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Get Organized With Huseby Document Support Staff

June 30, 2010 – 12:58 pm

One of the most crucial steps in a big case is to simply get organized. Large cases with cases of documents produced in discovery can be overwhelming, especially for smaller law firms or single practices. It can prevent a lawyer from taking on a case. Huseby can help you get organized. We are more than court reporters and legal videographers. We are your support staff, too. We tackle discovery documents with no hesitation. Whether you are producing them or receiving them, taking the time to identify and Bates Stamp documents can be half the manpower time in a case. We have the manpower. While you are doing the research and preparing to take legal depositions, we will prepare your documentation. Whether it is basic financial documentation to be used in Answers to Interrogatories or more complicated records to be featured later on as exhibits for depositions, witness preparation and court proceedings, we will get it Bates stamped, scanned, sorted and bound.

Give us the basic guidelines to follow and we can sort through boxes of documents and find the proverbial needle in the haystack that is the key to the case. Our efficient and courteous staff knows the importance of organization and attention to detail. They are already trained in Bates stamping, copying, scanning and binding. They keep an accurate record of what each document is, how it has been stamped or electronically named and where it is located.

Using Huseby’s support staff services prevents you from hiring additional staff and training them for just one case. It takes time to find the right new employee and get them trained accordingly. We have already taken those steps.

Once we have processed the initial document production and gotten everything organized, we can help you use the information to create a solid case for your client through use of document management, litigation support software and trial presentation as needed. Huseby’s trial support division can turn the boxes of documents we have stamped and scanned into charts, maps and graphs that will catch a jury’s attention and help you present a solid opening and closing argument. Contact our office for details.

By shuseby | Posted in Trial Presentation | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Video Depositions Tips

June 28, 2010 – 12:55 pm

Videotape depositions are used to preserve the testimony of the witness when they are either not going to be available at trial or when the attorney wants other people to see the testimony while preparing for the case. When people use our Huseby video deposition services, we have some basic guidelines that they can follow that helps our legal videographer and the deposition court reporter to create a better product.

Be sure to spell your name for the court reporter. Provide your firm name, address and email. Allow the court reporter time to get the information from the attorneys by phone. This is especially important in a telephonic deposition. Do not be tempted to put it off to the end even if those calling in to the deposition are a few minutes late and you just want to get started and worry about the details later. Sometimes when people wait until the end to share that information, they accidentally forget and hang up. Our court reporting staff will have little idea who they are and will have to do a lot of legwork to track them down. This is time that could be better spent producing transcripts.

Be prepared for the videographer to put a mike on you. Microphones are not only used for the witness. Everyone participating needs to be heard clearly, whether they anticipate asking questions or not. Do not be shy about speaking into it. If you are sick, try to limit the amount of throat clearing, coughing and sneezing done directly into the microphone. This will show up on the record.

If you are using paper documents, organize your exhibits before you start. Shuffling paper near the microphone during the deposition will drown out people talking both on the record and may make you miss what the witness is saying as well.

Speak slowly and clearly. Do not mumble or interrupt anyone while they are talking, even if you think your point is very important. Remember, our court stenographer can only take down one person’s words at a time. As a rule of thumb, court reporters do not interrupt during video depositions. Don’t make us wish we could.

Before a video deposition is used in court, it is often edited so that there is a clean record for the jury to see. Objections and arbitrary comments may be edited out by our videographer as requested. Try to carry out the deposition as if it will not be edited at all. Do not make silly, off-the-cuff comments that you do not want people to hear. Request to go off the record as needed.

Keep in mind that the video record and transcript record, while they can be matched up by a time index, are still two separate records. Our court reporter will make every effort to match the video. Sometimes attorneys will go off the video record and stay on the written record. This is generally done when making a stipulation or clarifying which exhibit or piece of information is being used. Be sure to cue the videographer when that moment is over. Sometimes people forget, and our videographer may be waiting to go back on the record.

At Huseby, we do offer video synching services. Be sure to mention it when scheduling our court reporter and legal video specialist. This will ensure that we use the proper technological settings and software and have it set up before the video deposition begins.

