Tag: Elizabeth Gallo Court Reporting App

Anyone who follows football understands that the National Football League is the king of professional sports leagues in this part of the world.  This is a league that makes headlines for things that happen both on and off the field.  While we’re in the midst of a very exciting season that will most likely lead to a riveting level of competition in the playoffs, we were once again reminded of one of the more appalling stories that broke over the summer during the Thanksgiving weekend.  That story involved running back Ray Rice and his wife Janay.

By now, most if not all of us have seen the horrifying video of Janay Rice (then Janay Palmer) being struck in the elevator of a casino and falling to the ground unconscious.  The NFL claims that it did not see that video until after it had initially suspended Ray Rice for two games based on seeing the video of the aftermath of the blow.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated after that second video was released it became clear that Ray Rice was not completely honest with him during their initial investigation and therefore he suspended Rice indefinitely.  That decision was taken to an arbitrator by the Rice camp, and late last week that arbitrator ruled that Ray Rice should be reinstated immediately.

An article discussing the arbitrator’s decision can be found here, and neither the article nor the wording of decision is kind to Mr. Goodell.  The arbitrator basically stated that she did not believe the account of the events during the disciplinary process that Goodell had provided for her and ruled in favor of Ray Rice.  While all of this has been happening, the NFL has come forth with a new policy that states that a player involved with domestic violence will be suspended for six games.  A second situation can lead to a lifetime ban from the NFL.  Not only did this policy not apply to Rice since it was not in place at the time, but the arbitrator ruled that the second punishment given to Rice was arbitrary and beyond the powers of the commissioner.

How This Could Have Been Avoided

One of the more overlooked facts of this terrible situation is that the NFL does not have a court reporter or stenographer present during these disciplinary hearings.  No one is sure why that’s the case, but not having a transcript of what was said during the NFL’s meeting with Rice may have led to many of the problems the NFL ultimately encountered.  Having a record will protect those involved and it will protect the process itself.  Failing to have a transcript will only lead to competing verbal statements and uncertainty that can be very costly.

If you are in a position where you handle disciplinary or any other types of hearings, you need to protect yourself and others involved in these processes with a court reporter.  To learn more about how this can be done, contact the Georgia court reporters at Elizabeth Gallo, LLC today.

Anyone who litigates for a living understands that the faster you can access accurate information, the better off you’re going to be most of the time.  As the world of technology continues to advance at a breakneck pace, apps are now the way to go for people who are also on the go.  Apps allow you to get into the files you need without having to sit down and log onto a laptop.  All you need is your handheld device and some sort of wireless connection, whether it’s an Internet connection or through a cell network.  The team at Elizabeth Gallo Court Reporting, LLC, understands this reality.  That’s why we have our own app available for a free download.

Our app has incorporated all of our information into one central location.  We have functionality available for anyone who works with us, including:

• Attorneys
• Legal secretaries
• Paralegals
• Court reporters
• Videographers
• Interpreters

Basically, anyone who has anything to do with a case we are handling as Georgia court reporters can use our app instantly.

Just a few examples of the tasks you can quickly accomplish with our app include:

• Checking your schedule
• Searching for your case files
• Looking through your transcripts
• Updating your contact information
• Checking on your invoices

You deserve to benefit from the investments we continue to make in technology, as we have always believed that you need to focus as much time on the core mission of your profession as possible.  Administrative tasks are sunken costs, and minimizing them will improve your bottom line and perhaps your results.

Why We Invest in Technology

As is the case with any type of massive innovation, there has been some pushback in the legal community with regards to technology’s place in the profession.  We understand that jumping into this world can be daunting in some respects, but rather than fear it, we embrace it.  No one who works with our Atlanta court reporters has to use our app, our online scheduling functionality or any of the other benefits we provide, but those who do have had positive experiences.

We approach our own work from the standpoint of constantly looking to lower our overhead.  Instead of keeping that savings for ourselves, we believe that it’s simply better to pass those lower costs onto our own clients.  If you would like to make use of our app, simply use your handheld device and search for our name.  The app is compatible with iOS, Android and Windows.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office at any time for prompt answers.