December 16 2015

NYC’s Freelance Isn’t Free Act

I Love Steno Logo (Cropped)A new bill seeking to protect freelance workers was recently introduced to New York’s City Council.

According to Crain’s New York, the bill (Freelance isn’t Free Act) proposes that a person (or entity) who hires a freelancer to do work that is valued at more than $200 would be required to sign a written contract setting a payment deadline, along with other agreed upon terms. Failure to meet the payment deadline would result in double damages, payment of attorney’s fees, and possibly a steep fine.

If passed, the bill would be an amendment to the New York city charter, and the administrative code of the city of New York.

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September 15 2015

New York’s Deposition Rules

I Love Court Reporting Logo (Cropped)New York’s deposition rules can be found in Part 221 of the Uniform Rules for N.Y.S. Trial Courts.

Part 221: Uniform Rules For The Conduct Of Depositions, contains the following sections: 221.1 Objections at Depositions, 221.2 Refusal to Answer When Objection is Made, and 221.3 Communication With the Deponent. These rules have been in effect since 2006.

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June 29 2012

New York’s Note Retention Requirements


According to the New York State Court Reporters Association, a freelance reporter should retain their notes for a time period set forth by a court order or statute, or for no less than 5 years.

For officials, the New York State Court Reporters Association’s website, has the following time periods for note retention listed for the following New York courts:
Family Court- 5 years.
Surrogate’s Court- 5 years.
City, Town and Village Courts (civil)- 2 years.
City, Town and Village Courts (criminal)- 10 years.
New York City only (vehicle/traffic/parking cases)- 2 years.
Supreme/County (civil)- 5 years.
Supreme/County (criminal)- 50 years.
Matrimonial stipulations of settlement involving real estate- 50 years.
Also, officials must reportedly apply for destruction approval before disposing of notes.

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June 20 2012

Requirements For Practicing Court Reporting In New York State

According to the New York State Court Reporting Association, there are no official license requirements for court reporting within New York State. However, reporters may voluntarily obtain licensing via the CSR.

Court reporters must be notary publics in order to swear in witnesses. The same is true for freelancers; although they may be given a grace period by agencies to become a notary.

The New York State Court Reporting Association also states that in order to freelance in New York State, a reporter must have completed a court reporting program and obtained a certificate of completion at 225 words per minute.

In order to gain an officialship, reporters must pass a civil service examination.

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