Litigation Lawyers in Happy Valley

Depositions are part of the discovery process in Happy Valley, Oregon civil litigation.

In Happy Valley, Oregon, "discovery" is a process that occurs before a civil trial, during which both sides are required to disclose relevant evidence to the other.

In Happy Valley, Oregon, one way to acquire this information is to find the people involved in the dispute (whether they're witnesses or parties), and ask them questions about the issues you believe them to have knowledge of. A civil deposition is usually a pretty simple process: the person being deposed is sworn in (they are under oath, just as if they were in a courtroom). Because the whole point of a deposition is to get testimony on the record, a stenographer or video technician will also be present, recording the whole deposition. The lawyer then asks questions of the witness, and the lawyers for the other side are able to object to certain lines of questioning, if they wish.

Conducting A Civil Deposition in Happy Valley, Oregon

Depositions are usually conducted in Happy Valley, Oregon 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.

So, it shouldn't be shocking that civil depositions in Happy Valley, Oregon can usually go on for several days. If you are subpoenaed for a deposition in , Oregon, you are usually obligated to appear. This can be a source of some inconvenience.

To help deal with this fact, Happy Valley, Oregon 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 favorable 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 Happy Valley, Oregon, 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 Happy Valley, Oregon Lawyer Help?

If you are a party to a lawsuit, and are called to a deposition, chances are you're already represented by a , Oregon 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 Happy Valley, Oregon. 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.