PohlmanUSA Court Reporting Named a Top Workplace by the St. Louis Post Dispatch

 

St. Louis, MO. (June 29, 2015) – Vicki Pohlman, Founder and CEO, and Deborah Walters, President and COO, are pleased to announce that PohlmanUSA Court Reporting has been selected as one of the “Top Workplaces” in St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan region for 2015 by the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

The Top Workplaces are determined by a survey result of those who know the nominated companies best – the employees. The results are based on employee feedback via a confidential employee survey focused on six key factors related to employee happiness, including benefits, connection, and appreciation. The employee survey is conducted by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a leading research firm focused on organizational health and employee engagement.

As stated by Deborah Walters, “We are proud of the company culture that our team has fostered.  Vicki Pohlman founded the company 25 years ago and since its inception, we have dedicated ourselves to delivering exceptional customer service, which applies to our employees, court reporters, as well as our clientele.  By treating our teammates as customers, we are able to place a greater focus on meeting the needs of each individual in our offices, and in turn provide excellent customer service to our valued clients.”

ABOUT POHLMANUSA COURT REPORTING

Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with offices in Chicago and Edwardsville, IL, PohlmanUSA Court Reporting is recognized nationwide as the leading provider of technology-driven court reporting and litigation services. For 25 years, PohlmanUSA has specialized in complex multiparty litigation by creating innovative products and customized solutions for our clients. We are committed to delivering exceptional customer service and anticipating our clients’ needs. Whether you need a talented court reporter or videographer for a deposition in an asbestos case, MDL, or general litigation matter, we have a professional ready for your need nationwide.

For more information please contact Carrie Titus, Director of Sales and Marketing at 314-421-0099 or [email protected].

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Recognition of the Magna Carta

June 15, 2015 is the 800-year commemoration of the sealing of one of the most important documents in American history, the Magna Carta. Magna Carta literally means the Great Charter in Latin. Some historians believe that the Magna Carta was an attempt to restore rights from the English Constitution that were overthrown in the Norman invasion of England in 1066. It is also believed that the restoration of these rights make the Magna Carta an essential building block for such legal principles as today’s habeas corpus laws in the United States. The Magna Carta was originally drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury to make peace between the unpopular King John of England and a group of rebel fighters.  The charter actually failed initially and was void by Pope Innocent III.  After King John’s death his son, Henry III, had the document revised to eliminate some of the more drastic provisions and it was reissued in 1216. The charter was still unsuccessful until the end of the war in 1217 when the current version of the Magna Carter was part of the peace treaty agreed to at Lambeth. Eight years later in 1225 King Henry was short on money and reissued the charter in exchange for a grant of new taxes to provide him with affluence. This process was repeated 72 years later by his son, King Edward I. It was at this time the Magna Carter was confirmed as part of England’s customary laws. Lord Denning, a revered English lawyer and judge, depicted the Magna Carta as “the greatest constitutional document of all times – the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot.”

Why should you care about the anniversary of the Magna Carta? The Magna Carta is relevant to every citizen but especially every lawyer in the United States. Many of the original Thirteen Colonies were influenced by the Magna Carta when drafting the laws of their settlements.  Parts of the Magna Carta were also used in 1789 when the United States Constitution was drafted and are enforced today by the Supreme Court of the United States. Even the thought of having written laws was a concept tied to the fact that the Magna Carta had been recorded.

Most importantly, the Magna Carta is significant because it was the basis for some of the most fundamental laws we have today including: the right to due process of law, the right to trial by jury, the right to a speedy and unbiased trial, the right to be protected against excessive taxes, and the right to be safeguarded from unusual punishment.

The rights afforded to us based on the Magna Carta are celebrated today. Happy Anniversary Magna Carta!

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Edwardsville, IL Office Now Open

PohlmanUSA recently expanded our business by opening an office in Edwardsville, IL. This office is located conveniently near the Madison County Courthouse on Main Street, and will serve as a satellite location for our MyRecordsRetrieval™ (MRR) business and provide office space for associates on our Litigation Support Technology team. Similarly to our St. Louis and Chicago offices, the Edwardsville office also has conference room space available to you for conducting depositions. Open house dates will be coming soon!

