Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc.

Interesting factoids about litigation in FY2011

2012-02-17T10:53:00.000-08:00

Taken from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly published February 13, 2012
Multiple Counts

456 - Number of jury verdicts in Superior Court civil cases in FY2011, lowest since 2007
578 - Number of criminal cases to go to trial in Superior Court in FY 2011, the lowest total since 2007
155,968 - Number of cases filed in Probate & Family Court in FY 2011, the lowest total since 2006
377,654 - Number of civil cases filed in all courts in FY2011, he lowest total since 2005
1,132,002 - Number of all cases filed in FY2011, the lowest total of the millennium

WHAT SHOULD A LAWYER LOOK FOR IN A COURT REPORTER?

2012-02-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

A reporter who is a member of their state and national associations and abides by the National Court Reporters Association’s Code of Professional Responsibility regarding ethics
A reporter who invests in their equipment and the latest technology and attends seminars to keep abreast of trends and developments in the industry
A reporter who continues to obtain certifications such as the CSR (Certified Shorthand Reporter), RPR (Registered Professional Reporter), RMR (Registered Merit Reporter), RDR (Registered Diplomate Reporter), and CRR (Certified Realtime Reporter). These are hallmarks in the reporting profession and demonstrate their desire to continue to improve their reporting skills
A reporter who is always on time. A good reporter is always early for his assignment. Clients should never wait for the late arrival of a reporter
A reporter who is professionally attired. The reporter is a professional and should dress accordingly
A reporter who is organized, asks the right questions with regard to obtaining information concerning the case, obtains information regarding the attorneys present, who they represent, and what their transcript and litigation support requirements are
A reporter who has the skill sets that allow them to do their job quietly and unobtrusively
A reporter who is willing to do whatever is necessary to meet a client’s needs; e.g., providing rough drafts and/or expedited delivery or staying late so counsel may finish a deposition
A reporter who can treat each case with the utmost confidentiality
A reporter who puts the time in, does the research necessary, and produces an excellent and timely transcript each and every time

REBIRTH OF DOWNTOWN CROSSING AT THE OLD FILENE’S SITE

2012-02-10T11:44:00.000-08:00

Doris O. Wong is currently serving a three-year term as a director of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District, also known as BID. BID is a nonprofit organization funded by property and business owners committed to revitalizing the area designated as Downtown Crossing, which includes the Theater, Ladder, and Financial Districts. Many cities across the country have utilized BIDs for this purpose with much success, such as Times Square in New York. Through outreach to businesses and the general public and collaboration with the Boston Police and other city departments, the BID hopes to create a safe and attractive environment for all who live, work, and shop in these areas, leading to less vacancies and more revenue for businesses.

The BID employs ambassadors who wear bright orange shirts and green jackets and have a visible presence on the streets. They are charged with maintaining public spaces, assisting visitors and pedestrians, and helping to create a friendly and welcoming environment.

With Millenium poised to take over construction of a new tower at the old Filene’s space in Downtown Crossing, this area will thrive and prosper once again.

Are you really saving money using national conglomerates?

2012-01-17T08:02:00.000-08:00

As an independently owned court reporting agency, we answer only to you, our valued clients. Unlike the Walmarts and Home Depots of today, we provide personalized service. We charge an honest page rate and furnish just those litigation support services you request. Every invoice is itemized. There are no hidden fees or bundled packages whereby you are billed for multiple litigation support services whether you need them or not.

All reporters at Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., work exclusively for our firm. This enables us to maintain quality and standardization with each and every transcript that leaves this office. Hire us, your local professionals, who have a national reputation for excellence and yet maintain the personalized service you miss with the big-box conglomerates.

Happy 2012!

2012-01-11T12:28:00.000-08:00

As 2011 has come and gone, we want to take this opportunity to thank you, our clients, for entrusting us with all of your court reporting needs. It has truly been a pleasure being of service to you, and we hope to continue our relationship for many years to come.

We are looking forward to 2012 with great excitement, as we continue to investigate and invest in the latest cutting-edge products and services that can help you in your practice. Our commitment to produce the most timely, high quality transcripts remains as strong as ever. That, combined with our pledge for superior customer service, will continue to be the benchmark that distinguishes us from other court reporting firms.

