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Guardians of the Record
News and Tips
March 2011 
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Roger G. Flygare & Associates, Inc.
1715 South 324th Place, Suite 250
Federal Way, Washington 98003
(800) 574-0414  (253) 661-2711 

 Greetings ,

 

House Bill 1205 ~ an Update
March 7th, 2011

HB 1205 finds itself ensconced in the Senate Judiciary Committee after safely treading the legislative waters of the House of Representatives. 

I would like to once again share with our readers why this bill is important and at the end of this article I will provide you with names, email addresses and phone numbers so that you can contact the Senators on the Judiciary Committee to voice your support of this important consumer protection legislation. 

If you have any questions whatsoever please call me at 1-800-574-0414.  You will find my phone number at the bottom of this article as well.

The following bullet points lay out the concerns that hopefully this legislation once passed will be able to address:

Why is this "consumer protection" legislation necessary:

  • First of all, not all court reporting firms are owned by Certified Court Reporters.  Certified Court Reporters have standards they are compelled to follow promulgated by the Department of Licensing.  Those particular firm owners who are not certified are not compelled to follow those same guidelines.
  • There have been class action lawsuits as well as lawsuits to recover overpayments in Washington State and elsewhere over the past few years involving court reporting business practices that essentially bill for services not rendered. 
  • There are court reporting firms that put fewer words on a transcript page, a practice known in the industry as "stretching."   They also will add word indexes to the end of transcripts and charge full transcript page rates and in addition add mini transcripts at the end of transcripts and charge full transcript page rates, a practice in the industry known as "padding."
  • This proposed legislation will address those unsavory and unethical business practices along with others when the WAC guidelines are formulated but first Court Reporting Firm licensing regulation needs to become a reality.
  • The legislation will not be the cause of an uptick in your court reporting costs.  As far as the State of Washington is concerned, it is basically a revenue neutral item.  The cost of a license is forecast to be roughly $115.00 per year.
  • This legislation will not add costs to court reporters individually.  However, it will require firms to purchase a license just like other professions such as real estate brokers and so forth.
  • Court reporting costs may actually go down as a result of standards requiring itemized billing practices so that you and/or perhaps your vendor pay people can see what you're paying for rather than some invoices that only show "Deposition of John Smith, M.D., $950.00, payable in 30 days."  Itemization will show transcripts cost per page, exhibit reproduction per page, reserved signature fees if any are applicable, et cetera.
  • Importantly, your favorite court reporter will not be affected by this legislation unless they schedule or make referrals for court reporters for compensation. 

It is truly good consumer protection legislation.  Thank you in advance for writing a short message/letter in support of this legislation.

 

Here is the promised contact information:

Senate Judiciary Committee:

 

Senator Adam Kline - Chair - [email protected] - (360) 786-7688

Senator Nick Harper - [email protected] - (360) 786-7674

Senator Cheryl Pflug - [email protected] - (360) 786-7674

Senator Jeff Baxter - [email protected] - (360) 786-7606

Senator Mike Carrell - [email protected] - (360) 786-7654

Senator James Hargrove - [email protected] - (360) 786-7654

Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles - [email protected] - (360) 786-7654

Senator Debbie Regala - [email protected] - (360) 786-7654

Senator Pam Roach - [email protected] - (360) 786-7660

 

Cut and paste list for e-mailing:

 

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

 

Thanks for your support and for bringing this issue to the attention of the people who represent all of us in Olympia,

 

  

 

 

 

Roger Signature Red

 
Roger G. Flygare, CEO and President
Roger G. Flygare & Associates, Inc.

 

(800) 574-0414  


Aloha Friday
  
Give us a call by Thursday at 5:00 PM to let us know that you are planning to attend. 
1-800-574-0414
The Video Vault
 
By Chris Lewis, FLVS
Legal Video Specialist
 
Flygare Food Drive

Food Drive

  

 Flygare & Associates is proud to announce that beginning in the month of March we will be starting an ongoing food drive for local food banks in our area. 

 

We would like to invite everyone to help us with this effort.  If you can help out by donating non-perishable food please feel free to drop it by our office located at 1715 S. 324th Place, Suite 250 Federal Way, WA 98003. 

 

In lieu of dropping off food you can give it to any of our court reporters covering your deposition and they will deliver to our office for you.

 

Our goal is to help those in our community who are struggling in these difficult times and in need of vital services such as the local food bank.

 

Thank you in advance for any of your food bank donations.  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to give us a call.

 

~Chris Lewis. 

 

For our continued thoughts on videotaping in today's legal environment, visit us at  www.flygare.com .

 

Please call or send an e-mail to [email protected] if you would like more information on this or any of our previous stories from the video vault.  All calls and e-mails are considered private and highly confidential.

 
In This Issue
Video Vault
Tech Talk
Transcription Corner
Adventure in Online Education

Useful Links



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In which film did Madonna play Breathless Mahoney?


