Recently we ran across some interesting examples of ways making the record that just didn’t work…not even a little.  We thought it would be interesting to post these as we find them so that none of the rest of us ever produce official records that don’t make the grade!

Below is an example of how NOT to interpret the record!

BY MR. JONES:

Q. Ms. Gonzales, my name’s Kevin Jones, and I represent Jane Jarvis.

What time of day did Ms. Jarvis come to you with this difficulty breathing?

THE TRANSLATOR:  She doesn’t know the exact time.

BY MR. JONES:

Q.  Do you know if it was on your first break, your lunch break, or your second break?

A.  It was the last break.

Q.  The last break; okay.

What time do you typically take your last break?

THE TRANSLATOR:  It all depends what they were doing ‑‑ what they are doing.

BY MR. JONES:

Q.  What would be the range of time, say from 2:00 to 4:00 or 1:00 to 3:00?  Can you tell me?

THE TRANSLATOR:  She thinks 2:00.

BY MR. JONES:

Q.  How long is your break?

A.  Ten minutes.

Q.  And what time does the first shift end?

THE TRANSLATOR:  At that time, it was a different schedule.  She doesn’t remember.  She remembers that it was at 3:30 that they would finish the first shift.

BY MR. JONES:

Q. Okay.  Back in January of last year?

THE TRANSLATOR:  She’s not very sure because they changed the schedule.

BY MR. JONES:

Q. Okay.  Did you see what Jane Jarvis was cleaning up that day?

THE TRANSLATOR:  After the accident had happened, Jane took her to the area where the spill was.

BY MR. JONES:

Q.  What did you see?

A.  White powder.

Q.  Was the powder wet at that point?

A.  Some part, because Jane had already poured water on the powder.

Q.  Okay.  The water that Jane poured, was that from a bucket?

A.  Yes.

Q.