Depositions

• Author: Ashley Lipson
• Pages: 657-774

DEPOSITIONS

10-1

Cross-examination is the highest art form—a f‌inely tuned

ballet of movement, gesture and articulation, meticulously

choreographed by the lawyer-artist for the sole purpose

of seizing and conducting the thoughts and words of a

forewarned and unwilling enemy.

CHAPTER 10

DEPOSITIONS

§10.10 BASIC TRAINING AND STRATEGY

§10.11 Introducing Hand-to-Hand Combat

§10.12 Media Selection

§10.12(a) Stenographically Recorded Depositions

§10.12(b) Audiotaped Depositions

§10.12(c) Videotaped Depositions

§10.12(d) Telephonic Depositions

§10.12(e) Videoconferenced Depositions

§10.12(f) Web-Based Streaming Depositions

§10.12(g) Depositions Upon Written Questions

§10.20 THE PEOPLE THAT YOU INTEND TO DEPOSE

§10.21 Parties in General

§10.21(a) Enemy Parties

§10.21(b) Allied Parties

§10.22 Lay Witnesses

§10.23 Expert Witnesses

§10.23(a) Enemy Experts

§10.23(b) Allied Experts

§10.24 Attorneys

§10.25 Corporations and Other Entities

§10.26 Immunizing Top Off‌icials And Executives [The “Apex” Doctrine]

§10.30 TIPS FOR TIMING AND POSITIONING YOUR ATTACK

§10.40 THE RULES THAT YOU NEED

§10.41 Federal Rules Pertaining to Depositions

DEPOSITIONS

Guerrilla Discovery 10-2

§10.50 SCHEDULING AND TAKING THE DEPOSITION

§10.51 The Skills of Direct Examination

§10.51(a) Client Preparation

§10.51(b) Tips for General Interrogation

§10.52 The Art of Cross-Examination [Direct Examination of Opponent]

§10.52(a) Cross-Examination Goals

§10.52(b) Critical Tips for an Effective Attack on the Deponent

§10.52(c) Quips and Tricks for Handling Diff‌icult Deponents

§10.52(d) The Ten Commandments of Cross-Examination

§10.53 How to Combat Obnoxious Lawyers

§10.53(a) Generally Obnoxious Behavior

§10.53(b) Coaching During Interrogation

§10.53(c) Coaching Of f-the-Record

§10.53(d) Obnoxious Objections

§10.53 (e) Obnoxious Environments

§10.54 How to Combat Obnoxious Deponents

§10.55 Guerrilla Deposition Checklist [From Reveille to Taps]

§10.56 Deposition Checklists for Specif‌ic Actions

§10.56(a) Uni-Party Checklist — Breach of Contract

§10.56(b) Uni-Party Checklist — Tort Actions

§10.57 Electronic Deposition Checklist

§10.60 DEFENDING THE DEPOSITION

§10.61 Preparing and Defending Your Client

§10.61(a) Attacking the Notice of Deposition

§10.61(b) The Client Preparation Checklist

§10.61(c) Simulated Examination

§10.61(d) Attending the Deposition

§10.61(e) Terminating the Deposition

§10.61(f) Crash Course in Objection Warfare

§10.62 Preparing and Defending Your Expert

§10.70 ENFORCEMENT

§10.80 DEPOSITION ADMISSIBILITY

§10.90 THE FORMS THAT YOU NEED

Form 10.1 Notice of Deposition (Basic)

Form 10.2 Petition to Allow Deposition Prior to Commencement of Action to Preserve and Perpetuate Testimony

Form 10.3 Notice of Deposition to Preserve and Perpetuate Testimony (Prior to Commencement)

Form 10.4 Stipulations of Counsel Per taining to Discovery Depositions

Form 10.5 Notice of Deposition (To a Business Entity, Agent Identif‌ied)

Form 10.6 Notice of Deposition (To a Business Entity, Agent Unidentif‌ied)

Form 10.7 Notice of Deposition (To Records Custodian)

Form 10.8 Notice of Deposition (Non-Stenographic)

Form 10.9 Petition to Allow Deposition Pending Appeal

Form 10.10 Motion for Deposition Pending Appeal

Form 10.11 Motion for Additional Deposition

Form 10.12 Application for Commission

Form 10.13 Commission

Form 10.14 Combined Discovery Request

Form 10.15 Notice of Deposition and Notice for Production of Documents (Non-Party)

Form 10.16 Objections to Notice of Deposition

Form 10.17 Motion to Quash Deposition Subpoena

DEPOSITIONS

10-3 Depositions

Form 10.18 Motion to Terminate Deposition

Form 10.19 Motion for Costs for Failure to Issue Deposition Subpoena

Form 10.20 Motion to Suppress Deposition

Form 10.21 Set-Up Letter (Failure to Attend Depositions)

Form 10.22 Motion to Compel Deposition

Form 10.23 Motion to Compel Deposition Upon Oral Testimony

Form 10.24 Motion for Contempt Citation, Sanctions, and Dispositive Relief

Form 10.25 Response to Set-up Letter (Failure to Attend Depositions)

Form 10.26 Answer to Motion to Compel Deposition

Form 10.27 Answer to Motion for Sanctions and Dispositive Relief

Form 10.28 Notice of Deposition (To Custodian of Digital and Electronic Records)

Form 10.29 Motion to Preclude Interference