Litigation Lawyers in Columbia

A civil deposition in Columbia, Kentucky occurs in many civil litigation cases, as part of the discovery process.

In Columbia, Kentucky, "discovery" is a time-consuming procedure that occurs before a case goes to trial. In the process, each side of the lawsuit is legally required to disclose all of the relevant information they have in their possession to the other side.

One way to get this information in Columbia, Kentucky 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. Usually, 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 Columbia, Kentucky

Depositions in Columbia, Kentucky are meant to get verbal testimony on the record and into evidence, when there is concern that the person 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.

It should not be any surprise, then, that civil depositions in Columbia, Kentucky can go on for a very long time. If you are called to appear in a deposition in Columbia, Kentucky, this can be a major headache.

To help mitigate this inconvenience, Columbia, Kentucky allows witnesses who are appearing in depositions to be paid a set amount of money for their time, and reimbursed for travel expenses. However, if there is any evidence that this money is being used to influence a witness' testimony, there is going to be a serious problem: this would amount bribery, and it is a serious offense.

When giving a deposition in Columbia, Kentucky, be sure to answer all of the questions honestly, and to the absolute best of your knowledge. You will be sworn in before the deposition begins, and you will be under oath, just as if you were in open court. So, if you lie, you are committing perjury, which can land you in jail.

How Can A Columbia, Kentucky Lawyer Help?

If you are a party to a lawsuit, and are called to a deposition, chances are you're already represented by a , Kentucky attorney. Obviously, you should follow their advice with respect to the deposition.

If you are not directly involved in the lawsuit, you might still have to appear at a deposition, if you have information that's relevant to the case in Columbia, Kentucky. 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.