Litigation Lawyers in Westover

Civil depositions occur during Westover, West Virginia civil litigation, as part of the discovery process.

"Discovery" is a process that occurs before a trial in Westover, West Virginia. During the discovery process, both sides are required to make relevant information available to each other.

One way to acquire this information in Westover, West Virginia 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. Typically, 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 Westover, West Virginia

Depositions in Westover, West Virginia serve a very important purpose: acquiring 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, potential incarceration, or any other reason.

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

To help deal with this fact, Westover, West Virginia 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 advantageous 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 Westover, West Virginia, 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 Westover, West Virginia Lawyer Help?

If you are a party to a lawsuit, and are called to a deposition, chances are you're already represented by a , West Virginia attorney. Obviously, you should follow their advice with respect to the deposition.

If you are not directly engaged in the lawsuit, you might still have to appear at a deposition, if you have information that's relevant to the case in Westover, West Virginia. 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.