Video Deposition

[T]

Hello,

I did a video deposition today that lasted 7 hours.  In the past, I would listen to the entire deposition all over again to make sure that each word and utterance is in the record.

But 7 hours is a very long time to listen to an entire deposition, and I'm wondering what everyone else's normal practice is when taking video depos?  Do you just listen to audio if there's a part you're stuck on/doesn't make sense, or do you usually listen to the whole thing to make sure every word is accounted for? 

Thanks!!!!

[Emily H.]

Personally, I always listen to the entire thing.  In case they use the transcript and audio at trial, I want to make sure it matches up exactly.  Also, I've heard of some attorneys' offices giving the transcript and audio to one of their workers to listen to and go through to make sure it all matches up perfectly.  I do know a couple reporters who just check their own audio, though, instead of the videographer's.  I think it just depends on what you're comfortable with and also how controlled the depo was.  Yes, seven hours is a very long time, but you can always speed up the audio to make it go by faster. 

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Here in Northern California, 7 hours on the record is normal for a video deposition and yes, you need to listen to the audio or have your scopist do it.  Someone needs to make sure it syncs up with the video.  Just the way it works.  That is, unless you don't care if there are mistakes and that's up to you I guess.

[Patricia Babits]

I listen to my own audio for the entire transcript.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

This is why we surcharge for a video.  It's more work and we have to do it.  I would never agree to work without that surcharge.  We never know how anal an agency or a lawyer will be about the synching.

[Mary K. Corcoran]

Listen to the whole thing, either on the audio provided by the videographer or your own audio, whichever is easier and clearer.

[Mary Motley O'Brien]

Does anyone know what the rules are regarding utterances?  I have always put every single everything in video jobs but for the first time ever, I had an agency (that I just started working more with) tell me they counted over 300s "um"s in my transcript and said it was not normal for the client and asked if I would take them out or give them permission to take them out.  The person I talked to I don't think realized it was a video job but she talked to the owner and they said that utterances are not words; thus they should not be in any transcript. I'm not sure I agree, especially if it was said 300 times, then obviously the syncing up of the transcript with the time would be wrong or at least that's what I think.  Am I missing something?  Should these utterances not be in there?  I'm thinking about calling the CSR Board and seeing what they have to say.  I mean, I understand cleaning up the attorney but what if someone listening to it is upset that they're not in there, as if the attorney is stumbling that much on their words, that also has some effect on the testimony.  It's my transcript and my license.  I don't want to get in trouble for it.  But what I'm curious about, again, is if there is some governed rule from the CSR Board that we are in fact supposed to put every utterance, every false start, everything that is said in a video job.  And btw, I did not go back and take them all out.  I just very kindly explained what I have been doing for 18 years and have never been told differently, and they said they were producing the transcript as/is

[Angela Hartsock]

Wow.  Including every utterance and um and half words in a transcript would be so time consuming that I just don't do it.  I was taught in CR school that "ums" et cetera are not words and to not include them, even if it's video.  I do take extra precaution with video and I make sure I get "okays" in there and things like that, but only actual words.  I don't include words that are half cut off.  I think you run a big risk of attorneys getting upset with the notion of padding a transcript, but I also think if you do that, it's not wrong.  You're doing your job to the utmost accuracy and there's nothing wrong with that.  I just don't personally believe we make enough money to spend that kind of time in the scoping process to do that.

And you shouldn't really worry about your transcript not syncing up with audio.  I've spoken to many vids and they all tell me the transcript will sync.  If you missed an entire question or line, then it

might get off, but otherwise if an okay is omitted or an utterance, it won't change a thing.