La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XXI-1303

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XXI-1303 - Employment Relationship with Court Reporting Firm

A. Application and Scope. This Rule protects the integrity, independence, and impartiality of court reporters in their relationships with court reporting firms, as defined in R.S. 37:2555(G) that are doing business in Louisiana.

B. Safe Harbor. A licensed Louisiana court reporter may accept employment from a court reporting firm and shall not be considered an "employee" for purposes of Code of Civil Procedure article 1434 upon furnishing to the board a certification, on a form approved by the board, from an authorized and knowledgeable officer of the court reporting firm that the firm has no prohibited employment or contractual relationship, direct or indirect, under Code of Civil Procedure article 1434 with a party litigant in the matter for which the reporter was retained to provide services. The reporter must file with the board a copy of the certification within 30 days after the date of the deposition. The Louisiana court reporter shall immediately notify the board, in writing, if a safe harbor request was made upon a court reporting firm and the firm refused or failed to provide the requested certification. The reporter shall include the name of the court reporting firm and the date the request was made.

C. Certification by Court Reporting Firm. Upon request by a licensed Louisiana court reporter, a court reporting firm doing business in Louisiana shall provide a certification on forms adopted by the board and executed by affidavit from an authorized and knowledgeable officer of the firm, attesting that the firm has no prohibited employment or contractual relationship, direct or indirect, under Code of Civil Procedure article 1434 with a party litigant in the matter for which the reporter was retained to provide services.

D. The court reporting firm and the court reporter shall immediately inform the board of any change in relationships or actual knowledge of any relationships, direct or indirect, that are at variance with representations made in the certification by the court reporting firm.

E. Certification Affidavit of Court Reporting Firm

CERTIFICATION AFFIDAVIT OF COURT REPORTING FIRM

STATE OF _____________________

PARISH OR COUNTY OF ____________________

BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, duly qualified to take acknowledgments and administer oaths within the state and locality inscribed above, personally appeared

__________________________________________________

("Affiant"), who is representing

_______________________________________________,

a ____________ [state] corporation [or limited liability company or other form of business organization] that is doing business in Louisiana as a court reporting firm as defined by Acts 2014, No. 839 (hereinafter, "Court Reporting Firm"). The physical address of the entity's principal place of business is ______________________ [street and suite number, if any] in ____________________ [city], State of ________________, Zip _______, Telephone: ( ) ________________, Email _________________________.

After being duly sworn, Affiant did attest as follows:

1. Affiant is a knowledgeable representative who is authorized to act on behalf of the Court Reporting Firm in executing this Certification Affidavit.

2. The Court Reporting Firm has engaged a Louisiana licensed court reporter to perform court reporting services in connection with the deposition(s) of______________________________ [identify by name each deponent covered by this certification; attach additional sheets if necessary] to be taken in the following proceeding: _______________________ vs. _____________________, pending in the _______________________ Court under matter number __________________.

3. Affiant certifies, after performing due diligence, that the Court Reporting Firm has no prohibited employment or contractual relationship, direct or indirect, under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 1434 with a party litigant in the matter for which the court reporter's services have been engaged. Affiant further acknowledges affiant's duty to provide information and will provide information promptly to the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters (hereinafter, "CSR Board") regarding any change in these relationships or in Affiant's knowledge of these relationships.

4. Affiant further states that Affiant is familiar with the nature of an oath and with penalties as provided by applicable state laws for falsely swearing to statements made in an instrument of this nature. Affiant further certifies that Affiant has read and understands the full facts and content of this Affidavit.

SIGNATURE OF AFFIANT: __________________________

Sworn before me this ______ day of ______, 20___

_________________________________

Notary Public ______________________

Print name:

My commission expires:

Form 10/15 Effective July 1, 2016

Each completed Firm Certification Affidavit in the foregoing form must be filed with the CSR Board by the taking court reporter within 30 days of the date of the deposition.

I, a Louisiana Licensed Court Reporter, as the officer who took the depositions(s), hereby submit this certification affidavit via _____________________ [facsimile/e-mail] within 30 days of the date of the depositions to which this certification applies. I have read and confirmed that the language of the certification affidavit conforms with the form promulgated by the CSR Board. I have listed below or on additional pages, if necessary, the name and contact information for each taking attorney. _________________ ________________ Signature Date __________________ ________________ Printed Name LA CCR NO. Taking Attorney Name: __________________________________ Firm Name: ___________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Phone: ___________________ Email: ___________________

I, a Louisiana Licensed Court Reporter, hereby submit this certification affidavit via _____________________ [facsimile/email] within 30 days of the date of the depositions to which this certification applies and acknowledge my obligation to maintain the schedule for a minimum of three years. I further certify that I have received the required schedule of all charges and other disclosures from the Court Reporting Firm in connection with this certification.

_______________________________________

Signature Date

________________________________________

Printed Name LA CCR NO.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § XXI-1303

Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters, LR 41335 (2/1/2015), Amended LR 42868 (6/1/2016), Amended LR 501640 (11/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:2557(B), R.S. 37:2555(G), and R.S. 37:2556(D).