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2009 Fall - Florida Court Reporters Association

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FCR <strong>Online</strong>OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FLORIDA COURT REPORTERS ASSOCIATION AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTBER 2009InMemoriam:FCRA extends our deepest condolences to Betty Sue Vincentand her family on the death of her son PFC Donald WayneVincent on Saturday, July 25th, while serving his country inAfghanistan.


REPORTEROPPORTUNITIES INMIAMIFORT LAUDERDALEWEST PALM BEACHU.S. LEGAL SUPPORT OFFERS:ORLANDOJACKSONVILLETAMPAFORT MYERSGuaranteed PaymentSign‐on Bonus Paid After Six MonthsAverage Reporter Earnings $50,000 to $75,000Incredible Earning Potential for Realtime ReportersDirect Deposit for Court Reporters and Videographers<strong>Online</strong> Access to Your Calendar and Billing ActivityFull‐Service Local Production DepartmentsFully‐Staffed Offices throughout the State of FloridaFor more information, contact Jennifer Gaul jgaul@uslegalsupport.comRichard Applebaum rapplebaum@uslegalsupport.com


FCR<strong>Online</strong>FCRA OFFICERS& DIRECTORSPresidentJennifer Gaul, CMRS, FPR3130 NE 190 St #102 • Aventura, FL 33180jgaul@uslegalsupport.comW: 305-373-8404 • Cell: 305-613-1610 • FAX: 305-373-2568President ElectSusan D. Wasilewski, RPR, CRR, CCP, CMRS, FPR1525 S Florida Ave Ste 4 • Lakeland, FL 33803sdwrpr@aol.comW: 863-686-9898 • Cell: 863-698-8831 • FAX: 863-686-9797Vice PresidentRobin L. Merker, RPR, FPR62 W Palm Ave • Lake Worth, FL 33467rlmerker@att.netW: 561-968-4410 • Cell: 561-309-6493 • FAX: 561-967-8528Secretary/TreasurerBetty Sue Vincent, RDR, CRR, FPR5730 NW 67 Ct • Gainesville, FL 32653bshoes2@aol.comCell: 352-215-1140Northern DirectorTara Slocum, CRR, RPR, CSR, FPR1416 E Robinson St • Orlando, FL 32801tara@orangereporting.comW: 561-682-0905 • FAX: 561-734-8244Central DirectorVicki Johnson, RMR, RPR, CRR, CCP, CCB6490 Woodland Dr • Keystone Heights, FL 32656vicki2sign@comcast.netW: 352-473-6547 • FAX: 352-473-5756Southern DirectorTanya Ward English, RPR, CRR, CCP, CBC, FPR5571 SW 94 Ave • Ft Lauderdale, FL 33328tanya@floridarealtime.comW: 954-767-6363 • FAX: 954-680-0776Directors at LargeRick Levy, RPR, FPR44 W Flagler St, #1200 • Miami, FL 33130rickelevy@aol.comW: 305-358-8188Immediate Past PresidentWesley Thomas Hughes, RDR, CRR, FPR581 NW 75th Ave • Plantation, FL 33317thughesrdr@bellsouth.netW: 954-816-6595, FAX: 954-792-8433EditorLouise Pomar, RPR, FPR25 Rosewood Ave • Ormond Beach, FL 32174W: 386-313-4570, Cell: 386-852-5026LBP1958@aol.comExecutive DirectorTina Kautter, CAE222 S. Westmonte Drive, Ste. 101Altamonte Springs, FL 32714W: 407-774-7880 FAX: 407-774-6440tkautter@kmgnet.comTable of ContentsDEPARTMENTSPresident’s Message ....................................................................................................... 4Editor’s Notes................................................................................................................... 5Upcoming Events Calendar .......................................................................................... 5Bulletin Board................................................................................................................... 6ON THE NATIONAL SCENEFor Jurors in Michigan, No Tweeting (or Texting or Googling) Allowed .................. 7Prince Institute Now Offers CART/Captioning Program............................................. 8Stenograph Launches a New Writer ............................................................................ 9TALLAHASSEE REPORTQuince: Work Continues on Court Funding .............................................................. 10Ruling: Recordings of Court Proceedings are Public Records................................ 11Law & Technology: Court Reporters the Latest Victim of Budget Cuts ................ 13Letter to Editor............................................................................................................... 14ASSOCIATION BUSINESS2009 Nominating Committee Report......................................................................... 15FCRA Offers Volunteers to Record JNC Interviews................................................... 17FCRA SPOTLIGHTS2009 Mid-Year Conference Photo Highlights......................................................18 - 19Marco Island Sparkled for FCRA’s 2009 Mid-Year Conference.............................. 20Congratulations to Janis Pessamato for Winning Stenograph’s Elan Mira........... 20May & June 2009 Test Results Announced................................................................ 21ON THE JOBEthics and Procedures Corner .................................................................................... 22Sleuthing the Net: RSS Feeds (Feed Me, Seymour, Feeeed Me!)........................... 23Ask Mr. Modem.............................................................................................................. 25Mr. Modem’s DME Sites of the Month........................................................................ 26FCRA WELCOMESWelcome New Members............................................................................................. 27Membership Application.............................................................................................. 28August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>3


Message from the PresidentBy Jennifer Gaul, CMRS, FPR2008-2009 PresidentAre You on Facebook?FCRA Is and We Want You...By the time you are reading this message, we will be countingdown the days to our Annual Conference – which will be inFort Lauderdale September 11, 12 and 13. If you missed ourMid-Year Conference in Marco Island in June, you missed oneof the best conferences we have had in years. Congratulationsto Sandi Estevez for putting together such a great program.And now for an encore, Sandi and her Committee arealready working on our Fort Lauderdale convention.Our weekend in Marco Island brought together friends andcolleagues who worked hard and played hard and, in theend, went home with very valuable ideas, professional commitments,goals and stronger relationships to continue buildingour community of reporters in Florida.FCRA’s Board of Directors grappled with some of the sameissues that are plaguing professional associations today – lackof member participation, lagging growth in membership andthe challenge to always deliver value and relevance to itsmembers. We were joined by Dave Wenhold and Tina Kautter,along with many of our Past Presidents, for a strategic planningsession in conjunction with our traditional Board Meeting.At the end of a very thought-provoking day, your Board createda new Social Media Committee dedicated to reachingout to reporters around the state and country promotingthe value of FCRA membership. By the time we went to thefirst seminar on Sunday morning, FCRA had a presence onFacebook. Our thanks to Robin Wierzbicki, Rick Levy, RickGreenspan and Candis Bradshaw for launching our Facebookpage. To date we have more than 165 fans!!Many other topics were discussed and key projects were initiatedas the past, present and future leaders of FCRA cametogether. Watch us on Facebook, in our FCR magazine, on ourwebsite and in future e-flashes for updates on new studentmentoring opportunities, enhanced value in convention sponsorships,the creation of a communication network throughoutFlorida and other very simple ways for every member tocontribute to our future as reporters and as an Association.Growing in popularity at our conferences is our Firm OwnersForum which was opened up to those managing court reportingfirms this year. Over 20 firms in Florida were representedby over 45 attendees. The most significant issue addressedduring this forum was the value of the FPR Certification andthe commitment of firm owners across Florida to not onlypromote the FPR program to all their reporters, but to adoptit as the minimum certification requirement within their firms4when hiring reporters. Congratulations to those Florida firmswho continue to set the bar just a little higher each day andcontinue to encourage excellence in our industry.Thomas Hughes, along with this year’s Nominating Committee,conducted our traditional interviews for the 2009/2010Board of Directors. We were very pleased and encouragedto see such a promising field of candidates with the desire topush our Association into the future. It is always a challengeand may seem overwhelming and intimidating, but to thosereporters who are thinking about taking their membership andinvolvement to the next level, I offer this quote from RalphWaldo Emerson: “Whatever course you decide upon, thereis always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There arealways difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that yourcritics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it toan end requires courage.” Thank you for having the personalcourage and commitment to our profession to go throughthis process. I am sure you will look back on it, as I have, asone of the most valuable personal growth experiences andopportunities of your career.This summer has also seen other significant events includingthe adoption by the Supreme Court of amendments tothe Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Rules of JudicialAdministration. Read the full text of SC08-1658 on the FloridaSupreme Court’s website http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/decisions/2009/sc08-1658.pdf. FCRA’s FPR OversightCommittee and Manual Committee are working to updateour Manual and the FPR Certification Seminar to incorporatethese changes. These rule changes have sparked a widerange of debate and need for further clarification. You canbe assured your Board is working diligently to understandthese changes and will communicate to our members theireffect on our professional lives.The next President’s Message you will read will be from ourincoming President, Susan Wasilewski. I am proud to pass onthe accomplishments and momentum of the Board of Directorsand membership I have had the honor to lead and lookforward to my upcoming year as Immediate Past President.Each of us has worked hard to build on the foundation of pastBoards and I want to take this opportunity to once again thankthose who have mentored and supported me in my reportingcareer. Just like those Florida reporters I admire most, I planto stay involved and hope you will too.August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


