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      Steno Videographer Read-On/Off Scripts

      Utilize these scripts for your official videographer read-on and read-off in your Steno jobs.

       

      PLEASE NOTE:

      • When reading the time zone, do not specify the difference between daylight and standard time.
        • For example, if the proceeding is in PDT/PST, please say "Pacific Time" for all on- and off-the-record announcements, including the read-on and read-off. 
      • The time must always be stated as HH:MM A/PM in the timezone local to the proceeding.
      • An official read-on/off is not required for Independent Medical Examination (IME) jobs.

      Table of Contents:

      Standard Read-On Script

      We are on the record at [HH:MM a/pm time zone] on [Day, Month, Date, Year] to begin the deposition of [Deponent's Full Legal Name] in the matter of [Case Caption/Name]. The venue of this case is [Case Venue]. The case number is [Case Number].

      This deposition is taking place [via] / [at] [Remote Videoconferencing Platform / Physical Location].  All parties are being recorded.1

      The legal videographer is [Videographer's Full Legal Name]. I am here on behalf of Steno Agency, Inc. at 315 W. 9th Street #807, Los Angeles, CA 90025. I am an employee of [Videographer's Company Name], located at [Videographer's Business Address].2

      Would counsel please identify yourselves and state whom you represent?

      (Pause for appearances.)

      Thank you, counsel.

      Will the court reporter please identify themselves 3 and swear in the witness? 4

      1. Applicable to remote proceedings only.
      2. You must state the name of the company you work for and its business address on the record. This information should align with what is on your W9.
        1. If you are a 1099 with Steno, please do not say you work for Steno. This means the name of the company that employs you or your own company.
      3. For non-federal proceedings with a court venue in California, the court reporter must state their name and license number on the record (CA Business and Professions Code Section 8016(b)(1), Effective January 1, 2025). If the case is filed with a CA court, please ask the court reporter to provide their registration number.
        "Will the court reporter please identify themselves, state their registration number, and swear in the witness?"
      4. If an interpreter is present, please also ask the reporter to swear in the interpreter.
        "Would the reporter please swear in the witness and interpreter?"

      Standard Read-Off Script

      This concludes volume [VOLUME NUMBER] of the deposition of [Deponent's Full Legal Name] for [Case Caption/Name].

      We are now off the record. The time is [HH:MM a/pm time zone].

      Expert/Physician Witness Read-on Script (CA Only)

      In California, proceedings with an expert witness, treating physician, or consulting physician require a videographer with an active Notary Public Commission to administer the videographer's read-on and facilitate the video recording.

      We are on the record at [HH:MM a/pm time zone] on [Day, Month, Date, Year] to begin the deposition of [Deponent's Full Legal Name] in the matter of [Case Caption/Name]. The venue of this case is [Case Venue]. The case number is [Case Number].

      This deposition is taking place [via] / [at] [Remote Videoconferencing Platform / Physical Location].  All parties are being recorded.1

      The legal videographer is [Videographer's Full Legal Name]. I am here on behalf of Steno Agency, Inc. at 315 W. 9th Street #807, Los Angeles, CA 90025. I am an employee of [Videographer's Company Name], located at [Videographer's Business Address].2

      I am a Notary Public contracted by Steno. My notary commission is [Notary Commission #] with an expiration date of [MM/DD/YY]. I am not financially interested in this action, nor am I a relative or employee of any of the attorneys or parties. 

      I will now ask counsel to identify themselves.

      (Pause for appearances.)

      Thank you, counsel.

      Will the court reporter please identify themselves, state their registration number, and swear in the witness? 3

      1. Applicable to remote proceedings only.
      2. You must state the name of the company you work for and its business address on the record. This information should align with what is on your W9.
        1. If you are a 1099 with Steno, please do not say you work for Steno. This means the name of the company that employs you or your own company.
      3. If an interpreter is present, please also ask the reporter to swear in the interpreter.
        "Would the reporter please swear in the witness and interpreter?"

      The read-off for CA proceedings with an expert witness or treating physician is the same as the Standard Read-off.

      Complex Case Read-on Script

      Complex Case proceedings require the legal videographer to perform a roll call for all participants.

      We are on the record at [HH:MM a/pm time zone] on [Day, Month, Date, Year] to begin the deposition of [Deponent's Full Legal Name] in the matter of [Case Caption/Name]. The venue of this case is  [Case Venue]. The case number is [Case Number].

      This deposition is taking place [via] / [at] [Remote Videoconferencing Platform / Physical Location]. 

      All parties are being recorded.1

      The legal videographer is [Videographer's Full Legal Name]. I am here on behalf of Steno Agency, Inc. at 315 W. 9th Street #807, Los Angeles, CA 90025. I am an employee of [Videographer's Company Name], located at [Videographer's Business Address].2

      I will now ask counsel to identify themselves.

      Begin the roll call with the Taking or Ordering Attorney, followed by the Defense Attorney. 

      If fully remote, proceed alphabetically down the participant list in the videoconferencing platform.

      If the proceeding is in person,  proceed with those at the physical location. If participants also appear remotely, continue the roll call with the remote attendees once the in-person roll call has been completed.

