order a certified copy?quot; and he replies, quot;No thank you. Im getting the original.quot; Arent they supposed to order a certified copy?

What do you do about nonverbal responses?

Sun, 30 May 2010 21:04:16 GMT

What do you do about nonverbal responses. I know a lot of agencies say that you should say, quot;shook headquot; for a negative shake or something else for positive. Cant remember. I dont like that because I feel it is interpreting. I just write quot;nonverbal response.quot; Sometimes I happen to look away from the witness for a second and I miss the shake anyway. Then it would REALLY be anybodys guess. What do you do?

What is least expensive way to send files via encrypted email?

Sun, 30 May 2010 14:31:54 GMT

Inquring for one person reporters who freelance: What is most inexpensive, simplest way of sending filed transcripts via encrypted, secure emails?

Anyone else having trouble loading their pic?

Sun, 30 May 2010 12:47:47 GMT

I got an invite that said I would get extra points if I uploaded a photo by today. Im not able to, and upon perusing the users, I see the majority of people also dont have photos. Is there a problem with the program, or is it just me?

Do you put stricken portions in the transcript?

Sun, 30 May 2010 09:43:54 GMT

I was taught in school to always put everything on the transcript including when an attorney begins a question, for example, quot;What is the name of -- strike that.quot; But I was told by an attorney one day that they expect reporters to completely strike it from the transcript. Is there a rule about this? Some of my coworkers say that if it is a short sentence and they say quot;strike thatquot; or quot;withdrawn,quot; we shouldnt put it on the transcript but if its in the middle of a long sentence, we should include it in the transcript. I feel that for the sake of consistency, we should always include it in the transcript irrespective of the length of the sentence the attorney is striking. What does everybody think about this?

What does a good copy order form look like?

Fri, 28 May 2010 20:46:50 GMT

Does anyone have a good copy order form? I want to pass it around the conference table to secure any and all copy orders. I already am getting the attorneys to order on the record (most of the time), but Ive been hearing about copy order forms too. Do you have a sample that you could share?

ASCII 2 ETRANSCRIPT or MIN-U-SCRIPT

Fri, 28 May 2010 08:27:54 GMT

Hi!Just wanted everyone to know theres a great site out there now that converts your asciis to e-trans OR min-u-scripts! No need to own the software yourself and pay those CRAZY monthly feesIts called ASCII2ETRANSCRIPT dot com and they convert them within 24 hours! Check it out.I highly recommend them.Cheers!

Do you have a maintenance contract on your steno?

Thu, 27 May 2010 22:46:20 GMT

How many of you pay for the Stenograph maintenance contract for your machine?

How come I write faster on a manual writer than on a CAT writer?

Thu, 27 May 2010 18:38:02 GMT

Am I the only one who prefers the touch and feel of a mechanical writer to that of a paperless writer?BACKGROUND:The development of paperless writers takes the evolution of the steno machine to another level, combining the familiar keyboard with the benefits of electronic controls. This advancement sacrificed the tactile response that court reporters have had with manual machines, for the purely artificial feel the paperless writers provide. For years I have practiced my speed building on my trusty Stentura manual writer. I love itrsquo;s feel. When I started in the profession, I purchased a Stenoram III writer and found, to my dismay, that I actually wrote slower than on my manual writer. I have now switched to the Stentura Fusion (Stenograph) over itrsquo;s more technologically advanced cousins because itrsquo;s ldquo;feelrdquo; best emulates the mechanical resistance in my beloved mechanical machine. I write faster on a manual machine, than on a paperless one.When the feel of the writer is good, you can write faster. Why is this so? Efficient keying requires efficiency -- depressing the keys with the minimum required force to actuate the keys, and timing -- when to start the next stroke. Electric writers do not have sufficient tactile feedback needed to indicate that sufficient force is being used to initiate a stroke, and to indicate that the keys have rebounded to their rest positions in order to initiate the next stroke. An exception to this is Stenographrsquo;s Fusion. Fusion is a hybrid writer because that combines mechanical with electronic mechanisms, and it has a feel far superior to purely paperless writers, because there are various mechanical apparatuses that the keys push against that provide the resistance that is largely responsible for itrsquo;s superior feel. Am I the only one to -- feel (smile) -- this way?

Im new to this site, just wondering if anyone else works on the production side?

Wed, 26 May 2010 14:09:20 GMT

If you had 1 common complaint about the production of your transcripts, what would it be?

How do I become comfortable doing realtime for attorneys?

Tue, 25 May 2010 15:28:32 GMT

I think I am almost ready to do realtime hookup, but then there is that occasional depo from hell that I wouldnt want my mother to look at my screen. Do you realtime writers have those occasional depos or do you write perfectly all the time? If not, what do you do in that scenario? I heard of one reporter that when it would get really rough she had a button she could push and it would disconnect everyone. Shed just say, quot;Oops, sorry. Connection problem.quot; When do you know youre ready? I guess is my question.

