Litigation Lawyers in Fort Myers Beach
In Fort Myers Beach, Florida, a civil deposition is a part of the discovery process in civil litigation.
Discovery, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida is a very crucial 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.
One way to obtain this information in Fort Myers Beach, Florida is to simply sit down with someone involved in the dispute, or with knowledge of some of the issues, and ask them questions. This can be done through a civil deposition, which is basically a Q&A session between a lawyer, and the person being deposed. A lawyer for the other side will also be present. The person being deposed is answering their questions under oath, just as if they were testifying in court. Because of this, it's important to get their statements on the record. For that purpose, a court reporter or videographer will be present.
Conducting A Civil Deposition in Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Depositions are usually conducted in Fort Myers Beach, Florida 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.
Fort Myers Beach, Florida civil depositions can go on for a long time - occasionally going for a week or more. If you get subpoenaed to give your testimony in a Fort Myers Beach, Florida civil deposition, this could prove to be incredibly inconvenient.
To mitigate this, the law of Fort Myers Beach, Florida usually entitles people being deposed to reimbursement. They can be compensated for travel expenses, lodging, and a can be given a small amount of money simply for their time. However, this is meant to be reimbursement for the time and expense incurred in attending a deposition, and it is most definitely not payment for the witness to give testimony that's favorable to one side or the other.
In Fort Myers Beach, Florida 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 Fort Myers Beach, Florida Lawyer Help?
If you are the defendant or plaintiff in a lawsuit, chances are good that you'll have to appear in a deposition. You should, by this point, already be represented by a Fort Myers Beach, Florida civil litigation attorney. You should do whatever they tell you to do (unless, of course, they tell you to lie, in which case you should find a new lawyer).
If you are not a party to the case, but are subpoenaed to testify in a deposition, you should at least consult with a Fort Myers Beach, Florida attorney, who can advise you on how to proceed.