Litigation Lawyers in Anne Arundel County

A civil deposition in Anne Arundel County, Maryland occurs in many civil litigation cases, as part of the discovery process.

Discovery, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland is a very important 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 Anne Arundel County, Maryland, one way to get relevant evidence is to ask individuals 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 Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Depositions are normally conducted in Anne Arundel County, Maryland 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.

Civil Depositions in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, can take a very long time to be completed, normally lasting several days, and sometimes going on for weeks. So, people who are called to give depositions in Anne Arundel County, Maryland should be prepared for some considerable inconvenience.

To help deal with this fact, Anne Arundel County, Maryland 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 Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 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 Anne Arundel County, Maryland Lawyer Help?

If you are the plaintiff or defendant in a lawsuit, you almost certainly already have an Anne Arundel County, Maryland 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 a party to the case, but are subpoenaed to testify in a deposition, you should at least consult with an Anne Arundel County, Maryland attorney, who can advise you on how to proceed.