Litigation Lawyers in Bellefontaine Neighbors

A civil deposition in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri happens in many civil litigation cases, as part of the discovery procedure.

The discovery procedure in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri 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.

One way to receive this information in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri

In Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, the main reason to conduct a deposition, as opposed to having someone testify in court, is to save time. After days of depositions, the jury can be presented with just the relevant testimony, if the case goes to trial. Also, it's a good idea to conduct a deposition if there's any reason to believe that the witness will not be able to show up to court to testify, due to bad health, or any other reason.

Civil Depositions in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri can sometimes go on for days, and occasionally even weeks. If you are obligated to appear for a deposition in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, it can prove to be a significant inconvenience.

Because of this fact, the law in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri permits witnesses who are appearing for depositions to be compensated for the expense associated with it. This includes reimbursement for gas, lodging, and food. They can also be paid a certain amount of money for every hour they testify, to compensate them for their time. However, this money can only be conditioned on the witness showing up and giving truthful testimony. Trying to condition it on the witness testifying in a certain way ceases to be compensation, and becomes bribery, which is a crime.

If you are being deposed in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri you absolutely must answer all the questions truthfully and completely, to the best of your knowledge. You are under oath, and if you lie, and are caught, you could be prosecuted with perjury, which can carry jail time.

How Can A Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri Lawyer Help?

If you are a party to a lawsuit, and are subpoenaed to a deposition, chances are you're already represented by a , Missouri 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri. You likely 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.