Association Bulletin BoardAdvertising Special$ $ $Contract to advertise in 8 issues (2years) of this magazine and get aspecial 15% discount on top of ourlow rates! Call FCRA Headquarterstoday at 407-774-7880.Needful PeopleNeed a job? Need areporter? Contact PlacementChairman SandiNargiz at 850-878-2221 orfax: 850-878-2254 or email:snargiz@comcast.netWANTED!Your stories to share with otherreporters. Submit an article andreceive .15 CEU points ifpublished in FCR <strong>Online</strong>. Emailyour story to lbp1958@aol.comMARK YOUR CALENDAR!FCRA Annual ConventionSeptember 11-13, 2009Hilton Ft. Lauderdale MarinaFt. Lauderdale, FloridaAddress ChangesADDRESS CHANGED?PHONE NUMBER CHANGED?Fax your changes to Headquartersat 407-774-6440 as soon aspossible!GET YOUR MEMBERSHIPDIRECTORY ON DISK!FCRA now offers the MembershipDirectory on a CD for only$15! Contact FCRA Headquartersfor more information at 407-774-7880.Order Your Florida ManualStay up to date on Florida Rulesand Procedures. Call FCRA Headquartersat 407-774-7880 to orderyour newly revised Florida Manualon CD.Just $50.00!Watch the FCRA Websitefor Updates!www.fcraonline.orgStenograph Special$ $ $Get last line pricing with Stenographsupplies as a memberof FCRA and FCRA receives arebate.Upcoming FloridaProfessional Reporter(FPR) Test DateSeptember 11, 2009,in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, atFCRA’s Annual Convention!WEB SITE SPONSORSWANTEDCall RickGreenspan at954-340-2557 fordetails.DON’T MISS E-FLASHES!Be sure your email address is current.Call FCRA Headquarters and givethem your email address today (407-774-7880) or email your changes tobking@kmgnet.com (use FCRA in thesubject line).FCRABULLETINBOARDARE YOU MOVING? CHANGING A PHONE NUMBER?CHANGING A FAX NUMBER? CHANGING ORGETTING AN EMAIL ADDRESS?If so, let FCRA Headquarters know right away. Simply fax 407-774-6440today to make any necessary changes to the information we haveon file for you!6August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


On the National SceneOn the National Scene…Reprinted from the July 1, 2009, edition of The NationalLaw JournalFor Jurors in Michigan, NoTweeting (or Texting, orGoogling) AllowedBy Tresa BaldasCall it the silencing of the tweets.The Michigan Supreme Court has laid the hammerdown on gadget-happy jurors in banning all electroniccommunications by jurors during trial, including tweets onTwitter, text messages and Google searches.The ruling, which takes effect Sept. 1, will require Michiganjudges for the first time to instruct jurors not to use anyhandheld device, such as iPhones or Blackberrys, while inthe jury box or during deliberations.The state’s high court issued the new rule on Tuesdayin response to prosecutors’ complaints that jurors weregetting distracted by their cell phones, smart phones andPDAs, in some cases texting during trial or digging up theirown information about a case and potentially taintingthe judicial process.Wouldn’t common sense suggest that’s wrong? “I don’tthink jurors go out and Google stuff thinking it’s wrong.Sometimes it just doesn’t click,” said Charles Koop,immediate past president of the Prosecuting AttorneysAssociation of Michigan, which pushed for the new rule.“I think it brings home to the conscientious jurors — whichmost jurors are — that I’m not supposed to do this.”The new rule also helps older judges, who might not betech-savvy, stop jurors from doing things in their courtroomthat they are unaware of, said Koop, prosecuting attorneyin Antrim County, Mich. “Judges of an older age may notbe in tune as much as younger judges as to what’s goingon out there,” Koop said, adding the constantly evolvingPDAs are especially problematic for the courts. “It’s anew technology. We’re playing catch-up.”Michigan’s new rule follows a wave of recent cases inwhich jurors have blogged, posted Tweets or sent textmessages during trials, infuriating judges and triggeringmistrials.August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>In Florida, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge ScottSilverman in May declared a mistrial in a civil fraud caseafter discovering a witness — a company executive— was texting his boss on the stand during a side barconference. “I never had this happen before,” Silvermanstated. “This is completely outrageous.”On the flipside, an Arkansas judge in April ruled that ajuror’s Twitter postings during a trial won’t affect a $12.6million judgment issued against a buildings productscompany. Lawyers for that company had argued that thejuror’s Tweets during trial showed he was biased againstthe company, including one that said, “Just gave awayTWELVE MILLION DOLLARS of somebody else’s money.”But the judge upheld the verdict, finding that the tweetswere in bad taste but not improper.A Pennsylvania judge delivered a similar blow recently todefense lawyers in the corruption trial of a former statesenator who requested a mistrial because a juror postedupdates about the case on Twitter and Facebook, tellingreaders that a “big announcement” was coming. Thejudge, however, let the deliberations continue and aguilty verdict was issued. An appeal is in the works.Looks like more states should consider followingMichigan’s suit, said Josh Marquis, who sits on the Boardof Directors for the National District Attorney’s Associationand believes technology is wreaking havoc on the justicesystem.“The potential for jury tampering is unbelievable. All youhave to know is a person’s cell number,” said Marquis,district attorney in Clatsop County, Oregon, who hasseen text messages and Google searches by jurors tainthis own cases.“One thing that will almost always cause a mistrial isextrinsic material coming into the jury room. In the preelectronicage, that meant a dictionary or encyclopedia,”Marquis said.Those days are over. Now there’s Google, Twitter,Facebook and a host of other cyberspace messageboards for jurors to play on, and potentially kill a case.“It almost invites people to do extrinsic research,” Marquissaid of the Internet and hand-held technology. “Theproblem is -- technology has far outpaced the courtrules.”Next week, Marquis is going to the annual NDAAconference in Florida. He is counting on his MichiganContinued on page 87


On the National SceneOn the National Scene…Prince Institute Now Offers CART/Captioning ProgramPrince Institute is pleased to announce the accreditationand upcoming launch of its CART and Captioningprogram.The school is located in Montgomery, Alabama, andspecializes in realtime reporting education. Faculty andstaff have worked long and hard for the addition of aCART and Captioning program. Now, after nearly threeyears of research and preparation, they have a programapproved for enrollment by its accrediting agency,the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges andSchools.“We are aware of the need that has developed for CARTand captioning professionals. We want to do our part tofill that need by offering a high quality program,” saidCandace Shepherd, CCR, CRI, CPE, assistant directorand an instructor at Prince Institute. Shepherd has beena key player in preparing for the CART and Captioningprogram.Because of federal regulation, captioning is performedfor hundreds of hours of live television each week andit is estimated that over 100 million Americans aloneuse closed-captioning each year. Meanwhile, CART hasa long and varied list of uses that include classrooms,courtrooms, religious services, civic events and more,according to the National Court Reporters Association.“We are thrilled to be able to offer this program. We’vehad a lot of demand for it and look forward to gettingstarted,” said Pat Hill, the school’s director.For more information or to enroll, contact Career Planner,Sherry Hill, shill@princeinstitute.edu or 877-853-5569.Prince Institute has been training court reporters since1976. It is accredited by the Accrediting Council forIndependent Colleges and Schools, approved by theVeterans Administration, licensed by the AlabamaDepartment of Education and certified by the NationalCourt Reporters Association. Visit www.princeinstitute.eduto learn more about the school, programs and realtimereporting as a career.No Tweeting...Continued from page 7colleagues to talk about their new rule, and the directivejudges are now under to tell jurors that no electroniccommunications are allowed during trial. “The first thingI’m going to do is call them and say, ‘bring this up,’”Marquis said.According to the National Center for State Courts, anumber of states have grappled with the problem ofallowing jurors to bring cell phones to the courtroom. Arecent questionnaire sent to court administrators acrossthe country showed that many courts are addressing theproblem of potential juror misconduct through hand-helddevices.For example, courts in Ramsey County, Minn. recentlyissued a new cell phone policy that prohibits jurors frombrining any wireless communication device to court aftertwo mistrials were declared when jurors used cell phonesduring deliberation against the court’s order.8New Jersey, however, allows jurors to bring cell phonesto court, but they must be turned off during trial.Cumberland County, Penn. has a similar phone policy. InMalheur County, Ore., jurors are not allowed to bring cellphones to court at all.“This has been a hot topic,” said Gregory Hurley, ananalyst with the NCSC who studies trends in the courts.“It’s a funny balance that a court has to do. On the onehand, common sense says, ‘Get all the cell phones outof there. Sanitize the environment.’ But in this day andage, with people who have kids, you have to have a littlecompassion for the jurors.”He added: “If you want to take the cell phones out, youhave to be extra careful to have phones around forpeople to use.”August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


