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video and technical surchages

Does anyone charge both a video AND technical/expert surcharge on page rates if the job

is really technical as well as video?

Thanks

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Amanda Leigh on April 13, 2012 at 9:33

Certainly--and it doesn't take "really technical."

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Permalink Reply by Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber) on April 13, 2012 at 15:22

With rates not moving up ever, we need surcharges. I've had this scenario: a video dep of an expert and a Q'g/ordering (O&1 or copy) attorney is on the phone. Telephone participation is a surcharge because it's a PITA for the CR and it's a lot cheaper than the attorney flying or even driving in. So that's 3 surcharges and it's appropriate and fair & reasonable.

I am now working on expert witness dep of an expert in a bankruptcy case. They spoke too damn quickly (not surchargeable but should be for goodness sake) and used some but not tons of lingo I'm not familiar with. I may not charge the expert surcharge. But then again, 2 out of the 3 witnesses spoke in half-page sentences so big PITA so maybe I will apply the surcharge. They were hired as experts so . . .

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Leigh on April 13, 2012 at 17:30

I do charge a PITA fee (or a speeding ticket to the offending attorney) for going too fast (it's the fee they pay to get a record verbatim and not my paraphrasing). I also have a heavy cross-talk upcharge. If expert testimony, upcharge. I don't think twice. If it takes more time because of X, Y is charged. When I first started reporting, I would hear things like "You take the good with the bad." That always came from those drinking champagne while I had to settle for a Pabst.

Of course, the way to get to champagne is to gets lots of reporters to drink Pabst.

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Permalink Reply by Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber) on April 13, 2012 at 18:17

I like your thinking, Miss Amanda, and now know that I will most assuredly apply the expert upcharge.

Now, will I also apply the speeding upcharge, probably not. It's not my client but an agency's client, and I don't have that line item on my rate sheet.

OK, just added it to my rate sheet. So anyone who gets it from now on, I will charge that.

"speed-talking/interrupting/cross-talk" is my new line item. Thank you for the much-needed pep talk!!