O'Brien & Bails

Michigan Court Reporters

By Dawn Houghton

O’Brien & Bails Court Reporters Talk Benefits of a Court Reporting Career Flexibility, Freedom, and Fun

Have you ever wondered what stenographers like best about their career decision?  What are the challenges the job brings?  What is fun about your job?  We sat down to hear what our court reporters all around the nation had to say about their chosen career path and we were blown away with the responses.

What do you like about your court reporting career?

  • I like the freedom of being self-employed and the flexible hours. Earning potential is based on my willingness to work and ability to finish transcripts in a timely manner, so I like to work hard!
  • Meeting fascinating people and going to interesting places and hearing intriguing stories.
  • The flexibility of working when I want and not know what the next day holds.
  • Meeting so many interesting people over the years, learning about so many different subject matters. Constantly challenging myself to become a better writer.
  • Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility.

What is one of the biggest challenges you face in your career?

  • Finding stretches and strengthening to counter the repetitive movements over so many years.
  • Keeping up with all the latest technology.
  • At the present time, a challenge I face in my career is being able to hear every single spoken word during remote depositions and distracting background noise from non-muted participants.
  • Anxiety – it never diminishes!

What was the funniest thing you experienced during a deposition (maintaining confidentiality)?

  • One of the defendants represented himself and was questioning a former employee. He was asking “Perry Mason” type questions until the witness finally yelled, “Yes, it’s true!! It’s all true!” One of the other defense attorneys fell off of his chair because he was laughing so hard. I had tears running down my face from laughter.
  • When I lived in LA I took the depo of a famous musician. It was a class action suit, so before she testified, another woman testified first. The famous musician sat at the end of the really long conference table to wait her turn. The musician fell asleep and started snoring, and nobody wanted to say anything.
  • The witness running away from the lawyer before we even started, and she was running after him to try to get him to testify.
  • There’s been a few times when the answer (meant to be comical) cracks up everyone in the room and both sides get the giggles.

Interested in learning more about court reporting?  We would love to hear from you.  Learn more about our court reporting services HERE or contact us at 800.878.8750.

By Dawn Houghton

O’Brien & Bails Proves Once Again A Career in Court Reporting Can Take You Anywhere

A career in court reporting really is exciting.  Court reporting is not limited to a court or conference room.  Court reporters can be used for sporting events, television, and so much more. No two days are alike, and you learn to expect the unexpected.

This was certainly true when one of our Michigan court reporters, Terri Zimmerman, got a “once-in-a-lifetime” gig that landed her at the Post Food’s plant located in Battle Creek, MI taking down a commercial.

Terri was tasked on a three-day job taking the record for the Post commercial for Honey Bunches of Oats®. Now why would they need a court reporter if they already had a script?  Closed Captioning is important to ensure the hearing impaired will be able to follow the commercial, and with so many edits and takes, a court reporter was the answer.

In an instant, Terri found herself sitting in the Honey Bunches of Oats® cafeteria, and next thing she knew, she was in a lab with the Post scientists! Finally, she landed in the spot where we all can find our favorite cereals – the grocery store!

While the deadline was quick and transcripts were required each evening, Terri says she was perfectly okay with it.  She noted that the elaborate food spread provided to everyone involved helped to keep her energy going! Above all, Terri said her experience was a lot of fun and everyone was very friendly!

Want to see the commercial she worked on?  Click HERE to watch.

Interested in a career in court reporting?  We would love to hear from you.  Check us out at Obrienandbails.com or contact us at 800.878.8750.

By Dawn Houghton

Easy Ways to Celebrate your Teammates While Working Remotely

In the last month, many of us have found ourselves navigating a new world by working from home.  Amidst juggling technology challenges, workloads, teaching our little ones, and figuring out how to get our groceries delivered — maintaining connection with our co-workers can provide much needed balance and motivation.

In honor of Administrative Professionals Day, here are some tips and tricks to connecting with and celebrating team members during this ever-evolving time in a remote world.

