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Missing Broward Court Reporter May Affect Pending Cases

POMPANO BEACH (CBS4) - A Broward court reporter is in the wind, and officials want to know where she is because her files may be key evidence in several trials.

For years Roseann McMahon ran a court reporting business out of a Pompano Beach apartment. Neighbors say there was a lot of activity in the unit up until recently.

"She had her workers coming and going from about nine to five," said JB, McMahon's neighbor.

But Thursday, no one answered the door and the apartment's storm shutters, the only ones in the entire building, were closed. Document boxes are stacked nearby in a storage unit.

The Pompano apartment is now in foreclosure and no one seems to know where McMahon has gone.  It doesn't appear that foul play is involved.

A judge has ordered police to arrest McMahon, should they find her, because she disappeared with depositions for more than a dozen cases.

Rick Levy, president of the Florida Court Reporters Association explained the missing depositions have an impact.

"Basically it brings the system of justice to a standstill," Levy told CBS4's David Sutta.

If lost, the costly depositions may have to be redone.  McMahon was not a member of the Florida Court Reporters Association, because she was a digital recorder.

"She doesn't have a license so they can't revoke her license.  She is not certification so they can't revoke her certification," said Levy.

Other than a judge putting her in jail or fining her, McMahon may face little recourse if she ever turns up.

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