Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:2487.20

  • Court reporter: A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court and produces a transcript of the proceedings upon request.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.

A.  The city judge shall appoint the clerk as court reporter or appoint a competent court reporter to take the evidence in any case in which it is necessary to do so under the laws applicable to district courts, unless the parties waive the appointment of the reporter.  At the request of any party, the judge shall order the transcription of the testimony taken by the court reporter.  

B.  Except in pauper cases, the fees of the court reporter in civil cases shall be charged as costs in the litigation, but shall be paid primarily by the plaintiff upon completion of the transcript of the testimony, and the plaintiff shall be primarily responsible therefor, or on his failure to do so, by the defendant or any other party, and the reporter shall not be required to file the transcript before payment.  

Acts 1964, No. 102, §20.