Case CATalyst Scoping for Court Reporters
Your Reputation Is What Matters
I proofread for technical precision, examining every transcript for readability, accurate spelling, typos, capitalization, missing or transposed words, consistent formatting, and correct punctuation. I also do light research to check names and addresses and check exhibit lists for accuracy.
I am a graduate of Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ with experience in proofreading transcripts of all types, including depositions, EUOs, hearings, and interpreted proceedings. These include testimony in many subjects, such as construction, workers' compensation, insurance claims, and medical and technical expert witnesses.
Your preference always takes precedence, but I have been trained according to NCRA guidelines and have a working knowledge of several style guides, including:
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Lillian Morson's English Guide for Court Reporters
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Margie Wakeman Wells's Court Reporting: Bad Grammar/Good Punctuation
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The Gregg Reference Manual, 10th Ed.
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SCOPING
RATES AND POLICIES
New clients
I only accept shorter files under 50 pages with standard turnaround from new clients in order to best see if we are a good match.
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Availability
Meeting your deadlines is very important to me. Please contact me prior to sending your transcript to ensure that I have room in my schedule to accommodate your request. For your convenience, I accept work on Saturdays and Sundays at no additional charge.
Turnaround
Turnaround rates are based on Mountain Standard Time and will be calculated based on when the job is received. Jobs received after 8 p.m. MST will be logged in as received at 8 a.m. the next business day as the basis for turnaround rates.
Preferences
I will send a preference sheet to new clients to fill out. It is highly recommended that these be filled out before completion of the first job as there is a learning curve in a new client/proofreader relationship. These preference sheets improve communication and help me learn your preferences more quickly, resulting in less frustration and fewer miscommunications on both our parts. The “agreement to terms of service” portion must be signed prior to completion of any work.
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Extra Charges
Drops/Raw Steno: While I do bill per page, I also take time into consideration . Please note that I reserve the right to bill a higher page rate (up to $0.50 per page) for files that contain a large amount of raw steno and/or lots of missing text that must be filled in and/or corrected, causing me to take a higher than average time on your job. As soon as I have determined that a file appears to be quite “messy,” I will notify you of the higher rate and whether or not I have the availability for the extra time the job will take.
File Growth: If the correction of excessive drops, mistranslates, and/or untranslates causes the final page count to exceed the original page count by 10 percent or more, those excess pages will be charged at double the page rate for that particular job to fall in line with the scope of transcription-like work. This additional charge will only be added to the excess pages beyond the original page count. The extra charge will not apply if formatting or paragraphing corrections are the only cause of the change in page quantity. If it’s obvious that the file is going to grow quite a bit, I will notify you as soon as I make that determination.
Dense/Technical/Expert: Transcripts that are exceptionally dense (such as hearings or arbitrations with margin-to-margin wording and very little white space per page) or with extensive technical language (medical, legal, or expert witness) are subject to a fee of up to $0.50 per page at my discretion due to the extra time involved. I will notify you of this as soon as I make this determination. The technical charge can be waived if
you have verified that all technical terms are spelled and used correctly.
​Payments
Invoices are sent out on the 1st and 16th of every month. Payment is expected within 14 calendar days. I accept payments via Wave Payments, Venmo, or check.
New or one-time clients are billed upon completion of the first job, and payment is expected within 7 days. The initial invoice must be paid before I can begin work on your next job.
Payments not received within the time frame are subject to a late fee of 10% per month.
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Download a PDF of my scoping rates and policies here
How It Works
Contact Me
Send Your Transcript
Take a Break, Take a Breath, or Get More Work Done
Receive Your Proofread Transcript by Your Deadline
Please contact me to make sure I can accommodate your deadline, especially if it is a large job (150 pages or more) or you need Rush or Expedited service.
I read transcripts in PDF format. There is a free, easy-to-use converter available here if you need one. Feel free to ask for any assistance; I am happy to help!
I will proofread your transcript according to YOUR preferences and with the following resources:
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Lillian Morson's English Guide for Court Reporters
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Margie Wakeman Wells's Bad Grammar/Good Punctuation
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The Gregg Manual of Style, 10th Ed.
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Merriam-Webster Dictionary
I will return only annotated pages in PDF via email, unless you would prefer the entire transcript. This way you will be able to see all of the corrections easily and in context. You’ll see red markings and yellow highlights. Blue may be used if I leave a note. Please open these files in the latest version of Adobe Reader to be sure that you see all of the annotations.