2012 will also be noteworthy as we will be celebrating our 45th anniversary in April!

So Happy New Year to you all. We wish you the best of everything in 2012.

Christmas In The City

2011-12-05T11:50:00.000-08:00

If you are thinking of donating to a worthy cause this year, please join us in supporting Christmas In The City. This is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that helps homeless families in our neighborhoods deal with the daily struggles they face that are even more pronounced during the holiday season. This charity was started by the owners of Kennedy Brothers Physical Therapy which is located right across the street from us at 45 Franklin Street in Downtown Crossing. Not only do they host a spectacular Christmas party for 3,000 families and provide gifts and toys to an additional 2,000 families, but their mission has been expanded to include events and services throughout the year.

Please visit http://christmasinthecity.org/ for more information.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Offices of Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc.

2011-11-14T06:43:00.000-08:00

Fun facts that we thought would be fun to share:

A full-grown turkey has over 3,000 feathers
"Firkee” is the Native American name for this tasty bird. “Firkee” sounds a bit like “turkey”
When a male turkey (aka Tom) gobbles, it can be heard from as far away as a mile. In fact, only the Tom turkeys gobble. Female turkeys make a clucking or clicking sound
Benjamin Franklin proposed that the turkey should become the official bird of the United States. Turkeys now look jealously at the protected rights given to the Bald Eagle
87% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, according to the National Turkey Federation. During a year the average American eats 17 pounds of turkey!
In 2010 more than 244 million turkeys were raised, and about 46 million were eaten on Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

A TRIBUTE TO ONE OF OUR OWN

2011-10-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

TheNew Hampshire Court Reporters Association held its fall seminar the weekend ofOctober 14-16, 2011. Its theme was “Heroes Among and Within Us – a 9/11Tribute.”

Whenfellow court reporter Julie Brandau was killed in an Atlanta courtroom in 2005,Jan Garnett Lopez, RPR, decided to honor her memory by forming the JulieBrandau Community Service Memorial Project in partnership with the Search DogFoundation. The Search Dog Foundation rescues dogs from shelters andtrains them to assist in search-and-rescue missions whenever a disaster occursat home or around the globe. Those in attendance were fortunate enough to watcha live demonstration of these dogs in action by Lt. Chet Clark and his dog,Elvis, from Oklahoma and Lt. Patti Krafft and her dog, Hula, from Dallas.

Itcosts $10,000 to train a dog to become one of the elite few, from rescue toevaluation to rigorous training and eventually FEMA certification. NCRAmembers, through their generous donations, have given over $63,000, enough tosponsor six dogs, in Julie’s memory. One of the dogs sponsored by NCRA,Pearl, was named ASPCA’s 2010 Dog of the Year.

Anew facility is being planned that will house these rescued dogs and give themthe medical care and rigorous training they need to prepare them for anycircumstance they may encounter in the field.

Ifyou would like to help, or if you would like more information, please visit www.searchdogfoundation.org.

Otherseminar speakers included Danny Deters and his involvement with the New YorkSays Thank You Foundation; JoAnne Schottler, Care Package Coordinator for PeaseGreeters; Meg Heckman, author of We Went to War; CamillePalladino-Duffy, LCR, RPR, who spoke about the history of the American flag;and Bianca Monroe from the American Red Cross who spoke about emergencypreparedness.

In Business for Almost 45 Years - How things have changed

2011-10-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

"I am amazed at how the field of stenographic court reporting has changed in the 44 years of my firm's existence. Before the late 1970s, court reporters either typed or dictated from our steno notes. Now, in the 21st century, we are offering same day transcripts along with a myriad of litigation support products such as condensed transcripts in various formats (ASCII or PDF), electronic files, and scanned exhibits, all of which can be and are sent over the Internet.'

"In addition, we offer videotaped depositions and have equipped our three conference rooms with state-of-the-art video conferencing equipment.'

"Technology has greatly impacted the way our clients do business. I am proud to say that my office has kept up with each and every iteration, and we are able to provide whatever services our clients need.'