Check back next month for the March trivia time answer.

 *Last month's trivia time question:    

What college did actor John Wayne attend?  
Answer: USC - University of Southern California.

Click here for a sneak peek at this months trivia time answer  
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Ahoy, Mateys and Matresses!   To collect the spoils of adventure troll through the Flygare website and be the first to locate this month's Carib Raj treasure chest. It washes ashore on a different page each month!  
 

To claim your prize, be the first to click on the treasure chest and fill out the form.  
 

May the fair winds keep your sails ever full. 

Treasure Chest

Past Newsletters
Tech Talk
By Jona Christoe
Marketing and Technology

See You at the NALS of Washington Annual Meeting
"The Association for Legal Professionals"

NALS of Washington is holding their annual meeting April 8th and 9th, 2011, at the Lakeway Inn & Convention Center in Bellingham.  We will be there and are looking forward to meeting all of you NALS of Washington members face to face.  Stop by our table to say hi. 

 

For more information about NALS of Washington and how to join click here.
Or click here for the annual meeting flyer.

 

Have a great March, and I'll talk with you again next month,

~Jona


 
Flygare and Associates is an associate sponsor of NALS of Washington.
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Transcription Corner
 
By Anna Hirsch
Senior Transcriptionist   
 
Click Here For Our Transcription DepartmentRecipe of the Month
 
Anna's Curried Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil, Divided

1 Lb. Chicken Breast Tenders

2 Large Shallots

� Cup Red Onion, Coarsely Chopped

2 � Tsp. Curry Powder

� Tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

� Tsp. Sea Salt

1 Large Sweet Potato Diced

1 14 oz. Can Coconut Milk

2 Green Onions, Chopped
 
2 Tbsp. Cilantro, Chopped

 

 

Heat 1 tbsp. oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Season chicken with salt and pepper; saut� for 5 to 7 minutes or until center is no longer pink.  Remove chicken and cover.

 

Add remaining oil to Dutch oven.  Saut� shallots and onion for 3 to 5 minutes.  Sprinkle in spices and sea salt.  Add potatoes and coconut milk; bring to a boil.  Cover and reduce to medium-low.  Simmer 10 minutes.  While potatoes are simmering, dice chicken.

 

Add chicken to curry; simmer 5 minutes or until potatoes are cooked.  Top with green onion and cilantro.

 

NOTES: 

 

This recipe is easy to double or triple if feeding a larger group of people.

 

I usually cut the chicken up prior to cooking it.  Makes the cooking time go quicker.

 

You can adjust the amount of curry powder and red pepper flakes in this recipe to taste.  I tend to use at least double the amount of curry powder that is asked for when I make it. 

 

I generally serve this over Jasmine Rice but you can use any rice or noodles or just eat it by itself without rice or noodles. 

 
~ Anna Hirsch 

 

Flygare & Associates In-House Transcription Department transcribes a variety of hearings, meetings, videos, text messages, voice messages, emails, etc.  We are here for all your transcription needs.

 


For more information about transcription or any of the other litigation support services that we offer visit us at www.flygare.com 
My Adventure in Online Education
By Colleen Donovan
Transcriptionist  and Court Reporter-in-training 
 
 Online education 

Since my brother earned a subsequent master's degree in an online program, I've been curious about how quality education was possible in that medium.

 

After accomplishing a long career in one field and approaching retirement age, I found myself asking what I wanted to be when I grow up. Not nearly ready to be put out to pasture, I needed a change. It had to be an enjoyable one and one I could take far into the future. My mother didn't retire until she was 85 and I want to surpass that (knock on wood) if my health holds out.

 

I did homework, looking at many specialized online trade programs. One day I remembered that back in about 1970 when I used to take the train into Chicago to work each day, I ran into a former classmate on the train who was attending court reporting school in Chicago. Her excitement and interest in the field were infectious; it's been in the back of my mind ever since that time. I found an online program that has the blessing of the National Court Reporter's Association, and I was in business.

 

They say that every atom in our bodies dies and is replaced every seven years. That makes sense to me because nothing about me is the same as I was 40 years ago. Bullying instructors will not find me submissive, and my questions will not go unanswered due to shyness. I may be too assertive and command too much respect.

 

In future installments, I'll relay my experiences as a 60-year-old online student and the pros and cons of such a venture.


 
~ Colleen Donovan 

 

Flygare & Associates In-House Transcription Department transcribes a variety of hearings, meetings, videos, text messages, voice messages, emails, etc.  We are here for all your transcription needs.

 

 

For more information about transcription or any of the other litigation support services that we offer visit us at www.flygare.com 

 

Give us a call at 1-800- 574-0414 with any questions or for your free transcription quote. 


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Roger G. Flygare & Associates, Inc.    
1715 South 324th Place, Suite 250
Federal Way, Washington 98003
Roger G. Flygare & Associates, Inc.
(800) 574-0414 (253) 661-2711
 Roger Flygare, CEO

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