What should I expect from a scopist?

I had a scopist/proofer that was recommended to me scope some work. This person did sort of a crappy job. The witness was hard, yes, but there were questions and answers missing, a lot of phrases missing, some words that were wrong, some words that were not looked up and incorrectly spelled, problems with punctuation, etc. I am re-scoping and re-doing the whole thing. Do I just have to pay this person anyway and never send them stuff again?

Hey,

I would negotiate the payment calmly.  It is a scopist's job to do the research, spell correctly, insert what you didn't get correctly.  I wouldn't go back for more from that person, because they sound lazy.

Court reporters are not lazy.  If they'd do it to you once, they'd do it to you, again.

When you try another scopist, get them to write you a list of what they think their duties are to be your scopist, and then you'll have that in writing and it is what they listed as THEIR job.

If it is a job with mega exhibits, the scopist is to look at each one as they discuss it in the job and quote whatever is quoted and make it accurate according to the exhibit and what was said.

I pay my scopist when I get paid.  I may have to do that different now, because I just fired my scopist after 20 years.  Too sassy on the wrong day, and lousy service, as you mentioned above, and he used to be a court reporter then firm owner and then teacher at the court reporting college where I met him. 

Be fair always and firm always, and make sure you don't have the tail-wagging-the-dog situation.  After all, you're writing their check. 

Best of luck to you, Carol DeBee Martin