Litigation Lawyers in Southbridge

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

Discovery, in Southbridge, Massachusetts 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.

In Southbridge, 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 Southbridge, Massachusetts

Depositions are typically conducted in Southbridge, 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 Southbridge, Massachusetts can go on for a very long time. If you are called to appear in a deposition in Southbridge, Massachusetts, this can be a huge headache.

Therefore, Southbridge, Massachusetts's civil procedure rules permit a person to be compensated for the time and money they spend in appearing at a deposition. If the witness lives far away from the location of the deposition, as is sometimes the case in large trials, they can be reimbursed for travel and lodging expenses, and compensated for their time. However, this money cannot be used to influence HOW they testify, just to mitigate the inconvenience associated with testifying.

When giving a deposition in Southbridge, Massachusetts, 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. Thus, if you lie, you are committing perjury, which can land you in jail.

How Can A Southbridge, Massachusetts Lawyer Help?

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

If you're not a party to a lawsuit in Southbridge, Massachusetts, but have knowledge about some of the facts that are at issue in a pending case, you might still be called to appear in a deposition. In that case, you probably don't need to hire a lawyer.