As a nationwide agency founded over 25 years ago, we have the technology, tools, and experienced staff to help manage your litigation caseload. By centralizing all of our departments in Missouri and Illinois we are able to provide the same service and tools many of you have grown accustomed to utilizing in the Midwest nationwide, 24/7. We work with court reporters and videographers experienced in large cases who are articulate with asbestos and medical terminology.  We have built a reputation of exceptional service by providing innovative, customized products while ensuring friendly and knowledgeable support 24/7.  At PohlmanUSA, We’re always listening® as we strive to continue to provide technology-driven solutions to the everyday obstacles you encounter in complex, multi-party litigation.

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Exciting News to Celebrate PohlmanUSA’s 25th Anniversary

May 7, 2015

To Our Valued Clients,

This year PohlmanUSA is celebrating its 25th year in business. As we celebrate this milestone, I wanted to take a minute to update you on some exciting news that is going to make our company stronger and help us meet your needs more efficiently and effectively than ever before.

First, I am pleased to announce that while I continue to be an owner I have added new financial partners to the agency.  Additionally, our leadership team now has increased opportunities to share in the success of the business, and some of the managers have taken ownership positions.  By providing these opportunities we are deepening the team’s commitment to the service and quality that you have come to expect from PohlmanUSA.  In addition, Deborah Walters, who came to the firm three years ago as Chief Operating Officer, remains in that position and has become the new President of our firm.  As a new financial partner, she will be joined by attorney Carrie Titus, who will continue to serve our clients as director of our Sales and Marketing team.

What do these changes mean for you? Well, for one, it means an increased commitment to technology and investment in our company to serve you better.  In addition, it means management by a more committed, experienced, strong leadership team and a highly skilled nationwide reporter network dedicated to listening to you and responding to your needs.  Over the past decade we have developed several Web tools including MyCase™, MyDocServe™ and, most recently, MyRecordsRetrieval™.  All of these tools are designed and customized to meet your needs in the environment of complex, multi-party litigation.

I’m pleased to tell you that, with our new partners, our plan is to continue to further expand the development of new technologies, such as an enhanced MyDocServe™ system that will include a new E-File system in Madison County.  We have also developed a consolidated asbestos Trial Calendar for Madison County and are in the process of introducing this new system. You will be hearing more about our new systems and capabilities in the very near future, and I personally look forward to working closely with you as we enhance our technological capabilities to serve you better.

In an effort to support the organization’s expansion efforts and future growth strategies, I am also pleased to announce that PohlmanUSA is opening an office in Edwardsville, IL in May 2015.  Located conveniently on Main Street, the office will serve as a satellite location for our records (MRR) business and a hub for our Sales and Marketing team and associates on our Litigation Support Technology team.

As we strive to develop new technologies to help streamline the business, we are looking forward to being able to partner with you whether you work in Illinois or Missouri. Hopeful that our new Edwardsville location will enable us to partner with so many of you with offices in Edwardsville, we look forward to being close to the action in Madison County and the Court to develop technologies designed to simplify and streamline litigation in this region.

Pohlman will remain a locally headquartered company. We are small enough to pay attention to the details of your business and large enough to meet your needs here, in Chicago and nationwide. The Pohlman team, with more than 200 years of litigation support experience, is dedicated to providing impeccable 24/7 nationwide customer service.

We appreciate the trust you have placed in us and remain committed to delivering the same level of service you have come to expect from us over the last 25 years.  We look forward to working with you as we embark on the next chapter in Pohlman’s history.

 

Sincerely,

Vicki Pohlman
Founder and CEO

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Celebrating Earth Day 2015

Today marks the 45th anniversary of Earth Day.

