Litigation Lawyers in Mount Vernon

In Mount Vernon, Iowa, a civil deposition is a part of the discovery procedure in civil litigation.

The discovery procedure in Mount Vernon, Iowa is one of the most significant parts of the civil litigation process. During the discovery phase, each side of the lawsuit is obligated to make all of the relevant information it has in its possession available to the other side.

In Mount Vernon, Iowa, one way to obtain this information is to find the people involved in the dispute (whether they're witnesses or parties), and ask them questions about the issues you believe them to have knowledge of. A civil deposition is normally a pretty simple process: the person being deposed is sworn in (they are under oath, just as if they were in a courtroom). Because the whole point of a deposition is to get testimony on the record, a stenographer or video technician will also be present, recording the whole deposition. The lawyer then asks questions of the witness, and the lawyers for the other side are able to object to particular lines of questioning, if they wish.

Conducting A Civil Deposition in Mount Vernon, Iowa

Depositions in Mount Vernon, Iowa are meant to get verbal testimony on the record and into evidence, when there is concern that the individual being deposed might be unable to show up and testify at trial, or their testimony will take far too long for them to testify at trial.

Civil Depositions in Mount Vernon, Iowa can sometimes go on for days, and occasionally even weeks. If you are obligated to appear for a deposition in Mount Vernon, Iowa, it can prove to be a considerable inconvenience.

To help deal with this fact, Mount Vernon, Iowa permits 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.

In Mount Vernon, Iowa 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 extremely steep fines.

How Can A Mount Vernon, Iowa Lawyer Help?

If you are the plaintiff or defendant in a lawsuit, you almost definitely already have a Mount Vernon, Iowa 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're not a party to the case, but have relevant information, you might be subpoenaed to appear in a deposition. In this case, you likely don't need to hire a Mount Vernon, Iowa litigation attorney, but it would not be a bad idea to seek out a brief consultation with one, to get an idea of what to expect.