Information Gathering

Mon, 24 May 2010 17:18:16 GMT

I am a single mother of 3 kids at home. My youngest is starting kindergarten this summer. I am ready to go back to school, and am trying to decide quot;what I want to be when I grow up.quot; I happened to hear a commercial about court reporting, and thought it was interesting, but would like a little more information before I dive in.I would like to know more about what the job of the reporter is. It definitely sounds like your job is not done when you leave the courtroom/deposition. How much time do you put in outside of the actual testimony?What do you like about your job?What do you not like about your job?Is there work available? I live in Temecula, California (southern, near San Diego).What kind of continuing education is required? Or am I done once I pass the state exam?I appreciate any information anyone can give me. Thanks,Kelly

What can I do about law firms sharing transcripts instead of ordering transcripts?

Mon, 24 May 2010 09:25:10 GMT

In New York Ive noticed that some stingy lawyers are not ordering transcripts. Instead they are asking the one who orders to share with them. Is that happening elsewhere and is it even okay to do that? As it is, reporters get a measly rate for copies and now we are not even being asked for copies altogether!

Do you find video depos are worth your time?

Mon, 24 May 2010 01:23:31 GMT

I reconcile my depos with the audio tape given to me by the videographer as I have been instructed. I seem to score a lot of self-interrupting, false-starting lawyers in combination with video, which makes for an ugly process. However, its oddly more painful when the depo went really well and I feel compelled to listen to the tape because I may have written this instead of that. In either case, when I calculate the added compensation for the video depo at an hourly rate, it doesnt exactly seem like an efficient use of my time. Does anyone else feel this way? Thanks!

How do you send a DSS file?

Sun, 23 May 2010 12:23:50 GMT

Hello,Does anyone know how I would get my digital sound file off of my digital recorder to send to my scopist? I am using SendThisFile transfer if that helps. Thanks

Part 2 - Does your agency allow you to work for other agencies?

Sun, 23 May 2010 04:56:52 GMT

How do you manage your calendar? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Thank you so much.

I am using a proofreader, what is the proper procedure?

Sat, 22 May 2010 08:15:10 GMT

I have just started using a proofreader. I transcribe my job line by line and spell check it and send it to the proofreader. I was wondering should I proofread my job before I send it to the proofreader? What is normal practice?

Student question

Fri, 21 May 2010 14:41:54 GMT

I am a student. I am in the 120-140 speed. I must admit, I did not practice much in the lower speeds. I sometimes worry that I would be better if I had practiced more in those speeds, meaning better at what I write now. And then on the other hand I thnk well maybe I would just be further along and still feel the same nervousness at the the higher speed that I would be at. Im not sure if the nervousness I feel is because a lack of a good foundation at the lower speeds or because that is just normal.

comment on where to comment

Fri, 21 May 2010 12:19:26 GMT

where do I put the comment? dont see the section for that

How is the job market for reporting in California?

Fri, 21 May 2010 07:44:23 GMT

I left California almost a year ago. From the summer of 2008 until the summer of 2009, I was only able to get a few jobs. Has anyone had this same experience? And is it any better there yet?

Non-English Speaker Witnesses

Fri, 21 May 2010 05:31:11 GMT

Have you ever been at depositions where the law firm, in an effort to cost cuts, doesnt hire an interpreter for the witness and the transcript ends up sounding like Greek? I just did one expert witness (an NYC engineer) who had such bad English that 50 percent of his answers dont make sense.

How to get faster

Thu, 20 May 2010 23:43:53 GMT

What is a tip to get faster?

taxes - independent contractors or business owners?

Thu, 20 May 2010 22:06:55 GMT

If you are a freelance reporter working for firms, for tax purposes, are you an independent contractor or is there a way to say that you own your own business?If you are an independent contractor, what are the things you can claim to help with taxes?? Also, I never knew freelancers could have their own clients and dont have to go through a firm. If you have your own clients, do you say you are your own business for taxes? Im just really curious about the subject of taxes and court reporting and would like to learn more about it!

What do you need from your videographer?

Thu, 20 May 2010 18:09:20 GMT

Hi,Long time videographer here. Thought I would ask this question to help get us on the same page with CSRs. Videographers need to know how we can assist you in creating the best record possible:-audio format (cassette, mp3, wav...)-headphones-read-on (suggestions)-tape changes/breaks-seating priorities-equipment placement-general professionalism/demeanor-tape changes/interruptions-additional suggestions Thanks much,Brad LipetzBenchmark Video of SF

d.b.a. vs. d/b/a which is correct?