By shuseby | Posted in videography | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Summation Training Classes Available

June 24, 2010 – 12:47 pm

Having technology is great when you know how to properly use it. Most software programs come with a manual or tutorial, but most people never seem to find the time to sit down and read it. For example, Summation has been a popular litigation support software for years. Many lawyers, paralegals and legal assistants just install the software and try to pick up the basics as quickly as possible in the hopes that they will eventually find the time to use the program to their potential. This is unfortunate, as it has many features that are truly beneficial in case preparation. As each version comes out, it has more bells and whistles than the last. Setting aside a block of time to learn the ins and outs of Summation could make the difference between winning and losing a case.

In most law offices, it is the paralegal that must know how the program works and how to do what needs to be done for the attorney. At Huseby, we provide different types of litigation support software training. Summation training is available for both paralegals and lawyers on a number of levels. We want you to get the most out of your litigation support software. Our Atlanta court reporting firm and North Carolina court reporting locations both offer Summation classes. Participants must have a laptop loaded with Summation 2.6 or higher. Contact our office if you are interested in improving your use of summation litigation support software. We can help.

Summation Basic Training for the Support Staff
Offered in our Charlotte office, this one-day training seminar covers the basic information you need to know to get going in Summation, from loading ASCIIs to performing a basic search. This course is aimed at the office staff in the trenches who gather and organize information for you, the attorney. The more proficient they are, the better they can help you win your case.

Summation for the Attorney
Spend the morning at our Atlanta office learning the basic information lawyers need to know about Summation litigation support software. The half-day course gives you a step up in proficiency with basic tools that will help prepare a case.

Summation Advanced Course
Offered in both Atlanta and Charlotte, this one-day seminar helps you get the most out of your software. It helps you get organized and do advanced searches. Explore some of the features you knew you had but never took the time to use or understand.

Summertime is a slower time in the legal industry, when many people are on vacation and there is a bit of down time at the office. This is the ideal time for you and your staff to spend a morning or a day with Huseby getting valuable information to help you better serve your clients.

By shuseby | Posted in litigation support | Tagged , , , | Comments (3)

Check Out the NCRA Convention August 4th-8th in Chicago

June 21, 2010 – 12:47 pm

The registration deadline for the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) annual convention is fast approaching. This year’s Annual Convention & Exposition will be held in Chicago, Illinois August 4th through the 8th. The registration deadline is July 12th. As members of NCRA, our Huseby court reporters from all over the country are eligible to go. If you are a court reporter and have not thought about it, think again. This is a great opportunity to meet some wonderful people and learn about current events in our profession. While it is a personal decision whether to take time out of a busy schedule to attend a convention, it is something that every court reporter should consider doing at least once.

Workshops
Perhaps the most important part of every court reporting convention is the vast amount of knowledge that is passed on through workshop sessions. Part of their charm is that they are worth continuing education credits. But beyond getting the credit lies the opportunity to attend workshops on punctuation and the realtime systems administrator program. Special workshops for court reporting students and teachers are also available.

Exams
Those interested in taking NCRA skills exams might like to visit the Windy City while in town for their skills examinations. Registration for CRR, CCP and CBC exams ends on July 14th. Those taking the realtime systems administrator program will be given the opportunity to sit for the examination after the workshop session concludes.

Competitions
One of the most fascinating tests of skill and talent is the speed competition. This is open to merit and diplomate reporters in good standing with NCRA. Not only will speed count, but so does accuracy. For Certified Realtime Reporters, a “friendly realtime contest” will be held as well. Since they need to know for logistical reasons how many contestants will be there, participants must register in advance for both competitions.

Fun
All work and no play makes court reporters dull and stressed out. Join the fun for the opening reception or the new attendee welcome reception. There will be an expo of vendors with products, services and information available. For those motivated by money, the Illinois Court Reporters Association will have a raffle with a $10,000 grand prize. A tailgating party will be held as a convention finale. This includes dinner, dancing and – yes, a karaoke competition.

