Litigation Lawyers in Wheeling

Civil depositions occur during Wheeling, West Virginia civil litigation, as part of the discovery process.

"Discovery" is a process that occurs before a trial in Wheeling, West Virginia. During the discovery process, both sides are required to make relevant information available to each other.

One way to acquire this information in Wheeling, West Virginia is to conduct a deposition. A deposition, at its core, is a fairly simple process. A deposition is a question and answer session conducted outside the courtroom. Normally, it takes place in the office space of an attorney representing one of the parties. There are a few people who are almost always present at the deposition: there's the person being deposed, the lawyer who is going to be asking the questions, a lawyer representing the other side of the lawsuit, who can object to any questions being asked (a judge can rule on the objections later), and a court reporter or video recorder, to ensure that the testimony ends up on the record.

Conducting A Civil Deposition in Wheeling, West Virginia

Depositions in Wheeling, West Virginia serve a very important purpose: acquiring testimony on the record, and admitted as evidence, when there is some reason to suspect that the witness won't be able to appear in court during trial, because of health, potential incarceration, or any other reason.

So, it shouldn't be shocking that civil depositions in Wheeling, West Virginia can usually go on for several days. If you are subpoenaed for a deposition in , West Virginia, you are normally obligated to appear. This can be a source of some inconvenience.

To help deal with this fact, Wheeling, West Virginia allows witnesses who are being deposed to be compensated for their time. They can be reimbursed for lodging, travel expenses, and given a small amount of money for their time. Remember, however, that this money is most definitely NOT conditioned on the witness giving testimony that's beneficial to one side, and omitting information that's unfavorable. This would be bribery, and it is highly illegal.

Remember, when you give a deposition in Wheeling, West Virginia, you're under oath. This means that you are under an absolute obligation to tell the truth. If you deliberately lie while under oath, you are committing perjury. Perjury is a serious crime, and can be punished by fines and imprisonment.

How Can A Wheeling, West Virginia Lawyer Help?

If you are the plaintiff or defendant in a lawsuit, you almost certainly already have a Wheeling, West Virginia lawyer. If either party to the lawsuit calls you for a deposition, your lawyer will have plenty of advice for you. You should, of course, follow that advice to the letter.

If you are not directly immersed in the lawsuit, you might still have to appear at a deposition, if you have information that's relevant to the case in Wheeling, West Virginia. You probably don't need to hire a lawyer in that case, but it might be a good idea to at least get a consultation from one.