Attorney Blog

Technology In The News - Again

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Jurors are being warned to keep their smart phones out of the process. Read this article and get more details about what is going on in Washington courtrooms (and what just may be going on in courtrooms near you.) Here, too, is what they are doing to handle the situation.

Another County Courtroom Going Electronic

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Another Florida county is going to strictly digital recording after Vicki Knutsen retires on January 3rd. Cost savings are being cited as the reason for not replacing the court reporting position. Read the article in the Niles Daily Star.

Error and Ingenuity in the Courtroom

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Technology is raising eyebrows in the courtroom once again. From coast to coast the latest and greatest of our devices can both enhance our lives and wreak havoc in quiet of our homes to the halls of justice. Here are two articles exemplifying the problems we are facing in this age of technology.

The first is set in a courtroom in Juneau, AK, where human error may cause a thief to go free:

Lost Record Could Be Key To Beer Heist Case

Judges rely on the installed sytems to operate as specified. Back-up plans are put into place to compensate for the occassional momentary lapse when malfunction occurs or a simple button is not pushed. However, when the back-up to our backup system fails, we are at the mercy of trying to reconstruct the lost moment. And many times, what has been lost can never be recreated.

The following article from Jacksonville, Florida illustrates the ingenuity people have when they really need it. Or maybe the quality is desperation. We have invented devices for our benefit and pleasure which are now causing alarm and consternation in the courtroom. Now, attorneys are put in the position of providing evidence to dispute conversations they believe have been created rather than recorded. Read on:

Technology Can Cause Problems In The Courtroom

Technology, when used well, can benefit us all. It can bolster our case and even further the process in the courtroom. However, interject human error, greed , or avarice and we are bound to be in for more attention-grabbing and controversial headlines.

More on the FBI and Carrier IQ

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

The issues with Carrier IQ seem to be getting thicker by the day.

Carrier IQ and the FBI

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Jamaican Police Officers Fail Lie Detector Test

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Personal Privacy? - Carrier IQ Named in Lawsuit

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Path Intelligence, a British marketing company its software to track customers and their shopping habits through their smart phones while at shopping malls. Today, another software company, Carrier IQ is making headlines. Apple, CIQ and 6 other mobile technology companies have been named in a class-action lawsuit for using CIQ’s technology. Carrier IQ is deeply embedded into the phone itself, difficult to detect, and hard to remove from mobile devices. Removal is not recommended without specific user privileges. And from CIQ’s home page is this stated purpose: “…we give wireless carriers and Handset Manufacturers unprecedented insight into their customer’s mobile experience.”

Though the company claims it does not intercept messages, the lawsuit claims the technology is a keylogger program and as such, does log keystrokes and could record and transmit personal text messages and information. Th company's ability to not only record but capture text messages robs the cell phone user of right of personal privacy.

The whole issue may have gone relatively unnoticed had not blogger Trevor Eckhart published findings (including videos) illustrating just what Carrier IQs programming was capable of capturing. CIQ sent Trevor threatening legal communication which immediately backfired. Their apology was not accepted.

This lawsuit has been filed on behalf of four individuals claiming violation of Federal Wiretap A, as well as two more federal statutes.

CIQ – can you hear me? Opt me out!

Uncertified Transcript

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

I am perplexed and bewildered. How many times do the largest decisions rest on the smallest of details? Reflecting on this, a twenty-second swipe of a hand, or worse, a two-second pounding of a fist would have avoided an entire domino effect reaching all the way to the Virginia Supreme Court. A little over two years ago, a preliminary hearing was held in a shooting case in Newport News, VA. For some reason, the court reporter did not certify the transcript. And the transcript was not entered as evidence into the hearing. Maybe the reporter was never asked to certify it or maybe she simply forgot. Perhaps the attorney was distracted by other cases and neglected some paperwork. Whatever the case, this transcript is now the central theme around which an appeal has been filed.

Because the transcript was not signed, and because the reporter could not be located on the day of the trial to certify the transcript, the attorney of record on the day of the hearing was called upon to certify the transcript. Yes, the defendant’s previous attorney.

I’ve talked to court reporters who say they would never put out a transcript without a signature page. I had a discussion with an attorney the other day who did not bat an eye at the fact this transcript was not signed. He says it happens all the time. Well, I think this case ought to make attorney or court reporter in the state of Virginia think twice about their transcript order. Then again, maybe that’s just me. Because I think everything that goes on in the courtroom just might hold some weight and should be on the record.

Can we really serve justice in Virginia when what goes on in the courtroom is not preserved on the record?

For more details on the case, check out our article: Virginia Supreme Court Considers Attorney/Client Privilege

Local Firm Merges with CA Practice

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Arnold & Porter is set to acquire medium-sized Howard Rice at the beginning of the year. Arnold & Porter was named one of the to 100 companies to work for in 2010 by CNN's Money. Howard Rice has been an independent law firm in the San Francisco area since 1954.

