Incompetent Court Reporters Accepting Work Through CSRNation

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

One of the agencies that I know sent out a job offer to Massachusetts for a three-day job that needed covered.  This reporter, who I won't name, picked up the job.  She's had the job for over a month and not turned it in.

Finally, she turned in the first two volumes with multiple mistakes.  She still has not turned in the last transcript.  She turned in a rough because the court reporting agency had to have something to give to the attorney because he's going to trial.  The rough ASCII was literally unreadable. 

Now, I don't understand why a court reporter would take work through this website if they are so incompetent that they cannot turn the work in.  I wish there was a way I could filter all the bad apples off of here.

The agency owner called me and wanted to know if there is a way that I filter the qualified reporters from the incompetent reporters.  I told her no, I have no way to do that.  Once I hear someone has done a poor job, I ban them immediately from the website.  I'm a full-time reporter myself; there is no way for me to filter through thousands of reporters.

I'm just very frustrated about this situation.  This is not the first time it has happened either.  There must just be a lot of lousy court reporters out there I guess.  Unfortunately, it looks like it cost this agency their client.  Unbelievable. 

Reporters:  Please don't take work from this website if you can't handle the work.  You're giving my website a bad name!!

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I text, answer emails all the time while witnesses are looking/reading exhibits.  I've never had a problem doing that.  I just make sure I get every word of what they say when they start talking again, though.  I have to because most of my jobs are realtime; gotta be on top of that stuff.

[LEONORA L WALKER]

Sounds like this reporter just said the hell with it, my audio will pick it up.  I  feel if the testimony sounds like garble as I'm hearing it, then that's exactly how it's going to sound on audio.  

[Mary Ann Payonk]

Hi, Kathy.  I take it that was on the freelance side.  I've had my eyes opened up recently to things happening in the world of the official reporter, and it's scary, especially when FTR or other electronic recording is present, especially when a reporter is in a position of, 'Let me JUST hang on for five more years, get my retirement, and get the hell out of here."  Maybe you wouldn't be, but others who haven't experienced this phenomenon would be shocked and amazed at the lack of ability (or is it effort?) some (NOT all, but for darn sure SOME) official reporters put into their work.  Eventually, when someone else has to transcribe their work, the truth comes out.  And here is what I believe, and that is that our profession is killing itself from the inside out because many reporters are just giving up.  Reporters must look up the definition of "hubris," then realize that their ability to write a few (not all, mind you, but a few) words on a funny machine will not secure their future.  You mentioned Dragon, and there's another thing that comes to mind.  Stenographic court reporters are NOT the be-all, end-all highest and best means of making the record.  Hate me if you must, but there are many tape transcribers out there who can run rings around some of the hair-flipping gum-chewers I see passing for reporters nowadays.  Know what I say?  May the best man win ... even if that man is a woman, and even if that person is a transcriber.  We should not save our profession because we write on a machine.  We should save our profession because we are THE BEST, and with some of the members of our profession I've been exposed to lately, we are not all the best.  Not by a long shot.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I do not look for work on CSRNation.  My skills have come a long way in the last four years, but I know, in no way am I qualified to consider myself as qualified or competent as the realtimers doing high end depos.  Anyone who does not have clean notes and can't keep up with the depo dialog, it's just plain foolish to pretend you can. 

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Just found out about a reporter (Which I banned about a year ago) taking a job from CSRnation and holding on to the transcript for three months and not giving it to the agency.  Really?  These reporters I ban are so desperate for work, that they join again using a different name and email address.  So frustrating. 

 

 

[Janet]

I couldn't believe it when I saw the urgent message from the agency that this is the very same reporter that this thread was originally written about. 

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Yeah, how ironic is that?    Pretty sad.

[Mary Chmura]

I felt compelled to help the agency too - after I was burned by her about six years ago - actually, I made it a mission to try to track her down!

 

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

If you know her email, let me know, because I want to ban her "again" from the website. 

[Mary Chmura]

Kelli

I'm going to forward what I found (in an archived email from her - looking for work!) to your email - has her email address/phone number.  I sent that to the most recent agency trying to track her down

 

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

That was very nice of you.  Thank you. 

Wish I could understand why a reporter would even bother taking a deposition if you're not going to bother to turn the job in.  What's the point?  Of course, the last time she turned a job in (a year ago) the transcript was hardly even usable. 

What I want to do is send out an email blast to those cover depo groups warning all the agencies to be aware of this reporter when looking for someone in the New York, Boston, Rhode Island, etc. groups.  I want people to be aware of her since I can't get rid of her.

My email address is:  [e-mail]