Litigation Lawyers in Oconomowoc

Civil depositions happen during Oconomowoc, Wisconsin civil litigation, as part of the discovery procedure.

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

In Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 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 Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Depositions are normally conducted in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 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 everyone 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.

It should not be any shock, then, that civil depositions in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin can go on for a very long time. If you are contacted to appear in a deposition in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, this can be a massive headache.

Because of this fact, the law in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 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 particular way ceases to be compensation, and becomes bribery, which is a crime.

If you are called to a deposition in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, it's absolutely necessary 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 Oconomowoc, Wisconsin Lawyer Help?

If you are directly immersed in a lawsuit in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and have to appear at a deposition, you should already be represented by a lawyer. It goes without saying that you should do whatever they advise you to do throughout the deposition.

If you are not directly immersed in the lawsuit, you might still have to appear at a deposition, if you have information that's relevant to the case in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 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.