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  1. #1

    Default Crooked Court Reporter

    My question involves court procedures for the state of: Louisiana

    We've had a hearing in a divorce case in July. The person who was the court reporter was a sub person, who is "an independent contractor." After the hearing I asked him to type up a transcript for me because we are going to file for a supervisory writ. He promised to have it done. It's been over a month, I called him and spoke to him 15 times but he did not do anything. My attorney also contacted him but the court reporter did not give us the transcript. I contacted the main person in Judicial expense fund, she promised to obtain the transcript from him but she did not do it. We ended up asking for continuance because we cannot write the writ without the transcript.
    What can I do in this situation? Is there a time limit on how soon a court reporter should have it done? It sounds like sabotage. I did contact the board and filed a complaint with them against him but it will take a while for them to investigate.
    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    1,877

    Default Re: A Crooked Court Reporter

    Usually, after something like this, you are asked to either sign off on what you said, or to request a transcript. (they tell you how much per page it will cost.)
    Did anyone give you this info?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: A Crooked Court Reporter

    As a court reporter, I can tell you that it's unlikely that the reporter is intentionally "sabotaging" your case. While I am a freelance deposition reporter and I haven't worked in court in a number of years, it is my understanding that some court's backlogs for transcripts can be quite substantial. As you can well imagine, yours is not the only case heard in court. Your divorce case may be taking a backseat to something more pressing, like a murder case, a child abuse case, etc., or simply a thousand others just like you needing their transcripts right now. Perhaps you are just in line, waiting your turn.

    Besides, transcripts take an enormous amount of time to produce, more so than is evident from a day or an hour that is spent in court watching the reporter type away at a machine.

    Additionally, reporters may require payment terms be reached before starting work on a transcript. Perhaps that is part of the delay.

  4. #4

    Default Re: A Crooked Court Reporter (follow up)

    I see that you are saying that there is a backlog of the transcripts but it was not so. When we finally got the transcript from him, it was past the due date of turning in the writ. We had to ask the appelate court for continuance, which was granted. Then, when my attorney filed the writ, we were denied because they said that we did not have the continuance. Turns out the court of appeals assigns one case number to the case when you filed for the continuance (which was granted) and a completely new case number to the writ when we filed it within the time that was given to us. Then the court refused to connect the 2 case numbers into one case. Therefore, they did not even look at my writ, just denied it because "it was late." My children are involved, the writ was dealing with their well-being. I suffered financially (attorney and filing fees), my kids suffered emotionally. Also, come to find out the court reporter was working without license and is now being investigated by the Board. Since I am posting, I would like to find out if I have a case to at least recover attorney and filing fees from this crook?
    Thank you.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: A Crooked Court Reporter (follow up)

    Hi, NewOrleansgirl2. As the supervisor of the court reporters of North Carolina...and a court reporter by trade...I'm a little embarassed that you are experiencing these problems from a court reporter. It sounds like you got a bad one, which I'm sad to admit does exist out there.

    As far as suing the reporter, if he was acting as an agent for the State, that may not be an option. I would only say you should consult an attorney on that.

    Good luck to you.

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