On the National SceneOn the National Scene…Stenograph® Launches a New WriterSleek curves, a glowing finish, vibrant screen and atouch that will put a smile on your face: Introducing theDiamante.Available now from Stenograph, this writer was developedover the course of two years by the same team thatbrought the elan® and Stentura® families to life.Externally, the Diamante features a flat-panel, color LCD.The screen is 60 percent larger than featured on the élanMira® A3 and folds flat over the writer to protect it whennot in use.It is the lightest integrated writer yet, weighing only 4.5pounds. Its curvy exterior features a two-tone glossy finishavailable in platinum gray or blue ice.“The Diamante is elegant, sophisticated, yet simple.Appearance is just the beginning of the Diamante’sappeal,” said Judy Wolf, product manager.Revolutionary TrueStroke technology eliminates theneed for contact adjustments and provides greatertranslation results than ever before from the very start.The Diamante is the second generation of paperlesswriters.“Since the introduction of the elan Cybra® in 1991,the profession has developed confidence in paperlesstechnology. We wanted to build on the success of the Miraby incorporating newer, even more efficient technology,”said Stenograph President, John Wenclawski.“We’re the leader in this industry and we take thatresponsibility seriously. We value our customers’ trustand consistently try our hardest to exceed expectationsin an effort to make their jobs easier,” said Wenclawski.“Everything about the Diamante was inspired by whatreporters said they wanted.”People who have used the Diamante are thrilled with theresults.“It has been a long time since I was excited aboutmy equipment for work. [During the testing phase,] Ipracticed on the Diamante at home and actually usedthe Diamante on a few jobs and it has been such apleasure. I can write more accurately and quickly andAugust/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>for a long period of time without getting tired,” said DanFeldhaus, a Sacramento deposition reporter who hasbeen writing for nearly 30 years.In addition to the Diamante itself, Stenograph is releasinga line of accompanying accessories to complement thewriter perfectly. Among these accessories is a custommade rolling case for realtime reporters. The uniquecase is designed to easily hold the Diamante, its customtripod, a laptop and more. The case’s sturdy frame andimpressive stability give it the ability to also double as aseat for jobs where seating is limited or unavailable.Are you ready to meet the newest addition to theStenograph family? Visit www.stenograph.com to find outmore or call 800-323-4247 to speak to a representative.Stenograph is dedicated to supporting the court reportingcommunity and its programs. The company is the No.1 manufacturer and marketer of shorthand writers andcomputer-aided transcription software, offers onlineeducation and provides other industry-related supplies. Italso owns both the Prince Institute of Professional Studiesand Denver Academy of Court Reporting.The Diamante will make its debut at the NCRA AnnualConvention in Washington D.C. this August. Stenographwill continue to manufacture both the Stentura Fusionand the élan Mira A3. For more information, please visitwww.stenograph.com.Check us outon Facebook!Join the Group:Florida CourtReporters Association9


Tallahassee ReportQuince: Work Continues onCourt FundingReprinted from the July 15, 2009 Florida Bar News • By Gary Blankenship, Senior EditorEven though it is constrained byfinancial difficulties, the Floridacourt system is working to keepup with rising caseloads andmeet future demands throughexpanding drug courts, pushing formental health improvements, andworking toward electronic filing ofcourt documents.“These are challenging times,”Supreme Court Chief JusticePeggy Quince told lawyers andjudges attending the JudicialLuncheon at the Bar’s recentAnnual Convention. She deliveredthe annual State of the Judiciaryaddress to the audience.“The past year has been particularlychallenging,” Quince added.“The judicial system continues tofunction. We are still committed tothe ideals of our profession. We arestill committed to our constitutionalduties and obligations. Despite oureconomic issues, we continue tocarry out our main mission, whichis to ensure that society has aforum for the peaceful and orderlyresolution of disputes in a timelymanner.”One effective tool, she said, is drugcourts, which recently celebratedtheir 20th anniversary in Miami andhave now expanded throughoutthe state.“We know that drug courts notonly help that one individual, but ittouches their families and it touchestheir community, so we will continueto increase the use of drug courts,”Quince said. “Hopefully, we willdo a much better job of touchingpeople who need to be part of ourdrug courts.”The courts have supported forthe past two years far-reachinglegislation to overhaul the state’s10mental health system, particularlywhere it intersects the criminaljustice system. The chief justicereported that nationally a halfmillion people with serious mentalhealth problems are in jails andprisons, and another half million arein the probation system. In Florida,125,000 people with mental healthproblems come into the criminaljustice system annually, and thestate spends $500 million annuallyon forensic beds.The state could better spend thatmoney on treatment and care forthe mentally ill, Quince said, andthe court system will continue tosupport legislation to revamp thesystem.On funding issues, a summit inJanuary focused the court systemon its priorities, she said, setting outseven principles. Those includeda trust fund to help finance thejustice system, a larger share of thefees and costs generated withinthe court system, and studies onhow the system operates and thefuture needs of the courts.Quince praised the passage ofSB 2018, which places the courtportion of county clerks of courts’budgets under legislative scrutiny.“Now all of the court entitiescome to the Legislature for theirappropriations. No one has freeaccess to the money that comesthrough the court system,” she said.In addition, the Legislature createda court trust fund in its Januaryspecial session, and then providedsignificant sources of monies for it inthe Regular Session that ended inMay. It also mandated electronicfiling for the courts and ordereda study to be conducted by theOffice of Program Policy andGovernment Analysis, the chieffinancial officer, and the auditorgeneral on court technology issues.“We will continue to work in ourcourt system on technology,”Quince said. “We will make surethat in the future you can haveyour pleadings and other mattersthat come before the court sent tothe court system electronically.”While the court system is happy thatits trust funds have been increased,the chief justice noted that “thereare components of the judicialsystem that should be fundedwithin the general revenues,” whichincludes judges’ salaries.“We still have some work to dobecause part of the money thatwas dedicated [to the trust fund] isfines,” she said. “We feel that finesshould not be part of the fundingbecause judges impose fines. Wehave to work on getting those finesout of our trust funds.”There is also concern that judges’salaries were cut 2 percent this year,she said. Although Gov. CharlieCrist vetoed the part of the budgetthat cut 2 percent from the salariesof state employees making morethan $45,000, that did not coverthe salaries of elected officials. (Thegovernor’s only option would havebeen to veto their entire salaries.)“We have some wonderful thingsthat have happened during thislegislative session, but we lookforward to the next legislativesession and the hard work to bedone,” Quince said.And for that, the court system willcontinue to rely on the help fromthe entire legal profession, she said,adding, “We don’t do politics. Wedon’t know how to go aroundContinued on page 11August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


Tallahassee ReportQuince: Work Continues onCourt FundingContinued from page 10and lobby, so we need the help ofothers.”She also recognized circuit courtJudges Joe Farina, John Laurent,Charles Francis, and Belvin Perry,Second District Court of AppealJudge Stevan Northcutt, and 17thCircuit Court Administrator CarolOrtman for their work with theLegislature, and presented awardsto Perry, chair of the Trial CourtBudget Commission, and StateCourts Administrator Lisa Goodnerfor their work on the court system’sbudget.Quince was preceded in speakingto the luncheon by Lt. Gov. JeffKottkamp. He, too, called forsupporting judges and the legalsystem, but urged those in theaudience to do more by educatingschool children about civics andthe American system.“Our children are not learning thegreat legacy that they have asAmericans. This was the first countyin the history of mankind wherepeople said government is not themaster; government is the servantand it only has that power whichwe the people give it,” he said.That included people guaranteeingtheir rights of speech, religion,assembly, of the press from intrusionby government, taking the novelapproach that such rights werenot given by a government butgranted by God, Kottkamp said.“I would issue a challenge to eachof you here as a member of theBar...First continue to fight for theindependence of the judiciary.Fight for the good work thesejudges do everyday,” he said. “. .. . Also do what many of you doalready: Go out into the communityand speak to the children in theschools...Share the message ofAmerica, because it’s an amazingstory, and it’s one we have to fightfor, to preserve this way of life andpreserve our Constitution.”Ruling: Recordings of CourtProceedings are Public RecordsReprinted from the July 16, 2009, edition of The Ledger • By Lloyd Dunkelberger, Ledger Tallahassee BureauReversing a recommendationfrom a judicial commission and arecent appellate court ruling, theFlorida Supreme Court on Thursdaydeclared that electronic recordingsof trial court proceedings are publicrecords.Pasco and Pinellas counties.The Supreme Court said theappellate ruling and therecommended rule were at oddswith the state’s open-governmenttradition.effective.”“We agree that access to theserecordings should not be denied orleft to the unfettered discretion ofthe trial court or the chief judge,”the justices said.The state’s highest court unanimouslyrejected a recommendationfrom a judicial commission thatwanted to shield “electronic records,videotapes or stenographictapes of court proceedings” frompublic access unless specificallyapproved by the trial court or chiefjudge.The recommendation was in linewith a May decision from the2nd District Court of Appeal thatblocked The Tampa Tribune’srequest for the audio recording ofa criminal sentencing in the 6thJudicial Circuit, which includesAugust/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>“Such a provision is overly restrictiveand is contrary to Florida’s wellestablishedpublic policy ofgovernment in the sunshine and thiscourt’s longstanding presumptionin favor of openness for all courtproceedings and allowing accessto records of those proceedings,”the court said.The justices also noted that therecordings — which were firstauthorized by judicial rule in 1995— are now widely used by themedia and others involved in thecourt system “and have provenuseful, reliable, efficient and costA lawyer who represented newsorganizations, including The Ledger,the Sarasota Herald-Tribune andother New York Times RegionalMedia newspapers, in the casehailed the decision as a victory forpublic access to court proceedings.“It’s a wonderful decision for thepublic because it ensures that whathappens in a courtroom — and isrecorded — can be listened to byany citizen,” said Gregg Thomas,a Tampa lawyer. “Governmenthas spent an enormous amountof money providing for digitalContinued on page 1211


