Litigation Lawyers in Somerville
A civil deposition in Somerville, Massachusetts occurs in many civil litigation cases, as part of the discovery process.
Discovery, in Somerville, Massachusetts is a very important step in the civil litigation process. It is when all of the relevant evidence is gathered by both sides, and, generally, each side must disclose that evidence to the other.
In Somerville, Massachusetts, one way to acquire relevant evidence is to ask persons involved in the dispute (both parties and witnesses) about their knowledge of the matter. This is done through a civil deposition. It is essentially a question and answer session between a lawyer, and a witness or party to the action. A lawyer for the other side is present, as well as a court reporter or videographer. The lawyer asks questions of the person being deposed, who must answer them under oath.
Conducting A Civil Deposition in Somerville, Massachusetts
Depositions are typically conducted in Somerville, Massachusetts if a person's testimony will take several days, or more, to deliver. By doing this before a trial, the jury can be presented just with the testimony that turns out to be relevant, saving everybody a good deal of time. It is also useful if there is any reason to suspect that the witness will be unable to show up in court.
It should not be any surprise, then, that civil depositions in Somerville, Massachusetts can go on for a very long time. If you are called to appear in a deposition in Somerville, Massachusetts, this can be a huge headache.
Because of this fact, the law in Somerville, Massachusetts allows witnesses who are appearing for depositions to be compensated for the expense associated with it. This includes reimbursement for gas, lodging, and food. They can also be paid a certain amount of money for every hour they testify, to compensate them for their time. However, this money can only be conditioned on the witness showing up and giving truthful testimony. Trying to condition it on the witness testifying in a specific way ceases to be compensation, and becomes bribery, which is a crime.
In Somerville, Massachusetts depositions, everyone being deposed is under oath. This means that you are legally and morally obligated to answer every question truthfully. If you deliberately misrepresent your knowledge (lie), you are guilty of perjury. And if you're caught, you could end up facing jail time and/or some very steep fines.
How Can A Somerville, Massachusetts Lawyer Help?
If you are directly engaged in a lawsuit in Somerville, Massachusetts, and have to appear at a deposition, you should already be represented by a lawyer. It goes without saying that you should do whatever they advise you to do during the deposition.
If you are not a party to the case, but are subpoenaed to testify in a deposition, you should at least consult with a Somerville, Massachusetts attorney, who can advise you on how to proceed.
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