Appearance Fees in addition to page rates

[Linda Silver Ryan]

I'm a small OC Cal agency that does occasional work in SF and Sacramento.  My client blew a gasket when he received a bill that included the Appearance Per Hour fees that the Sacramento reporter charged me that I passed on to him.   I have seen them range from $100 for the entire day to $42 per hour on top of a $____  page rate.   

I'd love some feedback about how these rates and additional fees are explained to clients and what is actually the standard in Northern California.

 

Thanks!

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I don't get an appearance fee from the main firm I work for, just the page rate.  Some reporters charge an hourly fee and some don't.  I know we get the per diem in court/arbitrations/hearings, but we don't get appearance fee for depos.  One agency I work for charges 20.00 an hour that is given to the reporter. 

I get the 40.00 per hour if it's after 6:00 p.m. or waiting time.  $42.00 an hour on top of the page rate is extreme I think.  If I were you, I'd find a reporter that doesn't charge a appearance fee.  If I'm getting my roughs or realtime, I could care less about the appearance fee. 

By the way, I took out the page rate you had above because we are not supposed to talk about rates.  Hope you don't mind.

[Janiece Young]

I know you are asking about California, but I'm going to chime in.  In Kansas and Missouri we charge appearance fees in addition to our page rate.

[Deby]

In Connecticut, in New Jersey, and in New York, appearance fees are charged, as well.

[Judy]

I guess the only thing you can tell the client is different areas of the country -- even within the state -- charge differently, and that that is the customary billing model for No Cal.  I'd just try to assure the client that you did your due diligence regarding reporters/rates in that area and those are customary charges.

[Rita Carpenter]

Appearance Fees in depos are standard in Georgia.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

Attendance is reasonable and customary and I've never not charged it.  With rates not climbing at all (I've been charging the same rates for a decade), I would never accept a job without it.  I charge a flat rate from 9-6 and an hourly rate before 9 and after 6.   I also have a waiting time fee which I use in a case of I arrive for a 10 a.m. dep, say, and am told "Oh, we forgot to call that the dep is starting at 1."  So I charge 3 hours waiting plus attendance.  Happens rarely but it's a line item just in case.   

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Well, I live in Northern California and I'd say it's 50/50; some charge and some do not.  You can always negotiate this fee with any reporter you're using you know.  All rates are negotiable.

[Rosalie DeLeonardis]

I'm in Northern California, and most firms I work with charge half day or full day along with the page rate.   The agencies that do not pay the appearance fee are the firms that receive their work through a network that won a contract to do all the insurance companies depos at a certain rate.

[Estella Sakultanapanich]

I'm not a court reporter and have dropped out of my home study efforts due to illness.  However, I may need a court reporter in the future so I called around for rates in San Francisco.  The one agency that provided information said it was $600 plus for a half day plus 2.85 per page.  And if you don't order a transcript it's over $700.  It all sounds very steep and I'm wondering if these rates are standard.  I hope the court provides a court reporter, or other alternatives.

Thanks for any comments.