TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jan 10, 2025

The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) is facing a lawsuit alleging it created an illegal monopoly over professional certification and overcharged its members for dues. According to Reuters, in a proposed class action filed last week in New Jersey, two court reporters claimed the NCRA was unlawfully forcing them and thousands of others to pay annual membership fees to maintain their certification. The lawsuit alleges the association violated U.S. antitrust law by "tying" certification to membership fees and states that there are no "reasonable substitutes" for NCRA certification, as state court reporter associations do not provide certification. The plaintiffs seek to represent a class of court reporters who have purchased membership from the NCRA since 2014, and the suit is asking for unspecified monetary damages and other penalties. The NCRA said it is reviewing the complaint but declined to comment further, the news outlet reports.