A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed against the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), accusing the organization of unlawfully creating a monopoly over professional certification and charging excessive membership fees to court reporters. The case, filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleges that the NCRA is exploiting its position to force thousands of court reporters into paying inflated dues, under the threat of losing their certification.
The plaintiffs, Kelly Palazzi from New Jersey and Cindy Jenkins from Illinois, argue that the NCRA has abused its control over the court reporting certification process. According to the lawsuit, the NCRA has engaged in what is known as a “tying arrangement,” wherein court reporters are required to purchase NCRA membership in order to maintain their certification. The lawsuit contends that this practice violates U.S. antitrust laws by creating an illegal monopoly, as the NCRA is the only recognized body providing certification, with no meaningful competition in the market.
Palazzi and Jenkins assert that court reporters are left with no choice but to pay the NCRA’s annual membership fees, which amount to $300, or risk losing their certification and access to job opportunities. Many state courts and legal jurisdictions require NCRA certification, making it essential for stenographers to remain members of the organization in order to maintain employment.
The lawsuit also highlights the NCRA’s control over continuing education requirements for certification renewal. Court reporters must not only pay membership dues but also complete continuing education credits to maintain their certification. The plaintiffs argue that this combination of high membership fees and mandatory education requirements further strengthens the NCRA’s monopoly on certification, leaving court reporters with little room for competition or alternatives.
Stuart Davidson, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, stated, “Court reporters play an essential and under-appreciated role in our legal system, and we intend to use that very system to protect them against antitrust violations. This case is about ensuring that professionals are not coerced into paying inflated fees just to maintain the credentials they need to do their jobs.”
The NCRA has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and stated that it is currently reviewing the allegations. However, the organization declined to provide further comment at this stage.
The plaintiffs seek to represent a class of court reporters who have been required to pay NCRA membership fees since 2014. They are pursuing unspecified monetary damages and other penalties for what they describe as an illegal and monopolistic practice that has harmed thousands of professionals in the industry.
Court reporters are crucial to the legal system, responsible for recording proceedings in hearings, trials, and depositions. They transcribe the spoken word into an official written record, which can be used for legal documentation and proceedings. The NCRA, based in Virginia, is the primary professional association for over 12,000 court reporters and captioners. However, critics argue that its control over certification and membership requirements restricts competition and puts undue financial strain on professionals.
The case, titled Kelly Palazzi and Cindy Jenkins v. National Court Reporters Association (Case No. 2:25-cv-00077-MEF-JSA), is set to proceed in federal court, where the plaintiffs aim to hold the NCRA accountable for alleged antitrust violations.
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