CONNECT

  • Be social. Schedule a remote video call or teleconference with your department.  Go beyond “just work” to talk about how everyone is doing, share the best and most challenging parts about working from home — or even play a game.
  • Praise publicly. Whether it be a shout-out, meme, or email, it is specific recognition for hard work or accomplishments that count.
  • Ditch the email. Occasionally opting for a short phone conversation or Facetime helps us reconnect with co-workers more than texts or email.

CELEBRATE & REWARD

Remember birthdays, anniversaries, or “just because” moments and make them known! Being out-of-the office can make it easy to overlook, so remember to recognize the special days.

By Dawn Houghton

Top 10 Etiquette Tips for a Successful Remote Deposition

  1. Know the jurisdiction’s current rules and, if necessary stipulate on record to waive the requirement for in-person oath taking.
  2. Provide the agency/court reporter with the electronic exhibits ahead of time.
  3. Organize your files and documents ahead of time, so you are not flipping through papers (loudly) at deposition time.
  4. For video feeds — dress professionally, maintain a clutter-free background and control non-verbal reactions to testimony.
  5. Minimize background noise the audio might pick up, by turning off any televisions or radios.
  6. Ensure you are prepared prior to start time with the right dial in and access information.
  7. Join the deposition at least 10 minutes early to ensure there are no technical issues on your end.
  8. Utilize your handset instead of the speaker to ensure the best quality sound when questioning.
  9. Speak loudly and clearly into the phone, and always mute yourself when not questioning.
  10. Identify yourself each time you begin speaking, to ensure an accurate record.

By Dawn Houghton

O’Brien & Bails Hosts Court Reporter Workshop on Unprecedented Worker Relief Programs

Friday, April 10th, O’Brien & Bails hosted training via Multi-platform Video Conferencing to educate their core court reporters on the CARES Act, Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA), – and unemployment benefits that may be available to independent contractors.

Presenting, was Dwayne Houghton, CPA, Shareholder of Biggs, Hausserman, Thompson & Dickinson, P.C. – whose expertise guided the Court Reporters through never-before available self-employed worker relief programs resulting directly from the impacts of COVID-19 on the industry.

Court Reporters often operate as independent contractors, and this time of uncertainty for our nation provides many challenges to taking depositions amid work from home orders and court closures. O’Brien & Bails values the Court Reporters that make up our entire industry and strives to provide ongoing education and resources to all the Court Reporters in the O’Brien & Bails network.

The recent webinar goes into great depth of each program below, but this provides an overview of the programs currently in place – and the general areas where Dwayne Houghton in partnership with O’Brien & Bails helps Reporters navigate:

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES)

Unemployment Benefits

Pandemic unemployment benefits are being made available to the self-employed, who are not typically eligible. Now they may be eligible to apply based on normal earnings when work is not available to them and if making less than the state unemployment benefit amount. Reporters are encouraged to consult with their state for actual unemployment amounts.

  • Apply as early as your state put a shelter/stay at home order in place.
  • If qualified for state unemployment, they will be eligible for Federal government assistance of an additional $600 per week through July 31st.
  • 2019 Schedule C, Net Earnings to calculate self-employed weekly benefit.
  • While working remotely, you may be eligible to still apply for partial benefits.
  • Must take remote work that is offered in order not to be disqualified for benefits.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

Self-employed individuals may be eligible to receive a tax credit against regular income tax under the State’s Stay at Home Order or Child Care. Although you cannot qualify fully for both the tax credit and unemployment, it may be possible to claim the tax credit for the first ten business days and on Day 11 begin application for Unemployment benefits.

  • Comes in the form of a credit on your 2020 taxes.
  • Maximum credit for Emergency Leave is 10 days at a maximum of either $200 or $511 depending on reason for credit.
  • Need to provide documentation such as a scheduling calendar.
  • Credit is equal to the number of days they are unable to work.
  • Up to 50 days for Family Medical Leave Act at the lower of $200 or 67% of your average self-employment income.
  • Effective April 1st.

Paycheck Protection Program Loan

This act provides the Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) Paycheck Protection Program Loan. A low-interest, potentially forgivable loan designed to be used for payroll costs, rent, utilities, as well as interest on debt incurred before Feb 15. Acceptance of this loan means an individual is no longer eligible for unemployment.