Wed, 19 May 2010 20:31:07 GMT

Websters says d/b/a and Greggs says d.b.a. Which one takes priority, Websters or Greggs ??

sic or not to sic?

Wed, 19 May 2010 14:09:53 GMT

I have a question about quot;sicquot;-ing. I dont have a problem sic-ing the witness, but I dont like sic-ing the attorneys. My proofer suggested I sic only the first time they say it incorrectly and then leave it. Another idea is to sic the first time on each page only. In the last arbitration I took, the attorney kept referring to the arbitrator as the quot;arbitor.quot; Should I write arbitor and sic him every time? Fix him?? Write arbitor and only sic once??? What do you do?

Is there an industry standard job worksheet for depositions?

Wed, 19 May 2010 12:50:37 GMT

At my agency Ive always been very casual with job turn-in sheets. Meaning, I have never specified a particular format. Some freelancers have been shocked, but then pleasantly surprised at how easy-going we are. Im wondering, though, if there is an industry-wide worksheet that everyone else uses? What do you use?

Do you have sample language for deposition oaths?

Wed, 19 May 2010 10:49:34 GMT

Im wondering when you administer the oath to a deponent, what language do you typically use? Ive been reading off a card since I feel like a newbie and Im not that confident to just rattle it off.

Arbitration control

Tue, 18 May 2010 21:05:23 GMT

I took an arbitration where the two main questioning attorneys were totally talking over one another (very contentious), yelling at the same time. The arbitrator did ABSOLUTELY nothing. I would finally step in and ask them to only speak one at a time, but I am wondering to what extent am I responsible for that and how appropriate is that in an arbitration setting. I am used to doing that in depos with no judge present, but with a judge present, it seems like it should be his job. Ive never worked court, only depos, so Im wondering what the protocol is.

Got my own client, what to do next?

Tue, 18 May 2010 19:03:39 GMT

I got a potential client and dont know what to do next. I am done with my transcript, but what do I do? I was so eager to do the job that I didnt think what that would ential. Do I give him both copies? Do I send one to him and one to the deponent? Do I let the attorney know that I sent the transcript to the other deposing attorney? What to do, what to do. How does anyone attach an exhibit of a business card to the transcript? Do I just staple it? I think I was in over my head. Im stressing. I guess theres way more involved when you decide to do it without having a firm backing you up. Yikes. Help please :/

Does your firm pay for you shipping exhibits?

Tue, 18 May 2010 16:19:21 GMT

Hello all, Im just wondering how many of you have to pay to ship your exhibits to your firm. Do you get reimbursed after youve already fronted the money for shipping? Do you ship them and not get reimbursed at all? Does your firm pay for shipping?

Can CAT software be run on a Netbook?

Mon, 17 May 2010 20:06:18 GMT

Im not sure if anyone is actually doing RT from their Netbook? I have heard conflicting stories about whether or not CAT software can even be installed on one...

What percentage of your depos are videotaped?

Mon, 17 May 2010 10:17:12 GMT

Ive just returned to court reporting after doing closed captioning for 7 years. I cant believe how many of my depos are videotaped. Id say at least 90%. Videotaped depos are a whole other game when it comes to scoping. Your thoughts?

When do you get paid for a job?

Mon, 17 May 2010 05:33:14 GMT

Is 2 months after the job was taken the norm these days?

Does your agency allow you to work for other agencies?

Mon, 17 May 2010 05:27:55 GMT

My agency hasnt directly said I cant freelance but shes hinted it. Does your agency allow you to work for other agencies?

Attorneys talking while youre marking exhibits...

Mon, 17 May 2010 05:21:19 GMT

Youre doing LiveNote and counsel asks you to mark an exhibit but they continue speaking. Do you stop writing to mark the exhibit or continue writing, leaving everyone to wait until youre finished?

Veterans History Project

Sun, 16 May 2010 20:28:39 GMT

Have you participated in the Veterans History Project? Did you find any really good sites for spellings? In particular, Im looking for military acronyms.

Are you transcribing recorded interrogations?

Sat, 15 May 2010 23:08:26 GMT

I have been thinking about working from home. I have heard of students and CSRs working at home transcribing recorded interrogations. If you have done that, how did you get into it? And how did the job process flow?

Whats the best way to remember the difference between affect and effect?

Sat, 15 May 2010 22:43:46 GMT

Is there an easy way to remember which is which? I ALWAYS have to look it up and Im tired of not remembering. Theres got to be a way I can drill it into my head. Is there something like the old quot;i before e except after cquot; trick but for affect and effect? Help!

A list of state court reporting associations?