"We are proudly looking forward to celebrating our 45th year as Boston's foremost court reporting agency. "

- Doris O. Wong, RMR, President `

GOOD TIMES AT A GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION SEMINAR

2011-10-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Courtreporters are a unique bunch. Who else would spend six hours on a Saturdaylearning about using a comma versus a semicolon, a dash or an ellipsis, orwhether there are one or two spaces after a period? And who else butcourt reporters would actually voice strong opinions either way in heateddebate?

About100 court reporters did just that when the Massachusetts Court ReportersAssociation held its Fall Punctuation Workshop on October 1, 2011, at theWestford Regency Inn & Conference Center. Margie Wakeman Wells,punctuation expert and author of Court Reporting: BadGrammar/Good Punctuation, taught all in attendance the basic punctuationrules and how to apply them to the various complicated sentence structures thatcourt reporters come across when transcribing.

Ms.Wells said, “We are in the business of unbelievable precision,” meaning alldecisions we make when transcribing must follow specific predetermined rules ofpunctuation. A transcript must not only be readable, but it mustaccurately reflect the intent of the speakers. Here is just one exampleof the importance of comma placement: “I’d like to thank my parents, AnneSmith and God.”

Ms.Wells gave examples of the many times she has had to call news stations,newspapers, or teachers to bring errors to their attention. She urged allof us to be vigilant in our duties not only as keepers of the record but alsoin our daily lives as consumers. We need to safeguard the proper use ofthe English language. If not us, then who?

Allthose in attendance were lucky enough to receive a copy of her book for futurereference.

Keeping up with Technology

2011-10-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

Linda Fifield will be heading to Savannah, GA, for The Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting's annual meeting on October 12, 2011. Newly nominated for a three-year term on its Board of Directors, Linda has been a proud member of STAR since its inception in 1993. STAR encourages all court reporter professionals to learn and incorporate the best that technology has to offer for themselves and for the legal community.

INSIST ON TODAY’S TECH-SAVVY COURT REPORTER THAT USES REALTIME

2011-09-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

Court reporters have been ahead of the rest of the legal system in applying digital technology in the workplace. Reporter-based technologies such as realtime enhance the functioning of the judicial system in both headline trials and everyday depositions. Embracing technology that supports and enhances the efficient operations of the courts is one thing; naïve dependence on technology and the elimination of human judgment and wisdom is quite another. Put simply, employing the services of a realtime court reporter in a well-managed courtroom ensures a complete, accurate, secure and instant record of what was said for immediate use by attorneys and judges. Digital audio or video cannot make that guarantee. The importance of the judicial record and the public need for its accuracy demand the presence of an unbiased, impartial, professional keeper of the record – rather than an uncomprehending machine and transcribers who have no firsthand knowledge of the proceedings under review.

-National Court Reporters Association -

Livescribe - Love this new technology!

2011-08-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

Livescribe - A digital and audio pen that allows you to save your handwritten notes, exhibit drawings/sketches and audio files digitally for review at the close of a deposition. Innovative and easy to use. PDF files can be sent to you iPad, computer and is even compatible with a MAC.

Saw the Livescribe pen in action and loved it. Perfect at depositions where witnesses have to sketch or make notes which are then marked for identification. Also useful for counsel who take copious notes. Save the notes and transfer/e-mail in PDF format with the digital audio for further review.

Notes not clear? Click on the audio link and hear what was said while the notes were being taken. Ingenious technology.

“TEAMWORK DIVIDES THE TASK AND MULTIPLIES THE SUCCESS” – Unknown

2011-08-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

When you partner with Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., you can rest assured that we will handle the preparation of your transcript with the utmost care, leaving you to concentrate on building your case.

Let our uniquely talented reporters, with a combined total of over 300 years’ experience, do what they do best: deliver your verbatim transcripts when you need them. In addition, we also provide a wide assortment of the most progressive litigation support products available to assist you in your analysis and strategy. And even if you are away from your office, you can keep up on your caseload and maximize your efficiency by importing your transcripts onto your mobile device.

When your timetable is critical, take advantage of our expedited service and interactive realtime, which allows you to view live testimony instantaneously on your laptop, and receive a clean rough at the end of the day.

And should you lose or misplace a transcript and need it right away, don’t worry. We archive all transcripts, along with their respective exhibits, for your peace of mind.

Put Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., on your litigation team. We will help you succeed!

