A Manhattan stenographer took an interesting approach to express his disdain for his job. Instead of typing testimony in criminal trial cases in shorthand, Daniel Kochanski repeatedly typed “I hate my job” and other gibberish instead of important trial dialogue.
Kochanski, 43, has now affected up to 30 criminal court cases by omitting crucial trial dialogue. This gives convicted criminals in his cases the opportunity to appeal their convictions based on missing evidence. Authorities forced Kochanski, whose job was to type in a question and answer format, to decipher his typing, to no avail. Judges are currently holding reconstruction hearings, in which everyone involved in each compromised trial will testify what they remember.
“This situation is terrible for everybody,” said Claudia Trupp, who’s working with the Center of Appellate Litigation that is handling appeals in nine cases. “It’s very difficult to come up with a sufficient record based on everybody’s recollection years after the event.”
[Image: Shutterstock]
“I never had a situation where a single court reporter was responsible for so much damage,” Trupp continued.
Ed Kochanski, the troubled stenographer’s father, revealed his son’s alcoholic abuse that started five years prior. Kochanski’s alcohol problem cost him his marriage and job.
Although Kochanski was fired for misconduct in March 2012, he denies all allegations against him.
“I never typed gibberish. I always did my job 100 percent. I was let go because of substance abuse,” he said. “I’m in recovery. July will be one year I’m clean.”