      Thank you, counsel.

      Will the court reporter please identify themselves 3 and swear in the witness? 4

      1. Applicable to remote proceedings only.
      2. You must state the name of the company you work for and its business address on the record. This information should align with what is on your W9.
        1. If you are a 1099 with Steno, please do not say you work for Steno. This means the name of the company that employs you or your own company.
      3. For non-federal proceedings with a court venue in California, the court reporter must state their name and license number on the record (CA Business and Professions Code Section 8016(b)(1), Effective January 1, 2025). If the case is filed with a CA court, please ask the court reporter to provide their registration number.
        "Will the court reporter please identify themselves, state their registration number, and swear in the witness?"
      4. If an interpreter is present, please also ask the reporter to swear in the interpreter.
        "Would the reporter please swear in the witness and interpreter?"

      The read-off for Complex Case proceedings is the same as the Standard Read-off.

      Hybrid Read-on Script (In-Person + Remote)

      The following disclaimer must be read for all participants (remote and in-person) before going on the record:

      Before we go on the record, please note that this proceeding will be recorded by me, your videographer, and all remote participants MAY BE recorded by Zoom for backup purposes only. Please remember that the Zoom recording is unmanned and will record continuously, meaning that it will start when the proceeding begins and end when it ends. If at any point you require privacy, please either mute your microphone or leave the room.

      Hybrid Read-on Script

      We are on the record at [HH:MM a/pm time zone] on [Day, Month, Date, Year] to begin the deposition of [Deponent's Full Legal Name] in the matter of [Case Caption/Name].  The venue of this case is  [Case Venue]. The case number is [Case Number].

      This deposition is taking place [at] [Physical Location] and [via] [Remote Videoconferencing Platform].

      The legal videographer is [Videographer's Full Legal Name]. I am here on behalf of Steno Agency, Inc. at 315 W. 9th Street #807, Los Angeles, CA 90025. I am an employee of [Videographer's Company Name], located at [Videographer's Business Address].1

      Would counsel please identify yourselves and state whom you represent?

      (Pause for appearances.)

      Thank you, counsel.

      Will the court reporter please identify themselves 2 and swear in the witness? 3

      1. You must state the name of the company you work for and its business address on the record. This information should align with what is on your W9.
        1. If you are a 1099 with Steno, please do not say you work for Steno. This means the name of the company that employs you or your own company.
      2. For non-federal proceedings with a court venue in California, the court reporter must state their name and license number on the record (CA Business and Professions Code Section 8016(b)(1), Effective January 1, 2025). If the case is filed with a CA court, please ask the court reporter to provide their registration number.
        "Will the court reporter please identify themselves, state their registration number, and swear in the witness?"
      3. If an interpreter is present, please also ask the reporter to swear in the interpreter.
        "Would the reporter please swear in the witness and interpreter?"

      The read-off for hybrid proceedings is the same as the Standard Read-off.

      Read-on with Oath Administration (TX)

      In the state of Texas, if no court reporter is present at the deposition, the legal videographer can administer the oath if they are allowed to do so per Texas law. Texas law specifies individuals authorized to administer oaths, including judges, clerks of court, justices of the peace, and notaries public.

      Follow the script below when conducting the official read-on and a court reporter is not present.

      We are on the record at [HH:MM a/pm time zone] on [Day, Month, Date, Year] to begin the deposition of [Deponent's Full Legal Name] in the matter of [Case Caption/Name]. The venue of this case is [Case Venue]. The case number is [Case Number].

      This deposition is taking place [via] / [at] [Remote Videoconferencing Platform / Physical Location]. All parties are being recorded.1

      The legal videographer is [Videographer's Full Legal Name]. I am here on behalf of Steno Agency, Inc. at 315 W. 9th Street #807, Los Angeles, CA 90025. I am an employee of [Videographer's Company Name], located at [Videographer's Business Address].2

      I am a Notary Public contracted by Steno. My notary commission is [Notary Commission #] with an expiration date of [MM/DD/YY].

      Would counsel please identify yourselves and state whom you represent?

      (Pause for appearances.)

      Thank you, counsel.

      Will the witness please raise their right hand? Do you solemnly state under penalty of perjury that the evidence you shall give in this matter shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

      If an interpreter is present:

      Will the interpreter please state their name and certification number for the record? 

      (Pause for statement.)

      Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly state that you will truly and impartially interpret to this witness the oath about to be administered to him/her and the testimony he/she shall give relative to the cause now under consideration?

      Thank you. Counsel may now proceed with questioning.

      1. Applicable to remote proceedings only.
      2. You must state the name of the company you work for and its business address on the record. This information should align with what is on your W9.
        1. If you are a 1099 with Steno, please do not say you work for Steno. This means the name of the company that employs you or your own company.

      The read-off for these proceedings is the same as the Standard Read-off.

      Read-off/Read-On Scripts for Breaks

      When the proceeding needs to go off the record for a break, you can use this simple read-off script:

      "We are now off the record, the time is [HH:MM a/pm time zone] "

      When the proceeding is ready to go back on the record after a break, you can use this simple read-on script:

      "We are now back on the record, the time is [HH:MM a/pm time zone] "

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