Tallahassee ReportRuling: Recordings of CourtProceedings are Public RecordsContinued from page 11recordings. Now the Supreme Court has guaranteedthat anyone who wants to can listen to what happensin a courtroom in Florida.”The decision also rejects the 2nd DCA’s decision inMay to uphold a ruling from a Pasco County judgeblocking a newspaper’s access to an audio recordingof a sentencing hearing. The trial court instead offeredto provide a written transcript of the proceeding.In their opinion, the three-member appellate panelsaid the trial court was justified in denying access tothe audio recording since it was not the official recordand could contain extraneous comments.Chief Appellate Judge Darryl Casanueva wrote in aconcurring opinion that the trial had pointed out “theaudio may, and probably does, contain non-recordanomalies such as privileged discussions betweenattorneys and their clients or background dialoguebetween observers in the gallery.”Casanueva was joined in the opinion by JudgesCarolyn Fulmer and Patricia Kelly.But in his written argument to the Florida SupremeCourt, Thomas said it would be up to the Legislatureto grant a specific public records exemption for courtrecordings rather than by judicial rule.He also argued that some of the concerns could behandled by a policy that did not deny access to allcourt recordings.“For example, if the committee is concerned thatconfidential attorney-client communications may beaudible on the recordings, the solution is to redactsuch information from the electronic recording (just asa court reporter would leave this information out ofthe written transcript),” Thomas wrote.Thomas also noted that similar objections have longbeen raised and rejected by Florida courts over theuse of cameras and other recording devices used bynews organizations and others in the courtroom.“In Florida, what transpires in a courtroom is publicproperty and the courts of this state have long allowedcameras (with both audio and video capacity) in thecourtrooms, over such objections,” he wrote.FCR <strong>Online</strong>Deadline Dates(Winter) Nov/Dec/Jan.........................Oct. 5, 2009Publication Date............................... Nov. 12, 2009(Spring) Feb/Mar/Apr.......................... Jan. 5, 2010Publication Date................................Feb. 12, 2010(Summer) May/June/July.................. April 5, 2010Publication Date................................May 12, 2010(Fall) Aug/Sept/Oct............................. July 5, 2010Publication Date............................... Aug. 12, 201012August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


Tallahassee ReportLaw & Technology: Court Reportersthe Latest Victim of Budget CutsReprinted from the July 21, 2009, edition of the Daily Business Review • By Jordana MishoryCourt reporters could become an endangered speciesin Broward County’s criminal justice system.State Attorney Michael Satz and Public DefenderHoward Finkelstein have agreed to stop using courtreporters to transcribe depositions. They signed astipulation July 6 to use a service provided by theprivate firm LawSonics that records depositions througha speakerphone and provides audio files on its Website for a fee.“Severe budget cuts have required both parties tolook for new and innovative ways to reduce expenseswithout jeopardizing their core mission,” the two-pagestipulation said.Finkelstein’s office said it cannot predict how muchmoney it would save but expects it to be a largeamount. The new system called DepoTek cuts out acourt reporter’s appearance fee, makes transcriptsoptional and allows the admission of audio files as trialevidence to impeach witnesses.Finkelstein’s chief assistant, Steve Michaelson, saidhaving a court reporter transcribe depositions couldcost $3.85 to $6.95 a page depending on how quicklythe record is needed.Finkelstein said his office will transition over to theDepoTek system by Aug. 1. Court reporters will be anoption in some situations.Here’s how the system works: all prosecutors andpublic defenders receive an account number anda code. An attorney can dial into the system 24/7,which records a deposition by phone for $1 a minute.Attorneys can log onto the online system later toobtain an audio file of the deposition. Both sides haveaccess to the audio file. If desired, the recording canbe transcribed for an additional cost of $2 to $5 aminute. Attorneys interested in a transcript can requestone by clicking on a button online.The system doesn’t require any new equipment butassumes users have access to a speakerphone andcomputer.The use of DepoTek marks the latest technologicalleap for the slowly adapting court system. State courtsand clerks are just now beginning to grapple with theconcept of electronic filings.August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>The move also marks the end to a major source ofrevenue for court reporters.The Florida Court Reporters Association and theNational Court Reporters Association did not returncalls for comment by deadline.Chris Lang, vice president of sales at DepoTek creatorLawSonics, said the Orlando-based company tookseveral years to develop the technology and a patentis pending. He said one advantage to the DepoTeksystem is indefinite storage of audio files.“We keep it forever — until an asteroid hits the Earthor something else happens beyond our control,” Langsaid.Cost savings: Finkelstein’s office has been pushingfor an audio system for about a year.Because of turnover, new attorneys need to get up tospeed on cases fast. Transcripts can become costlyvery quickly, and slow production of transcripts canderail a case. Finkelstein encouraged lawyers to recorddepositions and forward recordings to newly assignedlawyers rather than order transcripts for every case.The drawback is the public defender’s recordingscould not be used for official purposes.Under the stipulation, audio recordings can be used incourt for impeachment purposes. If there’s a dispute,a judge will determine the accuracy of the recordingor transcript.The two sides also asked Chief Circuit Judge VictorTobin to issue an administrative order ratifying thestipulation although they said it would be binding evenwithout judicial consent. Tobin said he didn’t think anadministrative order was necessary, but he might signone if it made the attorneys more comfortable.Monica Hofheinz, executive director of the Browardstate attorney’s office, conceded her office had beenholding up the move to an electronic recording system.She said prosecutors wanted to carefully review theautomated process. The conclusion: it would be agreat cost saver. She noted it costs $28 just to get acourt reporter to show up at a deposition, which ismoney down the drain if the witness never shows.“The attorneys coming out of law school are used totwittering and doing everything electronically. So toContinued on page 1413


Tallahassee ReportReporters Latest Victim ofBudget CutsContinued from page 13them, this is something that they expect,” Hofheinzsaid. As for court reporters, she said, “I know they’reupset, and I feel bad. But there’s still plenty of civilwork and private criminal work.”Several other circuits around the state use DepoTek.Lang said the 20th Circuit in southwest Florida is startingto use the system, and the 9th Circuit in Orange andOsceola counties has been using it for more than ayear.Orange-Osceola Public Defender Robert Wesley saidit wasn’t a difficult transition because his office hadlong taped depositions. He acknowledged there’san advantage of a live person transcribing testimonywhen a clarification is needed if someone mumblesor more than one person is talking at the same time.But he said the lower cost of the automated systemoutweighs those advantages.his office averaged $27,000 per month for transcriptsin the months before the change to DepoTek. Bills forrecordings dropped to an average of $14,000 a monthwith recordings.Chief Assistant State Attorney Bill Vose in Orlando saidhe hasn’t heard of any problems with the system.Finkelstein said he hates the thought of putting courtreporters out of business, especially because his sisteris a court reporter.“For me I had to make a choice. It’s good for myclient, good for my lawyers and good for my budget,”he said.Jordana Mishory can be reached at (954) 468-2616.John Stone, an administrator at Wesley’s office, saidLetter to EditorReprinted from July 28, 2009, edition of the Daily Business ReviewWe respectfully challenge the wisdom of the new approachadopted in Broward County for conductingdepositions. We understand court systems around thecountry face serious challenges due to the recessionaryeconomy. But if budgetary actions compromisethe integrity of the legal system, they have gone toofar. In our minds, it is unacceptable for Florida citizensto entrust decisions affecting their life, liberty, propertyand livelihoods to technology that is only as good as thespeakerphone used on the call and without adequatetraining, management, certification and administrativesystems to ensure security and quality. We fearthe changes taken by Broward County cross that line.A complete and accurate record of the evidence,what was said and what was decided is the very basisof every legal action. Real-time court reporters arethe gold standard for producing records for trials anddepositions and in supporting the efficient operationof court systems. Court reporters do more than justcreate a transcript: They add to the efficiency, effectivenessand reliability of case management. Changesmeasured only in cost reductions ignore what will belost in translation, lost in inefficiency and lost to error.During depositions, a great deal of sensitive personalinformation is routinely made part of the record:names, addresses, Social Security and bank accountnumbers, children’s names and ages, business interests,etc. A certified court reporter is trained to ensure allrules of civil and criminal procedures are respected,sensitive information is redacted and circulation ofprotected information is appropriately controlled.The Florida Court Reporters Association and the NationalCourt Reporters Association are ready to work withdecision-makers to ensure an accurate and securerecord is created and workable budgets are achieved.Florida citizens shouldn’t have to depend on thequality of a phone connection and the skill ofan uncertified, unsupervised transcriptionist whentheir legal rights are at stake. Systems of training,oversight, quality control and accountability arenecessary and sadly lacking in the current action.Jennifer L. GaulFlorida Court Reporters Association President14August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


