When court decisions are overturned, it's often due to new forensic or DNA evidence that exonerates an individual that may have been wrongfully proven guilty. But, sometimes issues such as mental disabilities will come to surface and force judges and lawyers to rethink how to sentence someone that may have committed a crime. Such is the case of Joshua Johnson, from Shawano County, Wisconsin.

Back in February, Johnson was charged with first degree intentional homicide, according to WAOW, the local ABC affiliate. The suspect admitted to killing his father in their home. But, the court ruled on on October 30, after hearing testaments from experts and other figures involved in Johnson's life that he will not be charged with crime due to mental illness.

According to the source, at the time of the homicide, Johnson was suffering paranoid schizophrenia. Jared Redfield, the man's lawyer, states that he was hearing voices which he acted upon.

While the court may definitively know that Johnson will not be charged with the crime, they are still uncertain on how to sentence him, mostly due to fear of another violent outburst.

"We will argue that Mr. Johnson must be placed in a mental institution," Greg Parker, district attorney in Shawano County, told the source. "And that institutional commitment to be for the remainder of his life."

The next hearing for the case will be on December 6 and, until then, Johnson will reside in the Shawano County jail.

As this case may require a number of specialists and experts to testify under oath regarding the current medical condition of the suspect, it may benefit the litigators and judges involved in the case to have the most accurate deposition transcripts available.

By partnering with Wisconsin court reporters that are certified in real-time reporting and also offer video deposition services, lawyers can rest assured that the transcripts being provided are high-quality and comprehensive.

As the superstorm called Hurricane Sandy finally hits landfall on October 29, the surge is projected to move from the New York tri-state area toward the Great Lakes region, potentially affecting Wisconsin. In fact, President Barack Obama's and Republican candidate Mitt Romney's plans to campaign in the state this week have been thwarted due to the inclement weather.

In preparation for the storm, the state of Wisconsin has issued its National Guard to be on standby in order to assist any civilian authorities with hurricane relief efforts. This isn't the first time the state's National Guard has been used to provide support, as in 2005 the troops helped in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and in 2009 during the North Dakota ice storms.

According to WMTV, Madison's NBC affiliate, the National Guard will function as part of FEMA ground task force.

"Wisconsin's outstanding National Guard is ready to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy," Governor Scott Walker told the media. "As our nation braces for this massive storm, Wisconsin is hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. If resources are needed, Wisconsin stands ready to deploy the National Guard for assistance."

Court reporters can provide aid to local broadcasters and new sources

As the storm approaches Wisconsin, citizens will need to be able to access information from local news stations in order to stay abreast on power outages, severely flooded areas, road damage and other necessary safety information. As such, these stations will need to provide accurate closed caption options for citizens that may be hard of hearing. By partnering with real-time certified, Milwaukee court reporters, broadcasters can ensure that all citizens are well-informed and safe.

A while back when I was purchasing my tablet PC, I found myself weighing the options of getting a mobile hot spot device, i.e., a MiFi card, or purchasing a tablet that was 4G capable with its own data plan.  I purchased a MiFi card, and it was the best decision I could have made.

My mobile hot spot allows me to have internet not only on my tablet, but also on my laptop.  I use it every day when I am in depositions.  Many times while a witness is reviewing a document, I will pop onto the internet where I can usually find almost all of the spellings I need.  At the end of the deposition, attorneys will comment I must be pretty good if I don’t need spellings.  I simply smile and pack up my equipment. 

My MiFi is also wonderful for writing realtime.  I can write realtime for up to five attorneys wirelessly using CaseViewNet from Stenograph.  Not only do they receive a wireless feed of my transcript, but they also have internet capability.  Many attorneys have commented on how great it is to have both options available to them.

Sometimes depositions are in places where there is no internet.  I have had attorneys who would need to send a file to their office, but they couldn’t.  I gave them the code for my MiFi, and they were able to easily email their file.  They were forever grateful for the little bit of help I could provide.

Recently I was in a law office which didn’t have internet.  One attorney wanted a rough draft of the transcript at the end of the deposition.  Throughout the day, I would use my breaks to edit the transcript and look up anything I needed.  When the deposition concluded, I asked opposing counsel if he would also like a rough.  He said yes, so I added his name to the email and sent off the rough draft.  His cell phone dinged for new mail, and he just looked at me shocked and commented that he couldn’t believe he got it that fast.  My client simply responded, “Well, that’s why we use Jessie.”  So not only did I impress my own client, but I potentially picked up a new client for Brown & Jones.

