Litigation Lawyers in Hermitage

Depositions are part of the discovery procedure in Hermitage, Pennsylvania civil litigation.

"Discovery" is a procedure that happens before a trial in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. During the discovery process, both sides are obligated to make relevant information available to each other.

In Hermitage, Pennsylvania, 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 Hermitage, Pennsylvania

Depositions in Hermitage, Pennsylvania serve a very significant purpose: receiving testimony on the record, and admitted as evidence, when there is some reason to suspect that the witness won't be able to appear in court during trial, because of health, possible incarceration, or any other reason.

Civil Depositions in Hermitage, Pennsylvania can sometimes go on for days, and occasionally even weeks. If you are obligated to appear for a deposition in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, it can prove to be a substantial inconvenience.

Thus, Hermitage, Pennsylvania'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 occasionally 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 linked with testifying.

If you are being deposed in Hermitage, Pennsylvania 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 Hermitage, Pennsylvania Lawyer Help?

If you are the defendant or plaintiff in a lawsuit, chances are good that you'll have to appear in a deposition. You should, by this time, already be represented by a Hermitage, Pennsylvania civil litigation attorney. You should do whatever they tell you to do (unless, of course, they tell you to lie, in that case you should find a new lawyer).

If you are not a party to the lawsuit, but are subpoenaed to testify in a deposition, you should at least contact with a Hermitage, Pennsylvania attorney, who can advise you on how to proceed.