[blindLaw] Unreadable PDF files

Thu Jul 24 23:51:30 UTC 2025

Thanks Paul. To clarify, I don't need to edit the documents, I just need to be able to read them. My co-counsel did create the preliminary opposition, so I can easily get the Word version of that, but opposing counsel created the petition, 12 volumes of record, and reply. Those had to be filed through TrueFiling and had to be text searchable at the that point. My co-counsel's staff lack the technical understanding to know how they became nonsearchable once they went into Sharefile. Like most folks they have only the vaguest notion of the difference between image pdf files and text searchable pdf files, and no idea at all about what screen readers can or can't do. AI is an interesting thought though. I might see what the JAWS Picture Smart utility does with the files.

Brian
Brian C. Unitt (he/him/his)
Certified Specialist in Appellate Law
By the State Bar of California

Law Office of Brian C. Unitt
6185 Magnolia Ave, PMB 40
Riverside, CA 92506 
P: 951-682-7030
E: brianunitt at holsteinlaw.com

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-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Harpur <p.harpur at law.uq.edu.au> 
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2025 3:51 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>; GL Norman <glnorman15 at hotmail.com>
Cc: Brian Unitt <BrianUnitt at holsteinlaw.com>
Subject: RE: Unreadable PDF files

I'd first go back to your co-council and ask them to provide the documents in a format which you can type into and that are not a mess.
Another idea- we use Microsoft Copilot.  Depending how sensitive and your firm's position, you could ask it to give it a crack at sorting out the mess.  I found it did an okay job on something super messy, but it only did it in batches which was a real pain.  It might have been quicker to print off the document and drop it into a scanner myself.

Professor Paul Harpur OAM
BBus (HRm), LLB (Hons), LLM, PhD, FHEA, FQA, Ply, solicitor of the High Court of Australia (non-practicing).
The University of Queensland Law School
(TEQSA PRV12080)  

Associate, Harvard Law School Project on Disability Australian Research Council Future Fellow Member of the Higher Education Standards Panel 

“Universities train the disability leaders of tomorrow, employ the disability leaders of today, and produce research and innovation which can make the world more inclusive”.  Paul Harpur, ‘Universities as Disability Champions of Change’ TEDx.

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Brian Unitt via BlindLaw
Sent: Friday, 25 July 2025 8:46 AM
To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>; GL Norman <glnorman15 at hotmail.com>
Cc: Brian Unitt <BrianUnitt at holsteinlaw.com>
Subject: [blindLaw] Unreadable PDF files

Sorry for originally posting this with the wrong subject line.
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From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Brian Unitt via BlindLaw
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Subject: Re: [blindLaw] See Fellowships One closes morrow.

Colleagues,

I wonder if anyone as experienced this pdf problem. I have been associated into a case to respond to a writ of mandate. My co-counsel uses Sharefile.com to manage his files. The pdf files of the petition and preliminary opposition that he sent me are not text searchable, but they are also resistant to OCR. I have tried both Omnipage and ABBY and neither one produces anything but random characters like the following: +/ÿ00/ÿÿ123452ÿ026278ÿ0292127:ÿ The orders from the court which also seem to be stored on Sharefile are text searchable and read just fine. I use the most current version of JAWS, Windows 11, and QRead or Foxit for reading pdf files. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Brian
Brian C. Unitt (he/him/his)
Certified Specialist in Appellate Law
By the State Bar of California

Law Office of Brian C. Unitt
6185 Magnolia Ave, PMB 40
Riverside, CA 92506
P: 951-682-7030
E: brianunitt at holsteinlaw.com

NOTICE:  This communication is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain attorney/client information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law.  If the reader of this communication is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by reply email or by telephone and immediately delete this communication and all its attachments.

Confidentiality Disclaimer
This email is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. 
If you are not the author's intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error please delete all copies, both electronic and printed, and contact the author immediately.
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