Although there is a monthly fee for a MiFi, (which can be tax deductible) I find the option for internet a great addition to the services I can offer clients.  It not only impresses them, but it makes my day a lot easier.
 

The parents of a man who drowned last year in Eau Claire, Wisconsin have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a man that was accompanying him during the time of his demise, according to the Leader-Telegram, a local paper.

Joseph Fike was on an island in the Chippewa River in the early morning of July 20, 2011 with a group of friends. When they were supposed to swim back, his friends couldn't find him. It wasn't until two hours later when the group called the authorities. Fike was later found down the river on July 22.

"It was important for me to find him," Anita Fike, Joseph's mother, told the source. "But it was really hard." 

But, the man's parents, Larry and Anita Fike, are filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Andrew Grill, who they allege had a confrontation with their son earlier that day. They have also alleged that Grill saw Fike's head dip below the water while swimming across the river, or that he otherwise caused him to be submerged.

Fike's official autopsy, though, showed no signs of struggle and a toxicity report found that Joseph Fike's blood-alcohol level was well above the legal limit.

Due to the isolated nature of the event, investigators and lawyers may only have witness testimonies to go by, which could be slightly vague. By partnering with experienced Milwaukee court reporters, litigators can ensure that they have the most comprehensive deposition transcripts to enable them to best serve their clients.

Furthermore, video deposition services can help these professionals prepare any witnesses for trial by looking at more effective ways to control their body language while speaking under oath and answering investigative questions.

The technology giant Apple recently released its newest product – the iPad Mini. While the iPad has been out for sometime, developments from competitors have forced the company to create an even smaller version of the revolutionary tablet computer.

While the mobile device is equipped with the same features as its predecessor, but in a smaller package, many experts are critical on its asking price, which goes well beyond $300. Despite this, analysts are also predicting the California-based company will report profits in the $30 billion area.

Much of the company's success comes from the adoption of its products in workplaces. Many companies and industries are doing what they can to implement the devices into their regular operations, which can help make them more efficient and productive.

Using new technology in court reporting

While court reporting is one of the oldest professions around, it is also very modern. Over the years, court reporters have moved from free hand-writing to using a stenograph machine that's been customized to allow for speed and efficiency.

As such, transcribing software is also available for use on these new tablet computers, such as the iPad Mini. This allows court reporters to report depositions and hearings in real-time, while also almost immediately transcribing the transcripts. Furthermore, these technologies also enable judges and lawyers to immediately ask for a read back of something a witness may have said on trial or in a deposition.

By partnering with Milwaukee court reporters, lawyers and judges can ensure that they are using the most technically advanced professionals who offer video deposition services, creating the most comprehensive transcripts available.

A recent move in regulatory practices by the Illinois state government has sparked some disagreement among Midwestern court reporters, according to the State Journal Register. These changes may force many smaller court reporters into a tough position fighting against larger, corporate-type firms.

Essentially, the Department of Central Management Services (CMS) in Illinois will provide court reporting services under the governor's office. In doing so, it seeks to split the state into a North and South section. This is causing them to seek bids for these master contracts to cover the two areas. According to the source, many smaller court reporting firms and freelancers will, virtually, be squeezed out of service by the state's power.

"None of the local Illinois court reporter businesses, especially any small businesses, can realistically cover this type of territory," Molly Hobbie, a court reporter from Springfield, Illinois, told the source on the challenges smaller companies may face attempting to win one of the two contracts available.

Hobbie also said that only large court reporting firms in Chicago or St. Louis have enough resources to cover the region and, therefore, win the bid for the contracts.

But, Hobbie theorized that agencies seeking court reporters will benefit from directly contracting smaller, independent firms or freelancers rather than going through CMS, as the companies they will most likely contract will charge overheads, not to mention the added process of using a middleman.

For those in the neighboring Wisconsin area, partnering with small, independent Milwaukee court reporters can be a cost-effective way to acquire a high-quality and professional service. These court reporters don't just supply accurate deposition transcripts, but also provide video conferencing services and private meeting rooms.

Many lawmakers and legislators are up in arms over the recent spa shootings in Milwaukee that have rattled Wisconsin citizens, authorities and lawmakers.

The 45-year-old resident Radcliffe Haughton bought a handgun and opened fire on his wife and several of her coworkers at the spa she worked at. This was a few days after his wife had issued a restraining order against him. In such a case, the restrained individuals must hand over their firearms to authorities, but it is unclear of whether Haughton did so, according to the Associated Press.