If you haven’t been to Chicago lately or if you are an Illinois court reporter and happen to live there, consider going to the NCRA convention this year. It will be an event to remember. For details and registration, visit their website at http://ncraonline.org/.

By shuseby | Posted in Court Reporting News | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Huseby Has The Right Word Search Tool For You

June 10, 2010 – 8:14 am

There are few things more frustrating to a lawyer than knowing a witness said something, but not being able to find exactly when and where they said it. If a court reporter was present and the proceedings have been transcribed, the task of finding it will be quite simple. All you need to know is a common word or phrase mentioned in that portion of testimony and you can locate it. Huseby has a number of ways to find that nagging phrase through our litigation support services.

Word Index
The printed word index found at the back of every transcript is an old standby. If you know your witness said “head injury,” for example, you can simply pull the deposition transcript and look in the alphabetical word index at the end for either the word “head” or the word “injury.” The word index will show on which page and line number the word appears. If it shows up more than once, all citations will be listed in numerical order. The software can be programmed to create a multiple file index or to add specific phrases into the index.

E-Transcript
If you are using E-Transcript or E-Binder, that information is right at your fingertips. Open the transcript and click on the tab that allows the word index to display on the screen adjacent to the transcript. Start typing in the word you are searching. The word index list will jump to the appropriate place in the alphabet. Click on the word you are seeking and the transcript will jump to it and highlight the word. If there is more than one citation, you can click on the page numbers until you find the right reference. E-Binder allows a multi-transcript search.

VIP-21
Another option is to do a key word/phrase search in VIP-21. Once you have logged in, use a high powered search engine to find the word or words you are seeking. A number of transcripts can be searched simultaneously for the same information. The search results are almost immediate.

Other Software
Nearly any electronic format is searchable for words and phrases these days. We can provide ASCII, MS Word or .pdf files that can be searched for a word or phrase. When you order your transcript, just ask for the format or formats you prefer.

By shuseby | Posted in Court Reporters | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Expedited Transcripts: More Than Meets the Eye

June 7, 2010 – 8:08 am

Many factors go into how long it takes for court reporters to produce a transcript. At Huseby, our regular turnaround time for legal transcription services is seven to 10 days. This allows our court reporters to continue to take other job assignments and still have time to work on transcripts that have been ordered. When someone needs a certified legal transcript sooner than regular delivery, we call that an expedite or rush job.

The need for a quick turnaround time is often the result of a large case with multiple witnesses involved, or the attorney may be in the midst of a trial and needs a transcript for reference before their star witness takes the stand. We do accommodate requests for expedites whenever humanly possible to satisfy the client’s needs. Everything else is put on hold while the court reporter diligently works on that particular transcript. Sometimes they must turn down another work assignment or stay up all night to get the expedited job finished within the requested time frame.

Rates for expedited transcripts are higher per page than the rates for regular delivery. They go up slightly for each day of shorter delivery time, with next day delivery nearly double. This is the case for a number reasons. All of the work that goes into producing a high quality transcript must still be done. Some things that take valuable time in the transcription process include looking up technical or medical terms used by experts, or finding the proper spelling of cities, towns and businesses. The transcript must be proofread at least two or three times for accuracy. This is not a quick glance, but a careful measure word by word to make sure everything is correct. Punctuation and speaker identification are also important. The case name, jurisdiction, witness names, time, date and location of the proceedings must all be checked for proper spelling and accuracy.

Longer proceedings usually take more time to transcribe than short ones. Technical subjects such as medical malpractice usually take longer than everyday types of issues, like car accidents. Expert witnesses often use difficult words that sound similar to others. The court reporter must be sure that the words in the transcript precisely match the words used by the witness. Some witnesses speak softly or with an accent. This makes it more difficult for the court stenographer to understand and correctly transcribe the testimony. In these cases, they often must go back through their steno notes and double-check to be sure that is exactly what the person said, although it may sound awkward.

Although expedited transcripts may be challenging, they are also rewarding for our court reporters. We know that once they are complete and certified, they are accurate and will serve as an important record in the case. We like to help our clients do their job by doing ours well.