Sat, 15 May 2010 06:56:12 GMT

Does anybody have a list already of all of the state court reporting associations? If not, lets create it here.

Where is the work in SC?

Fri, 14 May 2010 22:41:47 GMT

I have called and followed up with over 115 agencies in SC and none of them have work for me. I have solicited lawyers and none of them have gotten back to me. I have been to lawyer social networking events and nothing has come out of it. I have been to the magistrates office, and a few other state offices, and nothing has come out of it. So how does a freelance mask writer get work in SC?

Which states have CSR boards?

Fri, 14 May 2010 20:43:19 GMT

Which states besides California have CSR boards? And which states pay court reporters more than minimum wage? If my husband gets moved, and we can pick where we go, I would like to pick a state that pays court reporters well.

Videography Assignments

Fri, 14 May 2010 12:10:56 GMT

This is directed to court reporters and agencies NATIONALLY...What would you require from a videographer to consider him / her, a worthy candidate for your out of town clients?Andrew WanderCLVSwww.wandercommunications.comOffice #201-385-0865

Whats the best way to maintain a seating chart during a deposition?

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:52:05 GMT

Some CAT software like Case allows for a quot;virtual seating chart.quot; But how do you guys maintain a seating chart during a depo? I used to use good old Post-it notes.

Is the procedures portion on the test hard?

Thu, 13 May 2010 20:50:25 GMT

I am taking procedures in school right now, and all the codes seem confusing. I dont know if it is the wording, but there is a lot to take in! Is the procedures portion of the CSR exam hard?

Are you paperless? Why or why not?

Mon, 10 May 2010 17:46:59 GMT

Are you paperless? Why or why not? Are you being green by conserving paper? Or are you simply cutting out the expense? Are you like me... hate it when the paper would fold every which way under the table quickly morphing into a reporter mountain?!!! Scary! Or do you refuse to give up your paper... techno-weary perhaps...

Do I have to disclose what Ive read back to an attorney on a break to the other side?

Mon, 10 May 2010 17:01:27 GMT

I was at a deposition the other day. On the lunch break, the side that hired me wanted me to find a portion of the transcript to read to him and his boss. The other party could see through the window what we were doing. Should I have told the other side what portions I read back? It felt a little awkward.

Is Anita Pauls Realtime Mastery seminars worth the money?

Mon, 10 May 2010 14:29:46 GMT

Im considering trying some of Anita Pauls products. But before I do I want to know if anyone else has some positive feedback about her system?If I like the CD products, Im considering attending a seminar. Any feedback from past attendees?

How did you control your nerves?

Mon, 10 May 2010 14:07:17 GMT

Im in 180 right now, and the one thing slowing me down is my nerves! I know I have the speed, but I get so nervous during the test. Are there any tricks out there that may help?

How do I get my own clients as a freelancer?

Mon, 10 May 2010 09:53:02 GMT

There are a few attorneys I know (not through an agency) who I think might use my services (once Im licensed, of course) if I were to step out and take them on as my own clients. Im not sure what kind of law they do, so well see if those two attorneys work out or not. But Im wondering if others have tips on getting their own clients? Im not trying to be my own agency -- (well, maybe Im a little) -- but Id like to have just a couple clients who use me directly and thats that. Thoughts?

How did you know about reporting as a career?

Sun, 9 May 2010 18:00:42 GMT

High school counselors dont offer it...so how did you hear about it?Mine was a complete fluke! My brothers baseball coachs wife was a court reporter. I heard the name and instantly knew...Thats what I want to be. You master your own skill, make your own hours, dont have a boss. Oh, Im soooo there! So how about you?

Day and night school.

Sat, 8 May 2010 13:01:58 GMT

While you were in school, did you take day and night classes? If so, did you find that it helped in building speed and accuracy?

Case catalyst vs. eclipse

Fri, 7 May 2010 19:54:46 GMT

I have the Case CATalyst student software at the moment. Which software do you prefer? I dont really know what the major differences are between Case CATalyst and Eclipse. Any feedback would be great!

Diamante steno writer.

Fri, 7 May 2010 19:47:29 GMT

Does anyone have the new Diamante yet? Or do you know somebody with one? If so, how do you/they like it?

List of court reporting blogs

Thu, 6 May 2010 14:56:46 GMT

What are some good court reporting blogs out there? And Im not talking about those fake ones where its an agency quot;bloggingquot; about ridiculous topics that -- while they may be about court reporting -- they clearly are intended for SEO amp; SEM (search engine marketing) purposes.By way of disclosure, of course, I will admit that I have maintained my own blog since 2007 here: http://www.toddolivas.com/blog.But what others are there out there that you might recommend?

Anybody have any experience with a technique called directed practice?

