Agency Name: CRS Court Reporters and Video
Website: www.crscourtreporters.com
Phone: (877) 298-3376
Location: 111 N. Market St., Suite 930, San Jose, CA 95113
Areas Served: San Francisco Bay Area and Nationwide
Years in Business: 34
Services Provided: Transcript and exhibit repository, remote real-time, video and real-time streaming, video/text synchronization, conference room in our downtown San Jose location.
Name and Title of Interviewee: Linda Pugliese – Owner/Certified Shorthand Reporter
Agency Summary in 3 Words:
Personal Technological Service
What is your agency motto?
“Technology at our Fingertips”
What sets your agency apart?
Knowledgeable, friendly and professional reporters; always being in the forefront of offering the latest in court reporting and litigation technology.
What advice would you give students or those just entering the field of court reporting on how to align themselves with an agency?
Call the local agencies and work with people nearby who know your work, have your interest at heart and will support you as a reporter.
Since your agency first opened, what do you feel has changed the most in the industry?
There are so many things that have changed, I could write a book. Technology is probably the biggest, as computer-aided transcription (CAT) was just getting started when my agency first opened 33 years ago. We’ve come a long way from paper notes and dictating to real-time and Internet communication and transcript access. Another big change is the local court reporting agency having to compete with large nationwide firms – the “Walmart” effect.
Where is the strangest place your agency has been asked to take a deposition?
I think the Chowchilla State Prison for Women, where I spent a week with our videographer taking depositions. We had to go through security every day and walk past the prisoner yard where my male videographer had many comments addressed to him. Some of the deponents were shackled and the guards were wearing bulletproof vests – but outside of our room, watching through a bulletproof glass. I admit I was a little nervous at times, sitting two feet from the prisoner, some of whom were there for violent crimes.
What is the funniest thing you or someone at your agency has heard during a deposition or in the courtroom?
Real-time mistakes are always great for a chuckle. Once while I was doing real-time, the attorney said “Let’s take a short break.” My little finger did not stroke the “s” in “short” and the computer translated it as “Let’s take a hooter break.” Of course, the attorney had to comment on it and got a lot of laughs from the rest of the group. It was both embarrassing and funny.
What do you like most about LiveDeposition.com?
The simplicity of the technology in its use and setting up, and also the friendliness and helpfulness of your support staff whenever there’s questions from either the lawyers or the court reporter at a deposition.
Anything else you would like to share?
I’m grateful that LiveDeposition is providing this technology to court reporters as a tool for our profession in serving our clients and that you refer inquiries from lawyers to local court reporters instead of selling directly to the attorney.