By shuseby | Posted in Court Transcription | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Deposition Exhibits Available In A Variety Of Formats

June 4, 2010 – 8:01 am

Exhibits are a vital part of legal depositions. They help attorneys learn information about a case and its witnesses. During the discovery process of a lawsuit, certain documents and computer files must be produced if requested. These are often introduced and labeled as exhibits during a deposition. It may be a single piece of paper or dozens of boxes full to the brim. They may even be created during the deposition as a diagram or drawing for clarification. Sometimes all attorneys involved in the case want copies of exhibits, which are numbered and marked by our deposition reporters keeping the record.

At Huseby, we have a variety of ways that exhibits can be accessed and used by parties to the case. The most common way is when the transcript is ordered and a copy of the exhibits are requested. We have a special office team dedicated to making sure exhibits and documents are copied, scanned, counted, sorted and managed as needed.

Hard Copies
Not everyone has gone paperless. Sometimes a hard copy is needed. We can copy exhibit documents and attach them to the certified hard copy of the deposition transcript. If there are too many to include in the back of the booklet, we will put them in another binder.

Scanned Exhibits
We have state-of-the-art equipment to scan exhibit documents page by page. Each numbered exhibit becomes a separate file for easy access. We can put them on a CD-ROM and include this with a hard copy transcript, if needed. They can also be emailed with electronic transcript formats.

Links
Some of the electronic formats we offer have linking capability. There is a link in the body of the transcript where the exhibit is introduced. Clicking on it will bring up that particular exhibit.

VIP21
Our web-based resource center contains a variety of services for our clients. Exhibits for each client’s case transcripts are included in the secure account, which is accessible by computer. All available exhibits for each witness can be viewed, and some can be word searched depending on the type of file created.

Safe and Confidential
When exhibits are turned over to our court reporters at the end of a deposition, we make sure they are kept safe, clean, intact and in order. Those that need to be copied or scanned are done in a professional, confidential manner. If the transcript is not ordered, we can retain them or return them to the party as needed.

By shuseby | Posted in Depositions | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Deposing Children Presents Special Challenges

June 2, 2010 – 8:01 am

Taking legal depositions of children can be a special challenge for both attorneys and court reporters. The lawyers need to handle young witnesses gently to get correct answers and good information from them. Having a court reporter present is especially important in case there is a question about the child’s veracity later.

Truthfulness
Attempting to place a child under oath is somewhat controversial in the legal world. Most lawyers will avoid deposing minors unless it is crucial to the case. As a result, it does not happen very often. While state laws vary on the details, minors are generally accepted as witnesses, sometimes with special permission from the judge. The most important factor is that the child understands the difference between the truth and a lie. One way to be sure the child understands is to simply ask them. For example, a blond lawyer might say to the child, “My hair is blue,” then ask the witness if this is the truth or a lie. To be considered a viable witness, the child should be able to say it is a lie.

Consequences
The youngster should also be aware that telling a lie has consequences. Asking the child what will happen if they tell a lie after promising to tell the truth in the deposition should yield an answer that is basically true, but may bring a smile to some faces. For example, most children believe if they lie they can be arrested, be put in jail or “get in really big trouble.” Responding in this manner makes them acceptable as a witness.

Challenges
At the beginning of a deposition transcript, court reporters usually put in a preamble that a witness is sworn. In the case of child witnesses, you may sometimes say instead that the witness “promised to tell the truth.” Depending on the age of the minor child and state laws, the oath is often handled as a solemn promise rather than being sworn.

The most challenging part for court reporters is being able to hear the child. Most kids are soft-spoken, especially when they are nervous. The lawyers and court reporter may need to remind them to speak up frequently. This should be a friendly reminder, rather than a correction, to keep the child at ease. In the case of delicate subjects, a child may get upset and begin to cry. This makes it extremely difficult for the court reporter to understand what they are saying and accurately take down their testimony. In such cases, it is best to stop the deposition and take a recess. Once the witness has calmed down, it will be easier to get a clear record.