In addition, Haughton purchased another firearm from a private seller before the shooting, which he used to attack the spa.

"Across Wisconsin there are inconsistent standards, or sometimes none at all, for the collection of weapons owned by domestic abusers," Senator Lena Taylor told the media on October 22.

Taylor and Representative Penny Schraber are pushing a bill that would require any individuals who are subject to a restraining order to surrender all their firearms within 48 hours after their arrest. This the second time the congresswomen have attempted to pass the bill since, in 2010, it fell through the cracks due to opposition from the National Rifle Association.

Court reporters benefit investigations and legislation

As investigators may still be deposing and interviewing witnesses and victims of the crime, Taylor and Schraber may also be attempting to gain support for their bill. In such a situation, the authorities and congresswomen may benefit from partnering with Milwaukee court reporters.

These professionals are not only capable of transcribing  conversations and speeches at real-time, but also provide private conference rooms as well as videography services that can help users retain the most accurate transcripts of their hearings and depositions.

As reported by this blog, depositions are a critical aspect of the American legal system. In order for those in question to receive a fair and just trial, the lawyers representing them must have as much information as possible. To do so, these professionals will use court reporters to record what a witness says in a deposition before the actual trial. This is an essential part of the process.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, "A deposition is a legal proceeding conducted in accordance with certain court rules to gather evidence and preserve the testimony of a witness for use in court." As such, a court reporter will always be present at a deposition and will play a major role in the proceeding itself.

Depositions are usually held either at a law firm or in a court reporter's office. By partnering with court reporters that offer video deposition services, litigators can obtain the most comprehensive deposition transcripts available as they can be both a written manuscript as well as a video of the proceeding.

While, a case cannot be won in a deposition, it is a critical process for allowing lawyers to gather evidence and information. One side may be using the testimony as a way to figure out the strategy and objectives of the other attorneys, while also attempting to discredit the witness, according to the source.

Regardless, for lawyers in the Midwest, partnering with Wisconsin court reporters that offer video deposition services is an excellent way to ensure that a witness's testimony is effectively transcribed.

As the November 6 election nears, there will sure be more presidential and vice presidential debates. In fact, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates, there will be one more third presidential debate in Boca Raton, Florida on Monday, October 22. That also means that once again, this live event must be transcribed in real-time for closed caption television broadcasters, live video streams on the internet and for the media to publish the transcriptions the next day.

But, while the two main front-runners of President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney may be nationally televised, the Independent Voters Network (IVN) hosted a presidential debate entirely via videoconferencing on October 18. The debate was between Libertarian candidate New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and Green party candidate Dr. Jill Stein. According to the IVN, this is the first a presidential debate was done via videoconferencing.

Telepresence Options' report on the event states that IVN worked with Google+ Politics to create a live Google+ Hangout for each of the independent candidates. The topics ranged from tax and economic policy, energy, housing and financial regulation, foreign policy and one topic selected from user responses.

Furthermore, the questions that were used were submitted to Google+, Twitter and the IVN's Facebook page.

For companies that are broadcasting online or who need a live event transcribed, partnering with Milwaukee court reporters can be an excellent solution for this problem. This can be especially convenient, as many of these professionals are certified as real-time court reporters, which indicates their ability to transcribe a conversation or speech as it happens.

Depositions are necessary steps in the legal process. These meetings help establish the case and introduce beginning information to be built upon in court. They also often require a certain amount of preparation and execution in order to be effective, reported the Orlando Sentinel.

According to the source, it's critical that witnesses recognize that they cannot win a case at a deposition. While it's important that they tell the truth and fully answer the questions, they should abstain from telling the entire story and potentially divulging too much information.

Which is the second consideration – to only answer what has been asked. Once a question is completely answered, witnesses should stop talking. By giving lengthy answers or rambling on, the deposed can give the opposing side more information that they need to know, which can be harmful for their side of the case. The old adage stands here that silence is golden.

But, in order to avoid revealing too much, it's essential that witnesses think before they answer each question. By doing so, they can plan a response that truthfully satisfies the query while also maintaining any privileged or damaging information.

In addition to those three key aspects, the deposed should be sure to never guess the answer to a question. "I don't know," or "I can't remember," are acceptable responses. They should be sure to never volunteer any information, get angry  or disclose anything their attorney told them before the deposition.

For litigators, another onus lies on their shoulders to ensure that they are able to acquire the most accurate deposition transcripts. By partnering with Wisconsin court reporters that also offer video deposition services, lawyers can ensure they get the most comprehensive transcripts available.