Thu, 6 May 2010 14:48:31 GMT

When I was in school (South Coast College www.southcoastcollege.com) I used to do drills known as directed practice. Jean Gonzalez herself would adminster the class. Does anybody else use that method to practice on the steno machine? Basically it was a slowed down, intensive repetition which lead to greater accuracy. I personally attribute this type of skill building as being the only reason I passed the CSR exam (finally!) in 1999.Thoughts anyone?

What mistakes can I avoid while sitting out?

Wed, 5 May 2010 22:15:42 GMT

I will be in 200s soon, which means sitting out with licensed CSRs. I want to be very professional. What are some mistakes students make while sitting out that I can avoid?

Digital signatures, what are they and how do they work for deposition transcripts?

Wed, 5 May 2010 16:54:52 GMT

Theres been a lot of talk about digital signatures recently especially as regards deposition transcripts. Im hoping to get some good feedback from people in the know about this area of transcript production. I know of a certain product available by Reporting Solutions, Inc. that is called PDF-it. http://www.pdf-it.com/Hopefully, they will chime in with a good, response to this question...

If Im stuck in a speed, what are some tips to get unstuck?

Wed, 5 May 2010 16:50:15 GMT

Lets say youre in 120s and have been for about six months, what are some tips for getting unstuck from a really hard speed? I am attending pretty regularly and trying to stay motivated, but so far, nothings budging.Help out there!!

Do I have to charge all the attorneys the same price for my services?

Wed, 5 May 2010 16:44:36 GMT

At a deposition when there may be several parties ordering certified copies from me, do I have to charge them all equally?

Are there any Riverside, California court reporting schools?

Tue, 4 May 2010 11:15:08 GMT

I have a friend who is intrested in becoming a court reporter. Do you have any information on schools in the Riverside, CA area?

Stenograph training classes?

Sat, 1 May 2010 11:20:36 GMT

I wonder if anyone can tell me about any training classes that the CAT vendors (specifically Stenograph) might offer. Im only a student right now, but am very dedicated to getting through school and learning my software along the way.

Is there a website specifically about the history of court reporting?

Sat, 1 May 2010 10:25:09 GMT

Im interested in learning about the history of court reporting. What resource or website would you recommend that I check out?

Continuing education requirements?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:18:34 GMT

I know that I have to participate in continuing education credits in order to stay certified as a court reporter, but Im afraid that the classes are going to be boring. What kinds of classes fulfill the continuing education requirements?

Enhancing my career as a court reporter?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:18:03 GMT

What sort of things can I do that will improve my success as a court reporter?

Storing notes after the trial?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:17:38 GMT

How long does a court reporter need to store their notes for a trial?

Outside of the courtroom?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:16:53 GMT

What opportunities do court reporters have outside of the courtroom?

Support for freelancers?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:16:25 GMT

I want to go out on my own but Im nervous about not getting great jobs. What sort of support is available for freelance court reporters?

What is voice writing?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:15:59 GMT

What is voice writing as it relates to court reporters?

Equipment for voice writing?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:15:20 GMT

What equipment will I need to have available if I want to pursue my court reporter career as a voice writer?

What is electronic reporting?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:14:52 GMT

What is electronic reporting for court reporters?

Delivering final transcripts?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:14:22 GMT

Whats the best way to deliver final transcripts to attorneys and judges after a deposition, trial, or hearing?

Computerized courtroom differences?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:13:38 GMT

Whats different about working in a computerized court room?

Technology and court reporters?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:12:53 GMT

What sorts of technology should court reporters be familiar with?

Marketing myself as a realtime reporter?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:12:26 GMT

Ive recently started to work as a realtime court reporter, but I dont seem to be getting many jobs. What can I do to market myself more effectively?

Continuing education credits?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:11:57 GMT

How many continuing education credits do I need to have to remain certified as a court reporter?

Challenges to realtime depositions?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:11:04 GMT

Ive recently started to record in realtime. Im scheduled to work at a deposition - whats the worst that could happen?

What is an e-trascript?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:10:28 GMT

I was asked to provide an e-transcript rather than printing out a final copy for the lawyer; what is it and why do some lawyers want them?

Bilingual court reporters?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:10:00 GMT

Is there ever a time when its beneficial for court reporters to be bilingual?

Deposition objections?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:21:20 GMT

What objections are court reporters likely to hear during depositions?

Computerized courtrooms?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:20:54 GMT

What benefits are there for defendants when their case is tried in a computerized courtroom?

Before the court reporting job?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:20:18 GMT

What are court reporters responsible for before transcribing events - whether depositions, hearings, or trials?

Delivering rough transcripts?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:19:52 GMT

How can rough transcripts be delivered by court reporters after the deposition, hearing, or trial?