Association BusinessFLORIDA COURT REPORTERS ASSOCIATON2009 NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORTOn June 27, 2009, the FCRA Nominating Committee met to interview the FCRA Board of Directors candidatesfor the 2009-2010 fiscal year. After interviewing several candidates, the 2009 Nominating Committee, chairedby Thomas Hughes, submits the following slate of nominees for consideration by the membership at the 2009FCRA Annual Convention to be held at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Florida, on September 11 - 13, 2009.PRESIDENTSusan Wasilewski, RPR, CRR, CCP, CMRS, FPRLakeland, FLSusan Wasilewski currently managesWasilewski Court Reporting, LLC, a familyoperatedagency, in Lakeland, Florida. Thecompany and its court reporters serve the Polk CountyBar and 10 th Judicial Circuit Court in both criminal andcivil proceedings, including trials, depositions, and avariety of other reporting settings, as well as providingreporting services to clients from across the nation.Susan has served on the Board of Directors for theFlorida Court Reporters Association since 2003, joiningthe Board as a Director and becoming its Secretarysoon after. She has served as Chair of the Association’sTechnology Committee since 2003, Treasurer in 2007,and currently holds the position of Vice President.Susan’s educational experience includes graduatingfrom high school in a small town in Missouri, attendingSt. Louis College of Pharmacy, the University of CentralFlorida, Polk Community College, and Bay AreaAcademy of Business. She earned her court reportingdiploma from Bay Area in 1987 and has since attainedseveral certifications from the National Court ReportersAssociation. She earned the Florida ProfessionalReporter certificate from FCRA in 2006 and currentlyserves on the FPR teaching panel.When time allows for a respite from court reporting,Susan enjoys spending time with her family, golfing withher husband, visits to the beach, and the occasionalperfect margarita.PRESIDENT-ELECTRobin Merker, RPR, FPRLake Worth, FLRobin Merker has been a freelance reporterin Florida for the past 24 years, and a certifiedtraining agent for Stenograph for thepast 6 years. Between the two, she is always working.August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>She holds a BA in English Literature from the Universityof South Florida and received her court reporting trainingfrom Charron Williams in Miami, Florida, and theStenotype Institute in Hicksville, New York.Robin is currently the Nominating Committee Chair forher temple, having held various positions there in thepast, as well as for its religious school. She is marriedto Michael and they have 13-year-old twin daughters,Sarah and Rachel, two dogs, and two cats, and a refrigeratormagnet that says, “Stop me before I volunteeragain,” to which she never listens.VICE PRESIDENTRick Levy, RPR, FPRMiami, FLRick graduated from the University of Alabamain 1993 with a Bachelor’s Degree inBusiness Administration with a major in Management.He then completed court reporting schoolat Atlantic Vocational Technical Institute in Pompano,Florida, in 1996 at which time he began his career atMudrick, Witt, Levy & Consor as a freelance court reporterin Miami, Florida.After the acquisition of Mudrick, Witt by Esquire DepositionServices in 1998, he continued working as a courtreporter until 2003 when he opened up his own agencynow known as Network Reporting Corporation. Rick hascontinued in this role up until the present.He has been very active in NCRA since 1997 and hasserved on the Firm Owners Conference Committee.He has also been active in the Florida Court ReportersAssociation and the Society for the TechnologicalAdvancement of Reporting since 2004.SECRETARY/TREASURERJanet McKinney, RPR, FPRFort Lauderdale, FLJanet knew she wanted to become a reportersince Career Day during her Junioryear in high school. She entered reportingschool after the summer of graduation in September,1976, and received her court reporting certificate fromthe Academy of Court Reporting, Cleveland, Ohio inDecember, 1978.15


Association BusinessFLORIDA COURT REPORTERS ASSOCIATON2009 NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORTShe began her reporting career as an official reporterin the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas inChardon, Ohio back in February, 1979. After workingthere for a little over three years, her family relocatedto the Ft. Lauderdale area where she went to work inher first freelance job for Bass Reporting in July, 1982.In 1986 she made a change and found herself at MeritReporting where she stayed through their merger withEsquire; and in January, 1999 she began working forKlein, Bury, Reif & Applebaum, which is now U.S. LegalSupport in Ft. Lauderdale.Janet is currently a Registered Professional Reporter,Florida Professional Reporter, and Certified LiveNoteReporter.She has been married to her husband, John, for 28years and has one son, Cody, who is in his third year atColby College. She currently reside in Weston, Florida.16CENTRAL DIRECTORHolly Kapacinskas, RPR, CRR, FPRDeBary, FL(Two-year term – 10/2011)Holly Kapacinskas, RPR, CRR, FPR, graduatedin 1982 from DePauw University inGreencastle, Indiana, with a B.A. in music (flute performance)and a minor in business. While in college,she spent time studying music at the Hochschule furMusik in Vienna, Austria. Upon graduating from college,she went to work in sales for Xerox Corporation inChicago, IL. She married Len, her husband of 25 years,in 1984. Upon leaving Xerox in 1985, Holly became aflute teacher, as well as an orchestral and freelancemusician in the Chicago area.Holly moved to the Orlando area in 1989. Upon movingto Florida, she was a stay-at-home mom and parttimestudent at Seminole Community College, studyingcomputer programming. Holly entered court reportingschool at Daytona Beach Community College in 1994and graduated in 1995. She has been a reporter withVolusia Reporting Company in Daytona Beach for 14years. She received her RPR designation in 1996 andCRR and FPR designations in 2006. Holly has been anadjunct instructor for court reporting students at DaytonaBeach Community College. She has also serveda 3-year term on the Florida Bar Grievance Committeeand is looking forward to becoming active in FCRA.She lives in DeBary with her husband Len and their twosons, Sam and Alex.NORTHERN DIRECTORTara Slocum, CRR, RPR, CSR (CA), FPROrlando, FL(Second Year of Two-year term- 10/2010)Tara K. Slocum, CRR, RPR, CSR (California),FPR began her reporting career in 1986 inLos Angeles, California, working for Pat Barkley CourtReporters, Noon & Pratt and Atkinson Baker Court Reporters,the first Fortune 500 court reporting company.In 1991, she moved to Orlando, Florida, and beganworking with Orange Reporting.Her work experience involves complex, technical litigationin depositions and trials where realtime reportingand daily copies are required. In addition, she providespro bono realtime for the deaf and hearing impairedwhenever given the opportunity.SOUTHERN DIRECTORTanya Ward English, RPR, CRR, CCP, CBC,FPRFort Lauderdale, FL(Second Year of Two-year term- 10/2010)Tanya Ward English, originally from Colorado,began reporting in 1986. She worked as an officialreporter, a freelance reporter and was a foundingpartner in Florida Realtime Reporting and The CaptionCrew. Tanya has extensive realtime experience inboth litigation work and in working with the deaf. Shereceived the FCRA Pro Bono award in 1995-96, and in2004 was appointed by Governor Bush as the CARTrepresentative for the Florida Coordinating Council forthe Deaf and Hard of Hearing, where she chairs theInformation & Referral Committee. She also co-chairedthe Licensure and Credentialing Task Force for Interpretersand CART Providers.Tanya resides in Cooper City with her family and currentlyprovides CART services primarily for deaf studentsin universities around South Florida. Tanya is a CertifiedRealtime Reporter, Certified CART Provider and a CertifiedBroadcast Captioner.DIRECTOR-AT-LARGESandra Estevez, CSR, FPRMiami Beach, FL(One Year Term 10/2010)Sandra Estevez graduated from the Universityof Texas at Arlington in 1985 witha Bachelor’s Degree in Communications where shewas a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, Women InAugust/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


Association BusinessFLORIDA COURT REPORTERS ASSOCIATON2009 NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORTCommunications Network, hosted a cable TV showcalled UTA Student Spotlight and was a member of thecheerleading squad.Sandra has been a California CSR since 1995. A yearafter graduating from Sierra Valley Business Collegein Fresno, California she opened up her own agencycalled Sandra Holman Reporting Services. In 2005 shemerged her agency with Paulson Reporting & LitigationServices where she was hired to manage theirFresno office and later open a second office for themin Bakersfield, California. In 2008 Sandra relocated toMiami Beach, Florida and joined U.S. Legal Support asthe General Manager and Reporter/Client Liaison forthe U.S. Legal Support Miami office. Shortly after joiningU.S. Legal Support, Sandra joined FCRA, passed the FPR,served as Conference Chair for the 2009 FCRA Mid-YearConference in Marco Island and is currently Chairingthe Annual Convention to be held in Fort Lauderdale,Florida.FCRA Offers Volunteers to RecordJNC InterviewsArticle reprinted from the June 1, 2009, edition of The Florida Bar News; By Mark D. KillianManaging EditorThe Florida Court Reporters Association has offeredto provide volunteers to any of the state’s judicialnominating commissions to produce verbatim recordsof their judicial candidate interviews.“Our organization is demonstrating through this probono program its desire to meet the most noble ofgoals within a free society — that of civic participationin our judicial process,” said Michael H. Greenhill, chairof FCRA’s pro bono efforts.FCRA has sent a letter to the chairs of every JNCoffering the service, along with a set of guidelines, andthe names of court reporting firms in each circuit whohave agreed to provide the free service.Here is how the program would work: Once a judicialcandidate interview date has been established, theJNC chair calls the FCRA firm responsible for reportinginterviews within that circuit; the firm will then assigna court stenographer to report the judicial candidateinterviews on a pro bono basis; upon conclusion ofthe proceedings, the reporter’s disk or card will bereleased to the JNC chair, who will assume control ofthe record; the proceedings will only be transcribed atthe request of the commission chair, upon consultationwith the commission, and the chair will be responsiblefor the appropriate release of such transcripts.The pro bono court reporters will not be present duringthe commissions’ deliberations, which under the FloridaConstitution are confidential.“Hopefully, the JNCs will avail themselves to the abilityto have a professional court reporter on a pro bonobasis at every one of their judicial candidate sessions,”said Greenhill, noting his firm — Pleasanton, Greenhill,August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>Meek & Associates in West Palm Beach — has beenkeeping the record of the 15th Circuit JNC interviewssince 2001.Richard Hutchinson, the current chair of the 15th JNC,said having a court reporter present “has been a greatexperience” and said other JNCs should considerFCRA’s offer.Greenhill said it was not difficult to find volunteer courtreporting firms for the effort.“We want to play a role in the judicial process becauseit is our civic duty, our civic responsibility, to be part ofthe process and give back to the people of Florida,”Greenhill said.“The record never forgets and in a process that...is soimportant for the citizens of the state of Florida, havinga verbatim record is critical,” Greenhill said.Other court reporting firms that volunteered theirservices include Associated Court Reporters in Milton;Accurate Stenotype in Tallahassee; Official Reporters,Inc., in Jacksonville; Joy Hayes & Associates inInverness; Kanabay Court Reporters in St. Petersburg;Volusia Reporting Company in Daytona Beach;Vanlandingham, Durscher & Vanlandingham inGainesville; First Choice Reporting & Video Servicesin Orlando; Wasilewski Court Reporting in Lakeland;Network Reporting in Miami; Guardian Reporting inPunta Gorda; Dreyer-First Choice Reporting & VideoServices in Tampa; Gulf Bay Reporting in Panama City;Monroe County Reporting in Tavernier; U.S. Legal in Ft.Lauderdale; Court Reporters, Inc., in Ft. Pierce; andBarbara Donovan Court Reporting in Naples.17


