Letters.

Ethical Dangers for Court Reporters

Your article on the court reporting industry missed the point ("Consolidation Drive Hits L.A. Court Reporting Firms," Nov. 1). The focus should have been upon the ethical implications of the trend: Large companies, often involved in litigation, purporting to provide independent deposition officers -- court reporters.

Who among your readers has not been involved in litigation? In the old days, I doubt any of them had a meaningful basis to question whether there was court reporting firm bias. Recent trends may be changing that. For example, at a time when the nation debates patients' rights to sue, EquiMed, a company that grew up in the health care business, is buying court reporting firms.

The statement that court reporters "transcribe depositions and perform other related legal services" should be a red flag: What additional "legal services" may be performed? Some firms offer paralegal services. Some have in-house counsel "available" to consult with clients.

It is ironic that the same issue of the Business Journal that carried the court reporter consolidation article also includes a report about departure from journalistic ethics at the L.A. Times due to lack of disclosure. A "too-cozy relationship" was your term.

As a nation we have come to expect peaceful and impartial resolution of civil disputes. Having court reporting firms and attorney placement services under the same roof mocks that tradition. Our economy will function less efficiently when its enforcement mechanisms operate in an environment of distrust. Your spouse may be your attorney. Your spouse may not be your court reporter. Get it?

That consolidation affects some reporters' income is inevitable, but current efforts to amend the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are not directed to rate stability. Rather, they are an attempt to protect the public from bias clothed as normal business practice. This is not about small merchants resisting Wal-Mart. As I tell my colleagues, It's the Ethics, Stupid!

IRA LEE NEWLANDER

Newlander & Newlander

Certified Shorthand Reporters

Los Angeles

Not an Underachiever

I am writing this letter in response to Dan Turner's article on La Opinion, inaccurately titled "Underachieving Spanish Daily to Get a Boost" (Sept. 20).