Privacy laws and court reporters?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:19:20 GMT

Do laws about protecting personal information impact court reporters?

After the depo/hearing?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:18:49 GMT

What are court reporters responsible for after documenting the hearing or deposition proceedings?

More court reporters?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:18:17 GMT

It seems as though most jurisdictions always have enough court reporters to cover upcoming cases. Is there really a need for more court reporters?

Court reporting work environment?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:17:54 GMT

What is the work environment like for court reporters?

CART and court reporters?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:17:25 GMT

What is communication access realtime translation?

After court reporting?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:41:22 GMT

Im thinking about becoming a court reporter, but Im not sure that its a career that I want to have forever. Is there something that it can evolve into? What are career opportunities that exist after court reporting?

Court reporter certification?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:30:07 GMT

What agencies certify court reporters?

Report of Compliance?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:28:57 GMT

What is a report of compliance form?

Notes from depositions?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:28:15 GMT

How long do court reporters need to save notes from a deposition job?

Accessing stored notes?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:27:28 GMT

I know that I have to keep notes from depositions, hearings, and trials. Do I always need to keep those stored notes easily accessible?

Jury selection process?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:26:44 GMT

What can a court reporter expect during jury selection?

Going off the record?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:11:26 GMT

If Im covering a deposition and only one of the attorneys wants to go off the record, what am I supposed to do?

Motion to dismiss?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:02:12 GMT

Im going to be covering a trial in the coming weeks in which theres a lot of talk about the defense attorney planning to file a motion to dismiss. What happens if the judge grants the motion to dismiss during a jury trial?

Lawyers response to interruptions. Tips for interrupting?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:57:34 GMT

Im always a little bit nervous when I need to interrupt during a reporting job. Will the lawyers be angry if a court reporter interrupts the deposition or hearing?

Interrupting the proceedings?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:52:57 GMT

Is there ever a time when the court reporter has an obligation to interrupt the hearing or the deposition that he or she is transcribing?

Signaling a time out?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:52:26 GMT

How can you let the lawyers know that you need a break when youre reporting a deposition?

Notes from a death penalty case?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:51:45 GMT

Are the requirements for storing court reporter notes from a death penalty case different from other cases?

Storing back notes?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:27:59 GMT

I know that I have to keep my notes from past hearings/trials/depositions. Whats the best way to keep them?

Court reporter punctuation?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:27:25 GMT

How much punctuation do I need to know to be a court reporter?

Traveling for court reporter jobs?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:17:02 GMT

Ive been a freelance court reporter for a while now and am looking for ways to increase the amount of work that I do, Should I consider taking jobs outside of my area even if it means traveling to get to them?

Real-time transcriptions?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:16:25 GMT

Are real-time transcriptions more difficult to do than other court reporting jobs?

New steno equipment?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:57:30 GMT

Someone told me the other day about a great new steno tool that they were using and suggested that I shouldnt still be counting on the equipment that Ive been using. Is it necessary to continually upgrade my steno equipment?

Opening my own agency?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:55:33 GMT

Ive been freelancing as a court reporter for a while now and am starting to think about next steps for my career. Should I consider looking into opening my own court reporting agency?

Court reporters and mentoring?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:45:11 GMT

I have the opportunity to talk to a group of students who want to become court reporters; is this something that I should do, or do you think that it would be a waste of time?

Working with scopists?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:44:41 GMT

Is it worth it, when Im on a tight deadline, to delegate my work to a scopist? Id prefer to do it all myself, but I just dont see how its going to be possible.

Continuing Education?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:00:15 GMT

Ive been thinking a lot about the continuing education requirement for court reporters. Why is it really necessary?

Connection to a case?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:54:19 GMT

If a court reporter has some connection to the case, can he or she still work on it?

Certification for court reporters?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:53:13 GMT

Ive been thinking about becoming a court reporter and have seen reference to certification. Is it really necessary?

Court Reporter Fees?

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:52:30 GMT

Who is responsible for paying a court reporters fees?

Preparing to be a court witness?

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:59:41 GMT

A friend of mine has been summoned to be a witness in an upcoming trial. How can he prepare for it effectively?

Material witnesses?

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:58:59 GMT

I heard someone referred to as a material witness; what does that mean exactly?

What is coercion?

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:31:28 GMT

Ive heard the term coercion used a lot in the court room - sometimes in different ways. Can someone explain it to me?

Defining criminal prosecution

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:29:55 GMT

How would you define criminal prosecution at its most basic?

Witness Tampering?

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:29:18 GMT

I get that witness tampering involves interfering with the testimony that someone is going to give in a trial, but what is usually involved and what are the penalties?

Charging billable hours?

