Hall

Plaintiff and appellant Michael P. Hall appeals from a judgment after the trial court denied his petition for writ of mandate to compel respondent, the Court Reporters Board of California (Board), to vacate its order of discipline imposed against Hall’s license. The trial court concluded Hall had engaged in “unprofessional conduct” in the practice of shorthand reporting when, as part of his subcontracting business, he induced other shorthand reporters to perform services on his behalf and then failed to pay them for services rendered. Hall’s sole contention on appeal is that the failure to pay his subcontractors for reporting services, without any evidence that such failure adversely affected the duties or services Hall provided to his clients, is unrelated to the practice of shorthand reporting and not within the Board’s disciplinary jurisdiction. On the record before us, we agree and reverse.

Factual and Procedural Background

The facts are undisputed. Hall has been a certified shorthand reporter for 40 years. In that capacity, he frequently subcontracted with other shorthand reporters to perform shorthand-reporting services on his behalf. In exchange for Hall’s…