Litigation Lawyers in Roslyn Heights

Civil depositions occur during civil litigation in Roslyn Heights, New York. They are part of the discovery process.

The discovery process in Roslyn Heights, New York is one of the most important parts of the civil litigation process. During the discovery phase, each side of the lawsuit is required to make all of the relevant information it has in its possession available to the other side.

In Roslyn Heights, New York, one way to obtain relevant evidence is to ask people 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 Roslyn Heights, New York

If the parties believe that a witness in Roslyn Heights, New York won't be able to show up in court to testify during trial, because of age, poor health, upcoming military deployment, potential incarceration, or any other reason, a deposition is a very good way to get their testimony on the record before the trial. Also, if they have to be questioned for several days, it is a good way to save the court's time.

Roslyn Heights, New York civil depositions can go on for a long time - occasionally going for a week or more. If you get subpoenaed to give your testimony in a Roslyn Heights, New York civil deposition, this could prove to be incredibly inconvenient.

To help mitigate this inconvenience, Roslyn Heights, New York 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.

If you are called to a deposition in Roslyn Heights, New York, it's absolutely essential that you answer all the questions truthfully, to the best of your knowledge. When testifying in a deposition, you are under oath, just as you would be in open court. Deliberately lying in a deposition is perjury, which is a serious crime.

How Can A Roslyn Heights, New York Lawyer Help?

If you are the plaintiff or defendant in a lawsuit, you almost certainly already have a Roslyn Heights, New York 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 probably don't need to hire a Roslyn Heights, New York 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.