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:48:54 GMT

I understand that lawyers make their money based on the number of hours that they bill, but how did firms start to use billable hours as a way to charge their clients?

Ex Parte Proceedings?

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:48:19 GMT

I always thought that, with the way the courts were set up, both the person making the charges and the person being charged were supposed to be present. Then I heard about ex parte proceedings. How do they work and when do they happen?

Calendar Management Reports?

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:51:49 GMT

Should I look into a system that produces calendar management reports? What are the benefits?

Condensed transcripts?

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:43:45 GMT

What is a condensed transcript? Is it a matter of changing the size of the document, or creating a summary of the most important data?

What is considered litigation support?

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:43:01 GMT

What is considered litigation support?

What is a bench warrant?

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:37:37 GMT

What makes a bench warrant different from other arrest warrants?

Online court reporter education?

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:36:56 GMT

Is it possible to get an education online that prepares you to be a court reporter?

What is contempt of court?

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:36:13 GMT

Ive heard plenty of judges call for order in the court and to threaten charges of contempt, but is contempt of court only about people who are disruptive?

Same day deposition?

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:34:06 GMT

How common is it to have a call for a court reporter to cover a deposition without any warning - as in, an hours notice?

Specialized court reporters?

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:32:53 GMT

Does it make a court reporter more valuable if he or she specializes in some way? It seems to me that there are a lot of jobs for the medical on our team.

How long should I wait before filing in small claims against a non-paying attorney?

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:38:18 GMT

How long should I wait before filing a small claims case against a non paying attorney?

Paying on contingency?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:30:29 GMT

Ive been hearing people talk about paying on contingency for the legal services they receive. What is paying on contingency and why do some lawyers take clients who will be paying in that way?

Prosecutorial Misconduct?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:27:54 GMT

Recently I was involved in a case that ended in a mistrial as the result of prosecutorial misconduct but the specifics werent clear. What falls into the category of prosecutorial misconduct?

Are all courts the same?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:27:05 GMT

I know that the Supreme Court ranks above other courts and that there are federal courts as well as more local courts, but is there a greater hierarchy?

What is a mistrial?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:21:33 GMT

Ive heard about mistrials in the news, but Ive never been involved in a case that ended in one. What is a mistrial exactly?

What is the role of a character witness?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:20:41 GMT

In most of the cases that Ive been involved in, there have been either witnesses to a crime or expert witnesses who were brought in to provide more background information. Theres a case coming up in which a character witness is expected - what can I expect?

Calendar versus docket?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:49:04 GMT

Are calendar and docket interchangeable terms?

Finding expert witnesses?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:48:26 GMT

Do law firms always find their own expert witnesses? And, for that matter, how are expert witnesses selected by lawyers?

What exactly is a court docket?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:46:57 GMT

I keep hearing about cases that are on the court docket, but many of them dont ever seem to make it to trial. Why is it that not every case that makes it onto the docket makes it into the courtroom?

How are witnesses compensated?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:45:52 GMT

I know that witnesses can receive pay for their time on the stand, but how much do they receive? Is there a scale of some kind? Why are some witnesses paid more than others?

Who can be qualified as a peace officer?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:44:43 GMT

I always thought about peace officers as police, but during my time in the courts, Ive heard the time used to describe others as well. Who can be qualified as a peace officer?

What should I wear to court?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:43:41 GMT

Since I became a court reporter, friends expect me to be able to answer all of their questions; the big one lately seems to involve what to wear to court. Since I handle primarily depositions and am not in the courtroom all that often, does anyone else know what I should tell them?

Is there any way to get out of a subpoena?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:42:45 GMT

If someone is issued a subpoena expecting them to show up to be a witness in a trial, I know that they are expected to be there, but is there any way that they can get out of being present and testifying? It seems incredibly rare to see someone who has been served a subpoena not show up in the courtroom.

Duces Tecum Means?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:11:29 GMT

Can someone tell me what duces tecum means?

Why is a cross-examination necessary?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:44:35 GMT

I know that everyone has the right to a fair trial and that the defendants lawyer should have a chance to explore the prosecutions case (and vice versa). But is the cross-examination really necessary? What sort of information is likely to be uncovered?

What exactly is deposition testimony?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:41:05 GMT

I understand that deposition is part of the discovery process, and that deposition happens before the actual trial. But what exactly is deposition testimony all about? What can I expect?

Is a deponent like a standard witness?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:39:56 GMT

Ive been a court reporter on a number of cases in courtrooms before, but just got my first call to cover a deposition. Is a deponent like a traditional witness? What should I know?

Court reporting software?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:39:17 GMT

Are there any time of software available that improve the process of taking information from steno pads and getting it into the hands of lawyers, judges, or even the juries? It just seems that the process sometimes takes too long.