Casamo Green Initiative

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Casamo set the pace for going green with its online transcript repository, billing and scheduling service. Litigation support is a paper intensive activity and we have committed to do all we can to reduce the waste associated with our industry. One tree yields seventeen reams of paper and we intend to make the most out of every ream. The transcripts we upload to our repository are available to you 24 hours a day in the format that best suits your needs. Your invoices are accessible to you so they never get lost in the mail. You schedule your jobs online so you can be sure the details are just what you need them to be. We love your phone calls, but sometimes you may want to just get it done yourself! Casamo's online scheduling, billing and transcript repository is the solution. Call 703-837-0076 to set-up and immediately begin to use your secure account and schedule directly into our database. Of course, you can still e-mail us directly if that is more convenient for you.

Alexandria Development Plan

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Alexandria's waterfront is in the news.

Attorney-Client Confidentiality

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

If you think e-mail is covered by client-attorney privilege, think again. Not everything an attorney receives is protected, as this article discloses. It is important to very careful before hitting the send button. Once an e-mail is in someone's system, it may no longer belong to you.

iPad2 Security Issues

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

The following article and video describe the problems attorneys may encounter when using the iPad2 and a Smartcover. As of the posting of this article, no fix has been released, but an end run fix is suggested.

Alexandria Eatery

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

To live or work in Alexandria is, well, yummy!

Court Reporting Agency Cited By NLRB

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Social media in the news is hitting all industries, including court reporting. The following article describes how the NLRB and different companies are responding to increased usage of social networking.

Citizen's Arrest - Are You Up For It?

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Two sisters in Oklahoma "detained" a driver trying to flee the scene of an accident. After determining their grandmother was not injured, they took off and and escorted him back to the cars to wait for the arrival of authorities. Are citizen's arrests still legal? Are you ready for one? Read on to to find out more:

Virginia Court of Appeals Issues Ruling

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Virginia Lawyer's Weekly is reporting on the Virginia Court of Appeals first ruling in a month in the case of Ronald Arthur Tharrington v. Commonwealth of Virginia. We have the entire article posted here:

Social Media - Again!

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Are you coming home after a grueling day at work and want to complain to your "friends"? Are you an employer wanting to surf around and check out some of your employees facebook pages? Think again. This issue is far from settled. Sharing what we think and using what we know is still a very sensitive minefield. We'll keep updating the issue as more cases in this arena develop. Check out this article:

Quick, Grab Your Kindle!

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Local libraries in Arlington are now allowing WiFi checkouts. At this point Kindle is the only e-reader to deliver library books, but to be sure others will want to a marketshare.

Shortage of Court Reporters

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Court reporters prove to be more and more in the limelight.

Court Reporters On the Job

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

When the pressure is on, court reporters rise to the challenge. On a daily basis, all across the country reporters enter the courtroom or deposition room ready to take down the record. Rarely, however, is it with as much notoriety or anticipation as these two ladies faced for several weeks this summer in a Florida courtroom. Read their story.

Between Then And Now - A Father's Story

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Since we began following John Wyatt's story, his quest has taken him down many paths leading him to the Utah Supreme Court. Listen and hear what it has to say on the matter of his daughter and her future.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

How The Economy Continues To Impact Court Reporting

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Woud you like an interesting read? Check out what Tam Harbert has to say about technology impacting more than just the production of court reporting. This issue runs through the arena of quality right to the heart of the matter: legalities of digital technology and courtroom admissibility.

Attention Employers!

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

While facebook posts may be one acceptable method HR use to check out potential hires, it is obviously going to be a hot topic for current employees.

State Adoption Laws Collide

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Listen to this story. The result of red tape and conflicting state laws:

VIDEOCONFERENCING NOW AVAILABLE !

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

N*E*W*S F*L*A*S*H

Casamo adds videoconferencing!

Are you tired of the travel expenses and logistics associated with out of state depositions? We are here with your solution. While you enjoy the short commute to our offices in Old Town Alexandria, we make all the arrangements. Our spacious conference room provides the perfect location for your next business meeting or deposition (and our hospitality cannot be beat!) If what you need is a seamless event, we are the next call you should make. Let us take the anxiety out of your national and, yes, global meeting and deposition needs.

Coffee Club Locations

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Fairfax County Court House Coffee and Snack area on the main level.
Present your coffee coupon to the cashier for a medium sized coffee from Casamo & Associates

Arlington Court House Deli
2020 14th St N
Arlington, VA 22201-2515
(703) 525-7668
Present your coffee coupon to the cashier for a medium sized coffee from Casamo & Associates

Other court house coffee shops can be added. Just let us know who to call in your area. We will try to form a relationship at your local courthouse.

Schedule Your Deposition Online

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

With our On-line Scheduler, Casamo & Associates makes it convenient for busy attorneys and their staffs to schedule the legal personnel and services we provide. To notify us of a pending case or proceeding in which youd like our assistance, please provide as much detail as possible in the fields below. Within 24 hours, a Casamo & Associates team member will contact you to discuss, confirm and schedule the requested service.

PLEASE NOTE: If you would like us to schedule an interpreter for your deposition, please call our office at 703-837-0076 to make that arrangement.