The PohlmanUSA team is proud to support the effort to protect our planet each and every day as a certified Green Business. It is easy to join in this effort through simple action such as adding a recycle box to your office, putting a bin for glass and paper in your break room, buy products from eco-friendly companies, program your computers for sleep mode when not in use, install motion sensor lights, use rechargeable batteries, pay bills online, adjust the thermostat by 1 degree, print on both sides of paper, recycle toner cartridges, use E-tickets for flights, plant trees as a company, or promote carpooling & public transportation to your employees. Every step we take individually and as a team helps protect our environment and save our planet. Learn more about what you can do at earthday.org,  gbb.org or 50waystohelp.com.

greenbusiness         earth-day-300x284

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PohlmanUSA Court Reporting & Litigation Services Adds Litigation Support Technology Department

To further provide clients with the most up-to-date technology available in court reporting and litigation services, PohlmanUSA has created a Litigation Support Technology Department. For the past 25 years PohlmanUSA has been a proven leader in technology-driven court reporting and litigation services. Today PohlmanUSA continues on that path as we continue seeking innovative ideas and proactive solutions to help our clients succeed. Debbie Walters, President and COO, of PohlmanUSA said,  “The formation of this department reinforces the company’s commitment to investing in technology to simplify processes and support our clients. It further supports PohlmanUSA’s vision to be the leader in providing services and technology solutions for complex, multiparty litigation and deliver high level customer service while developing customized web tools and litigation systems for court reporters and court reporting clients nationwide.”.

“The department will be the foundation for developing and implementing additional value added services by allowing clients nationwide to reduce bottom-line costs associated with depositions and other aspects of litigation. Through our continued ability to deliver user-friendly, customized web systems, we look forward to remaining the chosen partner with law firms nationwide. We believe our ability and willingness to continue customizing and developing solutions to better serve clients adds immeasurable value,” commented Vicki Pohlman, CEO of PohlmanUSA. She added, “This newly created department positions our agency to continue being a leader of technology-driven court reporting and litigation services nationwide.”

“We have the right people to lead our company down the path we have traveled for 25 years, as the leader in technology-driven court reporting and litigation services. With the experience and strength of the three individuals chosen for this department, we are confident in our ability to continue leading in the areas of litigation services and support, ” added Walters.

The Litigation Support Technology Department will be led by Alicia Hart, PMP.  Hart joined PohlmanUSA in 2004, and has been responsible for translating the needs of clients and staff to internal PohlmanUSA IT and web development teams for software development and enhancement. She holds a computer programming certification and earned her project management certification from the Washington University Center for the Application of Information Technology. Hart received her Project Management Professional (PMP) credentials in 2014 recognizing her competence and ability to direct and oversee a broad range of projects. Her strong technical background, analytical abilities and communication skills have enabled Hart to lead the company’s development of web tools used in service to clients and automate internal processes at PohlmanUSA. In her role as the Director of Litigation Support Technology, Hart will be responsible for managing day-to-day technology based initiatives, as well as, overseeing the development and project teams.

Also serving in this department will be Yvette Scott, Litigation Support Technology Analyst and Danielle Yates, Litigation Support Technology Senior Customer Service Representative. Scott is a recent addition to the PohlmanUSA team and has over 30 years of experience working in the legal field, primarily in mass tort and multiparty litigation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lindenwood University and an associate’s degree in applied science. Scott attended Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey, IL and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL while she continued working in the Madison County Circuit Clerk’s office and then as a paralegal at two local law firms. Scott has decades of experience including in-depth proficiency in toxic torts, including asbestos litigation and involvement with court filing systems. She also has an understanding of day-to-day mass tort litigation operations from both the law firm’s and the court’s perspectives. She offers an invaluable combination of knowledge, skill and customer service. At PohlmanUSA Scott will focus her efforts in the Litigation Support Technology Department on the development, implementation, and training surrounding new web tools geared toward attorneys and paralegals involved in substantial litigation caseloads.

