Court Reporters Chided for Falling Down Unsafe Stairs

Jeez, you would think that worker safety would be rather important in the eyes of our justice system...but think again if you work in the courthouse that is overseen by this chief justice. Fall down here and you might find yourself in a lot of trouble!! Worker safety should be a very high priority and that's just not my opinion either.

~ the Beagle

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Court reporters warned against broadcasting grouses to the media
Paul HenryTuesday, March 04, 2008

UPSET that the fall of a female court reporter down 11 flights of steps was published in the Observer, Chief Justice Zaila McCalla last Monday warned against any of the court reporters going to the media.

According to several court reporters present in the department at the visit, McCalla advised in no uncertain terms that she does not like when "the media get wind of these things" and that nothing will be accomplished by them "running" to the media.

"She was obviously upset," said one court reporter, "you could see it."
Other disgruntled court reporters told the Observer that McCalla's concern should not be whether the media get wind of court workers tumbling down steps but what can be done to prevent a reoccurrence.

They said that allowing a second elevator currently being installed to terminate on the third floor, where their department is located, is the only solution to using the steep stairwell with its "dangerous" slippery tiles.

Court reporter Sharon Patterson, 35, had two weeks ago, plunged headlong down the 11 flights of steps spilling onto the second floor, damaging tissues in her left shoulder and right knee in the process. She should have started physiotherapy yesterday, the Observer was told.

The week before, another court reporter fell from the same staircase, narrowly escaping injuries. In 1996 another court reporter broke an arm after falling down the same steps, the Observer was told. Patterson's colleagues blamed the steepness of the staircase, the slippery tiles and metal strips on the steps for the frequent falls. They complained that the steps are made even harder to ascend when they are carrying the weighty stenograph machines used in court.

Coupled with the chief justice's warning, the court reporters were the more upset to learn that the elevator now being installed is solely for the transport of accused from the court's holding cell on the ground floor to the three courtrooms on the first floor.

"All they care about is things not coming in the newspapers, the building and prisoners," lamented one staffer, before asking, "what about us, the workers?"