Whether you are involved in a personal injury claim or some other type of lawsuit, once that case is filed in Court, you will often be asked by the opposing party to appear for a deposition.
At its most basic level, a deposition is an opportunity for the opposing party or parties to sit you down and ask you questions about your case under oath. This will, generally speaking, occur out-of-court in your attorney’s office, although it may occasionally be done in a courthouse office or another convenient location for the parties involved in the lawsuit. The deposition is essentially the same as giving testimony in a court proceeding except that the judge is not present. And so, under most circumstances, what you say in your deposition may be used against you at trial.
This process, again, does not directly involve the Court. Instead, it involves you, as the deponent, your attorneys, the other party’s attorneys, and a Court Reporter who records the questions you are asked and your answers. Your attorney or other attorneys may raise objections during the course of this process.
A deposition can be a stressful experience. At the same time, it is something that is essential to your case and, in the event your case is filed in Court, will most likely occur. As a result, it is important that you retain an experienced attorney, such as the attorneys at Withered Burns, LLP, to assist you throughout this process.