Transferring Files onto your iPad

2011-07-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

We are receiving many phone calls each week from counsel excited about receiving PDF files because they have an iPad. The next inquiry is, “How do I get the files onto my iPad?”

Fortunately for the end user, there are many ways to access the file(s).

E-mail – If you have e-mail on your iPad, e-mail the PDF file as an attachment. Click on the attachment and the PDF file will load.
Dropbox – As long as the APP is loaded onto the device and you have access to the Internet, the PDF file will be accessible whenever/wherever counsel may be. This is the BEST way to download a file.
Direct connect the iPad to your computer with the USB cable provided by Apple and transfer the file through iTunes software.

Recommended APPS to make this all possible:

Dropbox (free) – get all of your files from anywhere, any place and on any computer or device you have access to. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8
PDF Reader ($0.99) – a simple PDF reader that lets you read an ADOBE PDF file. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pdf-reader-pro/id300298606?mt=8
iAnnotate ($9.99) – Allows you to read and ANNOTATE a PDF file. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iannotate-pdf/id363998953?mt=8

We find that the Page Image PDF is the file that works best as the text is big, clean and looks just like a transcript page.

NATIONAL COURT REPORTERS CONVENTION IN LAS VEGAS

2011-07-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

Every year court reporters from around the country get together at their annual convention to network, attend workshops and seminars, meet vendors, and to elect their officers and directors for the upcoming year. This year’s convention will be at the Bally’s Hotel from July 28^th to July 31^st.

The emphasis continues to be on the latest technology available to reporters in helping them make the record. There is always much to learn and evaluate as far as the types of steno machines, software, and hardware that are on the market today. The convention setting allows for a comprehensive review and analysis of everything a reporter needs to be at the top of his or her game.

But technology alone does not a good reporter make. Solid theory and exacting writing skills continue to be the foundation to continued success. This is why court reporters continue to sharpen their skills and test for ever higher designations that will earn them the respect and recognition of their colleagues and prepare them for whatever testimony comes their way.

Two special events at every annual convention are the speed contests. The national speed contest consists of three, five-minute legs of literary at 220 words per minute, legal opinion at 230 words per minute, and testimony at 280 words per minute. To qualify, one must have a minimum accuracy rate of 95%. The reporter with the best combined score wins.

The other contest is the realtime competition, which consists of two, five-minute legs of straight matter at 220 words per minute and two-voice dictation at 225 words per minute. To quality, one must have a minimum accurate rate of 95% WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF EDITING. The reporter with the best combined score wins.

Needless to say, only the most elite reporters are allowed to compete for these titles. The winners of these two contests have their legacy sealed in NCRA’s history.

Lastly, the annual convention is also a time to reflect on the great strides reporters have made in the past and contemplate the challenges that face the profession in the years to come.

Our Centralized Operation

2011-06-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the court reporters from Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., work exclusively for this agency? This is not generally the case. Many reporters work for several different agencies as independent contractors.

We have all heard stories of lawyers who cannot locate a reporter to obtain a transcript. When you use Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., you can rest assured that your transcript will be prepared and delivered in a timely manner by a certified reporter who is affiliated only with this office. And since all transcripts are archived, we can always find the transcript you need even after several years have gone by.

So instead of wasting your time hunting down your transcripts and putting your case in jeopardy due to lost testimony, call Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., and put our highly skilled, courteous, and professional court reporters to work for you at your next deposition or hearing.

We guarantee your satisfaction.

Using an iPad for work and play

2011-06-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

There's a new book called "iPad in One Hour" by Tom Mighell which helps attorneys learn the ins and outs of the iPad in one hour. Recently written up in the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, the book provides counsel guidelines to set up the iPad with work in mind.

http://masslawyersweekly.com/2011/06/08/new-book-helps-lawyers-learn-ipad-in-an-hour/

Sounds like something we could all read and learn from.

TECH TESTED LAWYER APPROVED: Court Reporting with Voice Recognition

2011-06-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

Insightful article on what to be concerned about if considering voice recognition technology.

TECH TESTED LAWYER APPROVED: Court Reporting with Voice Recognition: "Visionary is the industry leader in adapting voice recognition to the deposition environment. A demonstration in May 2011 highlighted the ..."