I keep hearing about affidavits being used in lieu of depositions...

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:38:03 GMT

What exactly is an affidavit?

What questions can you expect to be asked in a deposition?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:37:24 GMT

Im just wondering, as a new court reporter, what type of questions deposed witnesses are usually going to be asked. Just want to be sure that Im not caught off guard by anything.

What are the differences between a deposition and an interrogatory?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:35:47 GMT

I understand that both depositions and interrogatories are both used as part of the information gathering and discovery process before the trial, but Im looking for a bit of clarification about what the differences between the two are. Can anybody help me out?

How would you define testimony to someone who didnt understand what it was?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:34:07 GMT

Even though it seems like you can always find a courtroom drama on TV, I feel like some of my friends dont get the concept of testimony no matter how many times I try to explain it. How do you define testimony for those with less experience in the courtroom?

How do you really appreciate a direct examination?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:32:59 GMT

I understand the value of direct examination of the witnesses, but sometimes it seems so staged. Im trying to appreciate it more. Why is direct examination so important to court cases?

Continuing Education and Training for Court Reporters

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:53:31 GMT

I just recently became a court reporter, after completely my education and becoming certified. Although I am just getting used to my new career, I am already wondering about the various opportunities for improvement. What kind of continuing education or additional training could I take to improve my reporting skills and possibly upgrade my salary or desirability to employers?

Should I refer to myself as a court reporter or deposition reporter?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:45:13 GMT

I dont really understand the differences between court reporters and deposition reporters. Some services seem to use the two terms interchangably. Can I refer to myself as a deposition reporter because I am a trained court reporter?

What is the difference between a court reporter and a deposition reporter?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:43:14 GMT

What are the big differences between a court reporter and a deposition reporter? Ive seen articles that seem to refer to them interchangably, but I figure there must be some differences between the two titles. Is there different training required, or different responsibilities?

Binding oversize exhibits

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:59:15 GMT

My exhibits are huge for this job I just had. There is a large Xerox box filled with page after page of reports and data. Some pages are stapled together. While others are paperclipped. To make matters worse, the attorneys in this case want a set of exhibits attached with the transcripts. How is this best accomplished?There are color exhibits as well as an oversized map. Yikes! Any help or suggestions out there?

What does the calendar department do at a court reporting agency?

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:57:03 GMT

What role does the calendar department play at a court reporting agency? I have heard that as a freelance reporter that you have quot;play nicequot; with calendar managers or you wont get any work. What is their job function and how important are they?

What is an etrans or e-transcript?

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:56:15 GMT

Is there something special about an etrans (or e-transcript)? What exactly is it and how is it produced?

What is an ASCII?

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:55:35 GMT

I hear the term ASCII bandied about quite frequently in regards to transcripts. What exactly is it and what is it used for?

What is the best way to bind a deposition transcript?

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:54:53 GMT

I know there are various ways that court reporters bind transcripts. What are the best?

What California code section covers the handling of the Original transcript?

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:59:36 GMT

Im curious about the specifics regarding the handling of the original transcript after a deposition. Im a little confused as to what is spelled out in the code vs. what quot;normallyquot; happens in the real, day-to-day depo world.

How long do I need to keep my steno notes in California

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:55:06 GMT

Where in the California code section is it specified as to how long a court reporter needs to hold or retain their steno notes? I suppose to err on the side of caution and keep them in a safe, stored place is my best bet. But I was curious as to what is mandated. Any help?

Whats the difference between an oath and an affirmation?

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:52:43 GMT

At a deposition, what is the difference between adminstering an oath vs. an affirmation to the deposed witness? Are they one and the same or is there some kind of distinction that Im missing?

What kinds of conflicts of interest should a court reporter avoid?

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:49:29 GMT

Its pretty obvious why a court reporter would be required to be a neutral, third-party observer to a proceeding, but where in the code specifically are the duties spelled out as far as avoiding conflicts of interest?Im in California.

Are deposition reporters officers of the court?

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:48:08 GMT

Ive often heard that the court reporter at a deposition is the quot;officer of the court.quot; Is that true, and what does that even mean?

What does the term O 1 mean?

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:55:46 GMT

Ive heard of this phrase, O amp; 1 (Oh and one) for awhile now during school. What does it exactly mean? Everyone seems to know except me. Please help!

My first readback.org question is... why readback.org?

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:35:09 GMT

This is the first question of many. Why create a website like readback.org? What is the purpose and goal of this site?

Site improvement ideas

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:31:15 GMT

What would be your suggestion to improve this website? My goals for it are as follows:

Easy-to-use
Informative for court reporters
Something court reporters and students will want to keep coming back to
Fast loading pages
Kinda fun to belong to
How am I doing?