2009 Mid-Year Conferen18August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


ce Photo HighlightsAugust/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>19


FCRA SpotlightsMarco Island Sparkled forFCRA’s Mid-Year Conference!By Sandra Estevez, CSR, FPR, Conference Chair 2009I hope everyone enjoyed their “Reporter StimulusPackage” in Marco Island. The accommodations weregorgeous and we had a packed house!The FPR certification seminar was streamlined andvery informative, followed by a very well-attendedWelcome Reception Friday evening.On Saturday Candis Bradshaw guided us throughWindows, Digital Signatures and optimizing ourrecordkeeping and finances, followed by the businessluncheon and meeting, and ending the afternoonwith a record turnout for our firm owners/managersforum facilitated by Dave Wenhold. That was a lot offun and very informative. Thanks to everyone for theirparticipation and great ideas!Saturday evening was a great opportunity to checkout some of the local fare followed by more fun andsocial networking in the hospitality suite.On Sunday Candis Bradshaw had us all laughing ather technogadgets including USB missile launchersand lava lamps! And our final presentation was givenby Susan Wasilewski and Rick Greenspan, which wasa great step-by-step instruction on different methodsof hooking up for realtime reporting, including realtimestreaming.Thanks so much to all of our exhibitors and sponsors, toFCRA Headquarters staff, the FCRA Board of Directors,and a special thanks to our FCRA President, JenniferGaul, for mentoring me through my first conference asconvention chair.Hope to see you all in Fort Lauderdale, September11-13, for the FCRA Annual Convention held at theHilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. Stay tuned for moreinformation!CONGRATULATIONS toJanis Pessamato for winningStenograph’s Elan Mira!!!By Sandy Narup, RPR, FPR, Fundraising Chair 2009In addition, I thank each and every one of you who took your chanceand purchased a ticket. By doing that, you helped YOUR Associationat the same time. I also want to thank Joyce Bluteau and all of theFCRA Board members for making this such a success once again!! Wecouldn’t have done it without you all. Look for more exciting drawingsin the future.20August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


FCRA SpotlightsMay & June 2009 Test Results AnnouncedCongratulations to those Florida reporters who became certified as a result of NCRA’sMay 2009 RPR, RMR, CRR, CBC, and CCP skills tests.Registered Professional ReportersGloria Anzalone, Fort LauderdaleMary Bouchard, Coral SpringsRichetta Bright, JacksonvilleJeanine Black, PensacolaElizabeth Cordoba, MiramarAllison Garrett, Fort LauderdaleJerrold Lefler, Palm HarborChristine Morrow, PensacolaIvette Oviedo, MiamiMaria Solares, Coral GablesAntoinette Garza, Royal Palm BeachMelanie Stinson-Konstantinidis, MiamiElizabeth Tiedemann, Santa Rosa BeachHeidi Winfield, DeBaryRegistered Merit ReportersRhonda Hall-Breuwet, BrandonCertified Realtime ReportersAnn Baldassari, OrlandoAmber Owen, TamaracNancy Paulsen, EnglewoodCongratulations to the following reporters from around the State of Florida on achieving their newFlorida Professional Reporter (FPR) designation in June 2009 in Marco Island, Florida.Sandra Kanabay AmbushDebbie AskinsRafael L. BarrerasGinger M. BassCorrine BelliottiPatricia Lee BormettJan CorreggioElaine CrandallCarolyn DockusGloria Ann DomschBarb DonovanGypsy FerreiraJennifer GreshNichole D. HeinLinda A. LaborMichelle A. ManniPearlyck MartinLaura MeltonRaquel RobinsonKelley N. SimpsonValerie J. SlugaRebecca B. SmithJo D. Soffer-OlsonLance SteinbeisserLaurie SusskindKathleen M. SzaboSandra W. TownsendAnthony TrujilloJody WarrenAngela Harrell WierzbickiMichael J. WierzbickiJulie WinnDebra B. WorleyMany thanks to the June 2009 Florida Rules and Ethics Seminar panel members for their dedication and hard work:Jennifer Gaul, CMRS, FPRLouise K. Johnson, RMR, CRR, FPRPaulita Kundid, RPR, CLVS, FPRSusan D. Wasilewski, RPR, CRR, CMRS, FPRAugust/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>21


On the JobBy Professional Ethics Committee: Honorary Chair for Life, Shirley King; Co-Chairs: Jennifer Gaul & SusanWasilewski; Members: Cindy Bender, Louise Johnson, Paulita Kundid, Cathy Phillips, Betty Sue VincentThe Committee thanks Judy Everman for writing the following article for our Ethics Corner. The Committee wouldlike to invite our members to e-mail us with their questions so that we may address current issues of concern foryou. Shirley P. King (shirley.king@kingreporting.com); Betty Sue Vincent (bshoes2@aol.com); Cindy C. Bender(bendci@mindspring.com); Cathy Phillips (CJPHILLIPS111@aol.com); Jennifer Gaul (jgaul@uslegalsupport.com); Louise K. Johnson (weziCRR@aol.com); Paulita E. Kundid (paulita.kundid@volusiareporting.com); SusanWasilewski (sdwrpr@aol.com)Question: I have always writtendown the approximate time adeposition begins and ends; is thatappropriate?Answer: No.appropriate.The exact time isQuestion: Are we responsible forlisting the names of everyonepresent at a deposition, forexample, the wife when thehusband’s deposition is beingtaken?Answer: Yes, everyone in the room.Question: What if someone leavesthe room and comes back in?Answer: Record where he leavesand returns: (Mr. Smith left theroom.) (Mr. Smith returned to theroom.)Question: What if one of theattorneys comes in late after thedeposition has started?Answer: When you set up theappearances, you note next to Mr.Smith’s name (enters later). Whenhe does enter, you simply put: (Mr.Smith entered the room.).Question: Is there any special orderto list appearances when there aremultiple plaintiffs or defendants?Answer: Yes, there certainly is. Theattorneys should be listed in thesame order as the parties are listedin the case, and on each listing itshould say, for example: Attorneyfor Plaintiff Peters or Attorney forDefendant Allstate.Question: What about court onkeeping the time and who ispresent?Answer: Yes on the time. No on allpersons present.For the record, we must notethe judge before whom theproceeding is held and theattorneys representing the parties,but there could be any numberof people from the public comingand going in the courtroom. Thereis nothing to stop you from listingpeople present at the counseltables, though we typically do notlist parties present. An exceptioncould be in chambers where aclosed proceeding might be heldand it may be advisable to listpersons present other than counseland the court because thosepeople would have to maintainthe confidentiality of the closedproceeding, as well.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure30(b)(4):“Unless otherwise agreed by theparties, a deposition shall beconducted before an officerappointed or designated underRule 28 and shall begin with astatement on the record by theofficer that includes (A) the officer’sname and business address; (B)the date, time and place of thedeposition; (C) the name of thedeponent; (D) the administrationof the oath or affirmation to thedeponent; and (E) an identificationof all persons present.22August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


On the JobRSS Feeds (Feed me, Seymour,Feeeed Me!)By Donna M. Kanabay, RMR, CRR, FPR; donna@kanabay.comI’m wondering why I’ve ignored this for so long. It’smade my life so much easier!RSS stands for “Rich Site Summary” (or “Really SimpleSyndication”). Its purpose is to gather the many sitesyou might visit periodically, such as blogs, newspapers,and some discussion forums, into one place, via an RSSreader, so that you don’t have to log in to each of themone by one, or subscribe to each of them individually sothat they’re dumped into your e-mail.There are many free readers available. Google, ofcourse, is the first one you come to if you Google “RSSreaders.” I’ve used that one, but right now I’m using onecalled FeedDemon. I like its Outlook-like format betterthan the Google reader’s layout. However, if you’rea frequent Google user, including their many featuresof Gmail, calendaring, etc., you may find having thereader incorporated into your Google log-in more useful.Readers update automatically, so every time you openyour reader, all of your “stuff” is right there for you toscroll through. I have a couple of blogs that I’ve triedto keep up with, but I often forget for months at a time,and then discover I’m way behind on the author’s newswhen I do finally remember to check. And I’d alwayshave to go look for my list of favorite places when Idid remember. Now, I see immediately if there’s a newentry. (The FeedDemon even has a little bubble thatpops up briefly when there’s a new entry on any of myfeeds.)Actually, you can incorporate RSS into Outlook, but myOutlook file is usually so bloated that I’m afraid I’d blowsomething up if I tried that.The FeedDemon runs in the background so it’s alwaysavailable instantly and it’s no trouble to switch backand forth. Another way it’s helped me a lot is beingable to keep up with an out-of-town newspaper frommy adopted hometown, so to speak, where we keepour boat. We’re always arriving at our marina and beinggreeted by “did you hear about…” and I’m clueless.Now I can keep up with news over there that might beof interest to me, such as flood warnings (or low waterwarnings), as the river rises and falls during this crazydrought/storm/drought/storm year we’re having, andany emergency information regarding wake and speedregulations. Of course, if there was anything criticalregarding our marina, I’d get a phone call. Such as thetime a couple of months ago when our liveaboard boatneighbor called me and said, “Hi, Donna, this is Joanne.Don’t worry, your boat’s fine.” If I’d had the RSS ReaderAugust/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>back then, my heart wouldn’t have stopped and I’dknow that she was talking about the water level risingvery quickly, and that her husband had been adjustingour lines and fenders accordingly, and not, oh, maybethe marina burned down or somebody crashed into ustrying to bring their boat into the very close quartersthere.Come to think of it, I think that’s when I decided I neededto keep up with the news over there more regularly…I recently bought an Amazon Kindle (This is NOT a luxuryitem, folks!). The Amazon site has a very informative andactive discussion group, and I have it plugged into myRSS so that I can quickly scroll through and see if there’sanything I want to bother to explore further. (You seeonly the first post in the thread. If you want to read theentire thread, just click on it and it opens up to the actualsite with the whole discussion.) This is a real timesaverbecause I can check out 40 threads just by the first fewlines in the post and not have to guess at whether it’sof interest merely by the title, which is how you see thethreads if you go to the site directly. I was spendinga lot of time clicking on threads that turned out to benothing I cared about, but I couldn’t tell from the title.I have several friends who have personal blogs and triplogs that I would always forget to check out, and nowI’m completely up to the minute on what’s going onwith them.Some sites that you visit will have an RSS button, butif they don’t, that doesn’t mean you can’t feed intoyour RSS. Simply copy the URL of the site and paste itinto your reader’s subscription field, and you’ll knowsoon enough if it’s going to work. Some newspaperswill let you choose what sections you want when youclick their RSS button. That was helpful with the out-oftownnewspaper. I only needed the local section, so myreader isn’t filling up with the Section A news that I getfrom my own local newspaper.I’m very unhappy to see that I can’t seem to get any ofmy court reporter discussion areas loaded, such as theNCRA forum, the CompuServe CRForum, or Depoman.There also doesn’t seem to be any way to load thebrand new FCRA Facebook site, either. I do understandthat before NCRA’s platform was changed, you couldRSS the forum, but you can’t with the current setup.Hopefully, if enough people clamor for it, the variousforums will set up RSS eventually.Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeed me!23