Keeping up with technology

2011-04-18T11:42:00.001-07:00

Just returned from a Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting (STAR) conference in Reno, Nevada. The technological advancements in court reporting software over these many years is staggering.

Interactive realtime and CaseViewNet should be the realtime software of choice. Not only is the CVNet integration with TextMap amazingly easy to use, TextMap is part of the LexisNexis CaseMap suite. Having sat in the seminar, I can’t imagine a more powerful litigation tool for counsel.

Another pleasant surprise was learning the Min-U-Script is now working closely with LexisNexis and is now being incorporated into the CaseMap suite. All .pdf files from Min-U-Script, with or with exhibit linking, can now be imported into CaseMap seamlessly.

These are exciting times!

Cloud Computing is Here to Stay

2011-03-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Catastrophic incidents seem to be a daily occurrence on the news. Just turn on your computer or open a newspaper and you can read about the devastation from earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, mudslides, and deadly fires. What happens to your electronic files when such a disaster occurs?

Just last year Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., started using Cloud Computing for file storage and sharing. Its implementation was simple and provided the firm with peace of mind. By having the files backed up in-house and stored “in the Cloud,” we’re assured that your transcripts are secure and easily accessible.

In addition, by using Cloud Computing, we can send encrypted digital transcript and exhibit files to you and your associates with just a click of the mouse. Regardless of where you might be – your office, home or around the world – you’ll have access to your files 24/7.

Digital files are predominantly in .PDF format. So, whether you’re working on a computer, iPad, iPhone, Droid, or any other electronic device, chances are there’s an APP for you for file retrieval and viewing.

REALTIME: The Gold Standard of Stenographic Court Reporting

2011-01-12T06:55:00.000-08:00

Did you know that only 16% of the 2,400 members of the National Court Reporters Association hold the coveted Certified Realtime Reporter designation?

To earn this designation, a reporter must transcribe for five minutes from professionally recorded literary material read at 180 words per minute, achieving 96% accuracy without benefit of editing. The reporters from this office who have reached this level of excellence each have almost 30 years of experience and hone their writing skills on a daily basis.

Call Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., when your next deposition requires a realtime feed direct to your laptop. Our certified professionals will provide instantaneous access to testimony as well as a clean draft at the end of the day. Join the scores of clients for whom this service has become an indispensable tool in their practice.

We guarantee your satisfaction.

Interactive Realtime is Here

2010-12-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

With an increasing demand for interactive realtime software solutions, court reporters at Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., are upgrading their computer hardware and software to meet the challenge.

We’ve recently entered the wireless realm of realtime. Regardless of what software counsel is using, reporters can now connect wirelessly eliminating the need for long cables and serial ports. If counsel is using LexisNexis’s TextMap software, we can connect wirelessly using CaseViewNet. The benefit here is that as the reporter writes and makes corrections, counsel gets the benefit of those changes. Also, if counsel is late for the deposition, as soon as he signs in, he gets the full transcript on his notebook. No other interactive realtime software can make this claim.

Even more exciting, we’ve entered the world of MAC and are now able to connect serially to counsel’s notebook. The wireless module is expected to be released early next year.

Staying abreast of the new technology is exciting and has its challenges. We’ve made it our job to embrace the new technology to make your job as counsel more efficient, productive and leading-edge.

PDF Files for Lawyers on the Go

2010-09-29T05:58:00.000-07:00

Our #1 goal at Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., is to provide litigation support services that help counsel do their job best. Instead of reading paper transcripts or being tied to your computer to read transcript files, new technology allows you to read PDF files on the go. With Apps for the iPad, iTouch, iPhone, Kindle, BlackBerry, and the Droid, we can now provide you with PDF files that are easily imported into your electronic device of choice.

100 Percent WISP Compliant

2010-09-08T06:15:00.000-07:00

At Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., we handle every transcript with the utmost care.

To ensure the security of the information entrusted to us, and in keeping with the 201 CMR 17 WISP regulation, every transcript that is electronically delivered from this office is digitally signed, encrypted and password protected.

Now you can be sure that the transcripts you receive from us have been created by a known sender and that the transcripts and digital files have not been altered in any way.

You can always rely on Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., to deliver accurate and timely transcripts in a secure, state-of-the-art format.