Moving to the department is Yates, who joined the PohlmanUSA team in 2011 and offers a broad range of knowledge and experience. During the past four years at PohlmanUSA, Yates has assisted with the introduction of PohlmanUSA’s MyRecordsRetrieval™ (MRR) service. In addition to managing MyRecordsRetrieval™, she oversaw the records department personnel and PohlmanUSA’s internal administrative staff.  Yates has also provided training and support to clients for both the MyDocServe™ and MyRecordsRetrieval™ services. Yates has a background in healthcare and has previously been involved in implementing electronic medical records systems and working with record collection agencies. Yates has a bachelor’s degree in human resource management and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

Founded in 1990, PohlmanUSA provides law firms across the U.S. with court reporting and advanced litigation support services from offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois. The agency offers a proprietary, online case management program called MyCase™, a custom docket repository system and electronic service list solution called MyDocServe™, and MyRecordsRetrieval™, a custom records collection, management and online distribution service. The company also offers Desktop VideoConferencing (DVC), a reliable, secure, and cost-effective way to attend a deposition from the convenience of your home or office by combining the accessibility of telephonic deposition attendance with the benefits of appearing in person.

PohlmanUSA Court Reporting & Litigation Services has offices in St. Louis, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois, with staff available 24/7 nationwide to provide full-service court reporting and litigation services. PohlmanUSA is recognized nationwide as the leading provider of technology-driven court reporting and litigation services. For 25 years, PohlmanUSA has specialized in complex multiparty litigation by creating innovative products and customized solutions for clients. Every team member at PohlmanUSA is committed to delivering exceptional customer service and anticipating clients’ needs. Whether you need a talented court reporter or videographer for a deposition in an asbestos case, MDL, or general litigation matter we have an experienced professional ready for your nationwide needs.  We’re always listening.®

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What Attorneys Should Know About Videographers: Part 3: Uses for Videotaped Depositions and What happens After the Deposition Concludes:

Every state and each court may have its own rules about when and how videotaped deposition testimony can be used in trial. As technology changes quickly the options for presenting videotaped evidence may be changing as well. Traditionally, videotaped deposition testimony can be presented for two reasons; if a witness is absent or no longer able to testify, or for impeachment of a witness who is testifying in court.

In the case of an absent deponent the videotaped testimony would be presented with any objections and overruled questions edited out. As the attorney you will likely go through hand review the entire testimony then chose to use all or part of the deposition. The “excerpts” or pre-chosen segments of the testimony selected is shown to express the sentiment of the witness and to relay pertinent information they have.

In the case of using the deposition testimony for impeachment reasons, “excerpts” may be used to show inconsistent or unreliable answers. Occasionally, these segments can be anticipated, but often they are determined in court, when a witness unexpectedly alters their testimony. If you are using videotaped deposition testimony for impeachment purposes it can be especially powerful if the transcript is synchronized to the deposition video.  Synchronization of the video needs to occur prior to trial and is most effectively synched if the same agency possesses the transcript and video of the deposition. Synchronized deposition video and transcripts allow you or your trial paralegal to search a transcript, find relevant sections, clip them, and present it as needed during trial.

Always check the rules of the associated venue prior to assuming that you can use the videotaped testimony or before you make assumptions on how you would present it in court. If you think there is a chance you will need to use the videotaped testimony from the deposition in court inform the court reporter and videographer, or associated agency, as soon as possible. The videographer can then begin the process of synching the video to the transcript.

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PohlmanUSA Celebrates National Court Reporting & Captioning Week

This week is National Court Reporting & Captioning Week. The focus of this important week is not only to show appreciation for current court reporters but also to take time to raise awareness of the profession to future generation reporters. The need for court reporters is projected to grow upwards of 5 percent in the next five years. This will add thousands of jobs and provide additional opportunities to court reporters nationwide. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) has launched a new website, crtakenote.com,  in conjunction with National Court Reporting & Captioning Week. The purpose of this website is to provide valuable information about the profession to prospective students. The NCRA cannot alone, raise awareness and inform the public about the role of court reporters, the benefits of being a court reporter, and the education process to become a reporter. That is why each court reporting agency and each individual court reporter needs to take action.  This one week is not enough. The awareness needs to continue throughout the year. You can be a part of it by offering advice at career fairs, speaking about the profession to students on a high school and collegiate level, having your voice heard through social media, and simply letting those closest to you (neighbors, nieces and nephews, people at church) all know what you do and why you are so proud of your work. We at PohlmanUSA encourage all court reporters to get on the record for your support of court reporting. For more information visit http://www.ncra.org or http://pohlmanusa.com.

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