On the JobAn Open Letter to the Chair of the FCRACART Committee from an FCRA memberHave you been asked to provide realtime for a personwith hearing loss? What should you do?-----Original Message-----Subject: Q about writing for the deafTanya,Sorry to bother you, but tomorrow I have a depositionof a witness who is deaf but can read and speak. I’venever done this before, so I thought I would ask if thereis anything special I need to know. The witness is thechild of the plaintiff and is basically a before-and-afterwitness. Any tips you can give me? Thanks.Patricia C Weiner, RPR, RMR, CRR, FPRCertified Realtime Reporter-----Response-----Hi, Pat.Well, you’re not going to like this answer, but I haveto be straight with you. They need to hire a CARTprovider. You’re not qualified to act in this capacity.There should be an official court reporter and thereshould be a CART provider. There are ethical thingsand visual things (making your screen easier to read,etc) that are taught in CART training. I can’t give youa crash course in the few minutes I have.Here’s a link to the guidelines for providing CART (incourt, but the same basic stuff applies) as postedon our FCRA website: http://fcraonline.org/CART/guidelines.pdfSorry to be blunt about it. But as an advocate forpersons with hearing loss, I can’t in good conscienceadvise you to provide this service without the propertraining.Tanya Ward English, RPR, CRR, CCP, CBCCertified Realtime Reporter, CART Provider andCaptionerFCRA CART Committee Chair----Response----me today and she was going to have a sign languageinterpreter but someone told her to have it done inrealtime. I did not by any means ask for this assignment.I didn’t realize that this would be a problem. I willadvise both attorneys tomorrow that they should havea certified CART provider.PatAnd thanks for being blunt about it. I wouldn’t want itany other way.Notes from the FCRA CART Committee:The above scenario is typical in deposition rooms andcourthouses in Florida and across the nation. Everyday people assume that because a court reporter canwrite well in real time that they are qualified to provideCART (Communication Access Realtime Translation)services for a person who is deaf or hard of hearing.Many well-meaning court reporters will go ahead andprovide the services, not even realizing that they aren’tqualified. As a matter of fact, this is a very talented andexperienced realtime reporter who is also a memberof NCRA, is a Certified Realtime Reporter and a FloridaProfessional Reporter. She has great skills, yet she is notqualified to provide CART (Communication AccessRealtime Translation) services for a person with hearingloss. She was, however, conscientious enough to lookto an experienced CART Provider and the Chair ofFCRA’s CART Committee for guidance. She graciouslyallowed us to use her situation as a learning tool, andfor that we thank her.It should also be noted that CART is not the preferredaccommodation for all persons with hearing loss. It’spossible that this person requested a sign languageinterpreter. If the person who is deaf is fluent in AmericanSign Language and that is his or her first language, heor she may not communicate well enough in Englishto use CART effectively. The consumer knows bestwhich accommodation the consumer needs. Theysometimes will request “realtime captioning,” whichshould be considered a request for CART.For more information on CART, a printable CARTbrochure, a list of Certified CART Providers in Floridaand the best practices guidelines to follow for CARTin a legal setting, please see the FCRA website: www.fcraonline.org/CART.Tanya,Thanks for the information. The attorney spoke with24August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


On the JobAOL: Is There Life BeyondTime Warner?Q. Is it true that AOL is going out of business or is goingto just disappear?A. Not exactly, but it is important for all AOL users tobe aware of what’s happening. Last month, TimeWarner announced that it will jettison its AOL subsidiaryby the end of this year.Attempting to put a positive spin on the unceremoniousdumping of AOL, Jeffrey Bewkes, Time WarnerCEO, said (with a straight face), “We believe AOLwill have a better opportunity to achieve its fullpotential as an independent Internet company.”Sure it will. AOL today is a mere shadow of its formerself. In 2002, users peaked at nearly 27 million. Currently,AOL has approximately six million subscribers,and this announcement is expected to result in aspike in migration as AOL users flee to greener digitalpastures.If you are currently using AOL, you effectively havetwo choices: You can stay with AOL and see whathappens (last one out, please turn off the lights),or you can join the tens of millions of former AOLusers who have moved to other Internet accessproviders. I’ll be providing additional informationand updates about this ongoing development inmy weekly newsletter (www.MrModem.com).Q. I received two .PUB files, which I assume are MicrosoftPublisher files. I don’t have Publisher, and I don’twant to buy it, so is there some way I can convertthe files into Adobe .PDF format, which I can thenopen?A. Yes, .PUB files are Microsoft Publisher files and thegood news is that you can easily convert them tothe .PDF format by using PDF <strong>Online</strong> (http://tinyurl.com/pj22k8). When you go to the site, select the.PUB file that you want to convert, enter your emailaddress, and click Convert to PDF. The convertedfile will be emailed to you within minutes.Q. When I’m using the Google search engine with InternetExplorer on my PC at work, after I type in thefirst few letters of my search term, a drop-down listappears. If I entered the same information before,I can select it from the list. My computer at home,however, does not provide this drop-down list. Howcan I get a similar list to appear on that computer?A. The feature you are referring to is called AutoComplete.To view the settings for AutoComplete, inInternet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options >Content tab, then the Settings button in the Auto-Complete section. Click the check boxes for someor all of the options you want to use. In your case,be sure to select Forms, but you may also want toselect Web Addresses, Username and Passwords onForms, and Prompt to Save Passwords, as well. ClickOK twice to save your changes and exit.Q. I have Windows XP, Outlook Express and Office 2007.I speak English, but I can only get French in the spellcheck.How can I get an English spell-checker?A. When you install Office 2007, spell checking in OutlookExpress works very well — as long as you wantto spell-check in French. That’s because Office 2007initially replaced old files that spell-checked in English,Spanish and German. According to Microsoft,the new version of these files contained within Office2007 are incompatible with OE-6. (Isn’t that justpeachy?) The easiest way to resolve the problem isto install a third-party Spell Checker for OE (http://tinyurl.com/k2xcv). This problem was resolved in asubsequent Office 2007 update.August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>25


On the JobMr. Modem’sDon’t Miss‘em (DME)Sites of theMonthCongressional Votes: Hosted by washingtonpost.com, here you canbrowse an extensive database of every vote cast in the U.S. Congresssince 1991. You can search by aggregate votes on a given issue orby individual member of Congress to determine if your representativeis truly representing you, or if he or she is asleep at the switch.The site is updated several times each day. http://tinyurl.com/px7zh9Flight Status: This was created for Palm-type, hand-held computers,but I use it as a no-frills, cut-to-the-chase, bare-bones, stop-with-thehyphens,flight-information center to enhance my going-nowhere-ina-hurrylifestyle. Here you can quickly obtain flight status, departuresand arrivals, flight alerts, airline and airport information, security waittimes, and current airport delays. If you prefer the full-frills version,visit www.flightstats.com. http://tinyurl.com/y6g7gmUniversal Leonardo: No, not DiCaprio, the other Leonardo. This unusualsite is a celebration of the genius of Leonardo da Vinci’s work.Through a series of linked exhibitions and scientific investigations, newdimensions of the “El Da-Vee” (as he was known in the ‘hood) legacyare revealed. From the home page, click Browse, then meanderthrough Paintings, Manuscripts, Inventions, and Drawings. One caneasily spend hours on this site, so get comfortable, and it wouldn’thurt to have a few snacks standing by. www.universalleonardo.orgFor plain-English answers to your questions by email, plus great computingtips, subscribe to Mr. Modem’s award-winning newsletter. Subscribe usingPromo Code 4022 and receive TWO free months with your 12-month subscription!To view a sample issue or subscribe, visit www.MrModem.com.FCR <strong>Online</strong> Contributing EditorsSandra Estevez, CSR (CA), FPRJudy Everman, RPR, FAPR, CMRS, FPR on behalf of the 2008-2009 Professional EthicsCommitteeGayl Hardeman, RDR, CCP, FAPR, FPRDonna M. Kanabay, RPR, RMR, CRR, FPRSandy Narup, RPR, FPRRichard A. Sherman (Ask Mr. Modem)Tanya Ward English, RPR, CRR, CCP, CBC, FPRWesley Thomas Hughes, RDR, CRR, FPR26August/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>


