Communication & Stakeholder Relations Flashcards

After completing a deposition, the reporter learns that one of the attorneys in the case is a close relative. The reporter should:

Answer: Disclose the relationship and allow parties to determine whether to use the transcript

Discovering a conflict of interest requires immediate disclosure to all parties so they can make an informed decision about the integrity of the record.

An attorney instructs the reporter not to provide a copy of a deposition transcript to the deponent. The reporter should understand that:

Answer: Applicable rules of civil procedure, not attorney preference, govern the deponent's right of access

Access to deposition transcripts is governed by procedural rules, and reporters should not rely solely on a retaining attorney's instructions to determine a deponent's access rights.

During a video-recorded deposition, the videographer asks the reporter to pause her stenographic recording while he adjusts equipment. The reporter should:

Answer: Continue stenographic recording unless all counsel agree to suspend the record

The stenographic record is the official record, and the reporter should not suspend it based on the videographer's request alone; all counsel must agree.

A court reporter discovers a material transcription error in a certified transcript she delivered three weeks ago. She should:

Answer: Issue a corrected errata page and notify all parties who received the transcript

Professional ethics require the reporter to correct material errors and proactively notify all parties who received the transcript, even after certification.

A new attorney at a deposition insists on placing an objection 'for the record' after the witness has already answered. The reporter should:

Answer: Record the objection as stated without editing or commenting on its timeliness

The reporter records everything said on the record without editorial judgment about the legal propriety or timeliness of objections.

A stakeholder asks a freelance court reporter to lower her invoice in exchange for being referred to a larger volume of depositions. The reporter should:

Answer: Decline, as conditioning fees on referral arrangements may violate ethics rules

Tying fee reductions to referral promises can constitute an improper business arrangement that compromises the reporter's independence and professional ethics.

At the conclusion of a lengthy trial, the judge asks the official court reporter for an estimated delivery date for the full trial transcript. The reporter should:

Answer: Provide a realistic estimate based on workload, the transcript's length, and court deadlines

Providing an honest, realistic delivery estimate based on actual workload protects both the reporter's credibility and the court's scheduling needs.