By shuseby | Posted in Depositions | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Video Synching Services Reduce Prep Time

April 23, 2010 – 2:52 pm

Video synching is the process of matching up a videotaped deposition with the electronic transcript so that the two are synchronized in vision and sound. As the witness speaks, the transcribed words come up on the television or computer screen. While the concept has been around for quite some time, technology has become so proficient that video synching is now one of the most popular trends in litigation support services. Video synched depositions can be used by counsel in many ways during trial to enhance the effects of information and testimony.

Digital videos can be coordinated with the written record of the transcript so that by clicking on the electronic portion of the transcript on the computer screen, the video portion plays. This is used to capture a witness’ statements from a legal videotaped deposition and give the jury a more intense impact from the testimony.

Impeachment
Back in the day, if a witness was contradicted or impeached by an attorney in court, the lawyer would stand up front with a certified transcript and read from a piece of paper. “Didn’t you say on page 57, line 5,” he would ask, “that it was blue?” The witness would then hem and haw and say, “Well, I guess so, but that’s not what I meant.”

With video synching, the lawyer now asks the same question and punches a button. Everyone in the courtroom watches and listens as the witness clearly says on video, for example, “It was blue. I saw it.” This can ruin a witness’ credibility with the jury and send the court case in another direction, because most jurors are wary of witnesses that are tripped up by questionable testimony.

Opening and Closing Statements
Attorneys may choose to make opening and closing statements in a court trial that summarizes the most salient points of their case. Rather than the lawyers talking the whole time, they let other people do the talking for them. Showing snippets of deposition testimony by experts and lay witnesses give the jury panel a chance to see and hear the major players in a trial before they meet them. Those with powerful statements will grab attention long before they take the witness stand. A tearful clip of a distraught witness will have a tremendous impact on jurors that could never quite be duplicated in the sterile environment of a courtroom.

Trial Preparation
Before digital technology, video depositions were watched at real-time speed to prepare for trial. Tapes were fast-forwarded with expert guesswork at how long they should run before trying to find a particular spot in the deposition. Once transcripts became available in electronic format, it was easier to find your place on the video by typing the words from the tape into the computer. Looking on the screen, you could see how far behind or ahead you were on the tape from where you wanted to be. With video synching, the guesswork is gone. Find the place in the transcript you want to see, then click on it. Boom. There it is. Replay it over and over at the flick of a wrist. Trial preparation time is cut drastically shorter, allowing more time for strategy and research.

Huseby’s availability of video synching gives our clients state-of-the-art technology. It helps attorneys find the all-important advantage in trial presentation and preparation.

By shuseby | Posted in Trial Presentation | Tagged , | Comments (1)

Highlight Your Trial Presentation With PowerPoint

April 20, 2010 – 2:45 pm

One of the newest services available from Huseby in terms of litigation support services is for trial presentation. Many of our clients are trial attorneys that must use every technological advantage to get ahead in a case. Whether it is one day long or three weeks, making your point is crucial. Giving out all the information a jury needs is not enough. They need to be able to absorb it to give your client the verdict desired. PowerPoint presentations are helpful in court because they not only educate the jury about the case but when done well, hold their attention.

Attract Attention
One of the disadvantages to having a long, technical trial is that the jury panel gets bored by a long flow of information. Their minds wander and sometimes people even doze off during very important testimony. They find more interesting things to do, like watch the court reporter. This is a great reason to use PowerPoint. A visual aid not only helps explain terms and facts, it can be quite compelling.

Visual Aids
Break down complex information into simple graphs of comparison. Use maps to explain who was where. When talking about people and locations, use pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words – really. Use before and after photos in medical malpractice cases or car accidents. It’s one thing to say someone was hurt. It’s quite another to see how hurt they are. When jurors have something to look at, they are more focused. They identify better with witnesses and information. They have better recall of facts and testimony.

Timelines
When bringing a jury through a sequence of events that is very important to the case, use PowerPoint. Spell it out. Show them what happened when. When they see it clearly written and displayed before them, it will be easier to understand and follow. An attentive jury is crucial to a fair verdict.

By shuseby | Posted in Trial Presentation | Tagged , | Comments (0)