FCRA welcomes thefollowing new members(Includes all members who joined as of August 5, 2009)PARTICIPATING MEMBERSNAME CITY SPONSORAbramson, Rinele..................................................................Plantation............................................................................Jennifer GaulBarreras, Rafael ...................................................................... Orlando........................................................................Susan WasilewskiBass, Ginger ............................................................................ Orlando........................................................................Susan WasilewskiBormett, Patricia.................................................................. Vero Beach...............................................................................Shirley KingBundy, Lori................................................................................ Naples...................................................................................Shirley KingCianciolo, Cynthia.................................................................. Tampa.........................................................................Susan WasilewskiCorreggio, Jan..................................................................... Boca Raton...........................................................................Jennifer GaulFerreira, Gypsy Marie............................................................... Miami................................................................................Jennifer GaulGilbert, Nancy .......................................................................... Miami................................................................................Jennifer GaulGoldman, Alexa...............................................................Boynton Beach....................................................................Thomas HughesHanbury, Katy..........................................................................Oviedo ........................................................................Susan WasilewskiHein, Nichole.......................................................................... Lakeland.......................................................................Susan WasilewskiKrenchicki, Doreen.................................................... Lauderdale by the Sea.................................................................Jennifer GaulMartin, Pearlyck...................................................................Cooper City................................................................... Catherine PhillipsMercade, Kerry........................................................................ Tampa...............................................................................Jennifer GaulOrtiz, Andrea............................................................................. Miami................................................................................Jennifer GaulPemberton, Sandra............................................................ Orange Park.............................................................................S. Gay HessRoberts, Wendy................................................................. Ft Lauderdale.........................................................................Jennifer GaulRobinson, Raquel ........................................................... West Palm Beach.................................................................... Judy EvermanSimpson, Kelley...................................................................St Petersburg...........................................................................Diane EmerySmith, Rebecca...................................................................... Apopka........................................................................Ann MendenhallStabb, Andrea......................................................................... Weston...............................................................................Jennifer GaulSteinbeisser, Lance................................................................... Miami........................................................................ Nicholas MarroneSzabo, Kathleen ..........................................................Palm Beach Gardens..................................................................Jennifer GaulVisser, Linda............................................................................. Orlando........................................................................Susan WasilewskiWarren, Jody.................................................................... Fort Lauderdale.......................................................................Jennifer GaulWinn, Julie ..............................................................................Fort Myers............................................................................Jennifer GaulWorley, Debra......................................................................... Orlando........................................................................Susan WasilewskiYoung, Jakata......................................................................... Orlando........................................................................Ann MendenhallZunker, Penny........................................................................ Bradenton...................................................................... Vincent LucenteASSOCIATE MEMBERSConsor, Meridith.............................................................. West Palm Beach......................................................................Jennifer GaulGresh, Jennifer................................................................ West Palm Beach......................................................................Jennifer GaulHatfield, Norma................................................................. Brunswick, GA.....................................................................Thomas HughesOlea, Stephanie............................................................. West Palm Beach......................................................................Jennifer GaulSTUDENT MEMBERSSluga, Valerie......................................................................... Lakeland.......................................................................Susan WasilewskiTrujillo, Anthony......................................................................Kissimmee......................................................................Susan WasilewskiVENDOR MEMBERSRamos, Jennis.................................................................... Ft Lauderdale.........................................................................Jennifer GaulStephan, Reed.........................................................................Oviedo ....................................................................... Catherine PhillipsVazquez, Ximena...................................................................... Miami................................................................................Jennifer GaulAugust/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>27


MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONFlorida Court Reporters Association*Name (Please print) ________________________________________________________________________________________________*Company ___________________________________________________________________rOwner r Co-owner r Manager*Mailing Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________________*City/State/Zip ________________________________________________________________________NCRA # ______________________*Telephone: Home (____) __________________ Office (_____) ____________________ FAX (_____) __________________________CHECK ONE: r OK to publish home phone number in directory. r DO NOT publish home phone number!*E-mail address ___________________________________________________Website Address _________________________________________________*METHOD OF REPORTING: r Stenographic r Voicewriter r Gregg r Pittman r Other _______________________________*TYPE OF REPORTER: r Freelance r Official r Deputy Official r Federal r Teacher r Student r Other _______________*DESIG: r CSR [List State(s) other than FL]__________________ r FAPR r FPR r RPR r RDR r CMRS r RMR r CLVS r CRI r CRR r CPE*Asterisk indicates required information.I make application for Membership as a: (CHECK ONE)I hereby make application for membership in the Florida Court Reportersp PARTICIPATING MEMBER ..............................................................$150.00 Association and pledge myself, if accepted, to abide by the requirementsOpen to anyone engaged in active practice of official or general of the Bylaws and Code of Professional Responsibility of the Associationcourt reporting by either stenographic or voicewriter method. (Pleaseas they are now and as they may be amended in the future.indicate method above.)p STUDENT MEMBER ...........................................................................$35.00Open to any student of shorthand reporting who is endorsed by acourt reporting training program instructor or director.p RETIRED MEMBER ............................................................................$45.00Open to any participating member in good standing who has retiredfrom the active practice of shorthand reporting.p ASSOCIATE MEMBER .................................................................... $60.00Open to the following: teachers of shorthand or shorthand reporting, anyoneofficially connected with a school or college conducting a shorthandreporting course, any non-member retired from active shorthand reporting,anyone professionally associated with or employed by a member ofFCRA whose application is endorsed by a participating member in goodstanding, and anyone qualifying for Participating membership, but residingoutside of Florida.p VENDOR MEMBER .........................................................................$125.00Open to any firm or corporation engaged in selling products or servicesto FCRA members.PRO BONO: Are you interested in donating time to the Pro Bono Program?p Yes p NoFLORIDA MANUAL: The guide to court reporting in Florida — sample forms,guidelines, and rules of court. Cost for members: $35.00. Subscription toupdates: $10.00.MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY: Searchable geographical and alphabetical members’listing in Member’s Only section of our website.LEGISLATIVE/LEGAL FUND: Your dues include only regular monitoring oflegislative, regulatory, and administrative activity for things that could adverselyaffect the court reporting profession. Without member donations tothis fund, the Association cannot pursue any legislative/legal activity andmay not be able to protect our profession.The dues year is November 1 through October 31. Annual dues must accompanyapplication. Those joining in August, September, or October of a givenyear will be paid through October 31 of the following year. Dues paymentsare deductible by members as an ordinary and necessary business expense.In accordance with Section 6033(e)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code,as amended, members of the FCRA are hereby notified that an estimated5% of your FCRA dues will be allocated to lobbying and political activities,and therefore are not deductible as a business expense.For Administrative Use OnlyDate Rec'd __________ Ref # __________Amount __________ Computer __________My signature below constitutes my consent to receive faxes, email, andother communications from FCRA or on behalf of FCRA.______________________________________________________________Signature of ApplicantDate______________________________________________________________Signature of Sponsor______________________________________________________________Name of Sponsor (Please print or type)PAYMENT ENCLOSED FOR:Membership DuesFlorida Manual on disk:__ copies @ $50.00 each(Includes 7% sales tax + handling)One-year subscriptionto Florida Manual Updates__ subscriptions @ $25.00 each(Includes 7% sales tax + handling)Legislative/Legal Fund Donation:TOTAL ENCLOSED:$ ________________________________________________________+ $25.00$__________r Check #_________________ r MasterCard r VISA r AmExAccount # __________________________________________________Exp. Date: ___________________________________________________3- or 4-digit Security Code: ___________________________________Amount to charge: $ _______________________________________Authorized Signature ________________________________________Make check payable to FCRA and mail to FCRA Headquarters, 222 S. Westmonte Dr, Ste 101, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714Telephone 407-774-7880 • FAX 407-774-6440 (for charge payments only) • www.fcraonline.orgRev 8/09


Across Tampa Bay and Across FloridaYour Client!Your Reporter!orYour ClientOur Reporterin our offices!All the questions they can ask…All the candy you can eat…Such a Sweet Deal!The concept is simple: Why not share resources among reporting firms, to everybody’sbenefit? Given the critical reporter shortage, and the expense of maintaining multiplelocations, we all need each other!Bring your own client to one of our strategically located offices and pay a reasonable fee forthe full use of the offices and all our amenities and courtesy supplies. Or, send your client to us:We’ll take good care of them and pay you a reasonable percentage for the referral!All locations are private offices; the space leased only by our firm.No shared suites or other tenants using the space, services, or equipment.Our flagship office is located on the concourse level ofTampa International AirportOther offices:Feather Sound Square,* Clearwater Downtown St. Petersburg15 mins from Tampa International Airport Next door to the Judicial Bldg.*videoconferencing at this locationKanabay Court Reporters; Tampa, St. Petersburg, ClearwaterPO Box 178; St. Petersburg, FL(727) 821-3320 Fax: (727) 898-5701 Tampa Line: (813) 224-9500www.kanabay.com e-mail: dmkh@kanabay.comAugust/September/October 2009 • FCR <strong>Online</strong>29

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