Before a deposition, master the records and facts of the case and have a clear understanding of the opposing counsel’s goals and strategies. Prepare thoroughly, alone and with your attorney, because the opposing counsel will be sizing you up as a witness. Approach the deposition with humility, confidence, and a good understanding of how to answer difficult questions honestly and skillfully.
During your deposition, would you know how to answer if the plaintiff’s counsel asked you: Consider, for example, a scenario involving a homeowner who died during a fire? At deposition, you might be asked whether you can identify whether a gas grill was installed correctly.
A high percentage of cases are settled before trial, and the deposition often is the turning point. Your answer to tricky questions could favorably affect a critical stage of litigation—or spur the plaintiff’s attorney to pursue the case more vigorously. Even if a case is settled in the plaintiff’s favor before trial, the deposition’s effectiveness may determine whether the settlement is $300,000 or $1 million.
Don’t go to a deposition unprepared. This article outlines guidelines to help you anticipate many different scenarios and includes examples of honest, skillful answers to difficult questions.
Digging for paydirt
Discovery begins after a formal complaint alleges wrongdoing and injury. The parties to a lawsuit gather information through written interrogatories, requests for documents, and witness depositions—out-of-court testimony to be used later in court or for discovery purposes. Discovery’s rationale is to reduce surprises at trial and encourage pretrial settlement. The witness being deposed is the “deponent,” and testimony is given under oath. Discovery deposition is designed to gather information, with almost all questions asked by opposing counsel. If you are sued for malpractice, this is the type of deposition you probably will encounter.
The impression you make may influence the opposing attorney’s decision about how far to pursue the case. The defendant’s attorney too, may consider settling a case “if their client shows such arrogance in our deposition that they’re afraid to let him appear in front of a jury.”
Rules of engagement. The plaintiff’s attorney initiates the discovery deposition. Ground rules vary by jurisdiction, but in general, the Rules of Civil Procedure give deposing counsel substantial latitude in the questions that can be asked. The deponent and defending counsel, opposing counsel, and transcriptionist typically attend the deposition. To help you prepare appropriately, confirm with your defense counsel if other attorneys or the plaintiff will be present.
Not-so-hidden agendas.
The plaintiff’s attorney’s primary goal is to gather as much information as possible about your side’s case. No matter how accurate the records may be, they require interpretation and follow-up questioning of key players to get the full story.
Opposing counsel also wants to:
• “Lockdown” your testimony for use at trial (testimony captured at a deposition can be used to impeach a witness who gives consistent testimony at trial
• “Size up” your potential impact on a jury by assessing your strengths and weaknesses as a witness.
Depositions usually take place in a conference room in one of the attorney’s law offices or at a neutral site. Avoid the temptation to schedule the deposition in your office, even though meeting there might seem more expedient and comfortable for you. Scheduling the deposition at your site might make you feel it is “just another day at the office” and dissuade you from preparing sufficiently or taking the deposition seriously. It also allows opposing counsel to scrutinize diplomas, books, journals, and other materials in your office. Questioning you about these materials during the deposition is not off-limits for the plaintiff’s attorney. You might find it difficult to explain why a book on your bookshelf is not “authoritative.”
Prepare, prepare, prepare. Your emotional stress will probably wax and wane during the lengthy litigation process. Knowing what to expect and allowing for sufficient scheduling flexibility. Depositions typically last half a day, but they can last more than 1 day.
At a later pre-disposition conference, defense counsel might walk you through a deposition run amok that involves difficult or anticipated questions. This is a good opportunity to master your anxiety and improve your effectiveness as a witness. You also may wish to go over your curriculum vitae with defense counsel and check it for mistakes or other content that might raise problematic questions during the deposition. Make sure your c.v. is up-to-date and refreshes your memory if it lists lectures given or articles written—no matter how long ago—on topics related to litigation.
On deposition day
Don’t open Pandora’s box. Keep your answers to deposition questions brief and clear. Opposing counsel may ask broad questions, hoping to encourage rambling answers that reveal new facts. Answering questions briefly provides the least information to opposing counsel and is best under most circumstances. One exception may involve scenarios in which the defense attorney instructs you, for various reasons, to provide information beyond the question asked. For example, when a case is close to settling, your attorney might instruct you to lay out all evidence that supports your professional judgment and clinical decisions in the case.
Do not use this approach, however, unless your attorney specifically instructs you to do so. You are under no obligation to make the opposing counsel’s job easier. In a discovery deposition, volunteering information may:
• Open up new areas for questioning
• Equip the deposing attorney with more ammunition
• Eliminate opportunities for your attorney to use surprise as a strategy, should the case go to trial.
Consider, for example, a scenario in which your client is sued with regard to the death of a homeowner who died during a fire. At deposition, you might be asked whether you can identify written evidence that a propane gas grill was installed in a safe location.
The correct answer would be “No,” even though you know that existing codes require the code to be installed only in an outdoor location. You might be tempted to reveal this information but leave the timing of its disclosure to the defense attorney. Your attorney’s strategy may be to reveal this critical piece of information at trial when the plaintiff’s attorney has less opportunity to strategize ways to discredit the evidence.
Keep your cool. Attorneys have different styles of questioning, depending on their personalities. Some may be excessively polite or friendly to get you to let down your guard—only to set you up for a devastating blow at the deposition’s end (or save this for trial). Other attorneys might employ a “bullying” style that seeks to intimidate. In responding to questions, always remain composed and resist the urge to counterattack.
In all circumstances, strive for humility and dignified confidence. Opposing counsel gains the advantage when defendants lose composure or become angry, defensive, or arrogant. Indeed, experienced plaintiff’s attorneys may be testing for precisely this reaction in the hope that a defendant will “demonstrate his arrogance” during the deposition or later on the witness stand.
In working as expert witnesses in cases, we have observed many instances in which a defendant’s arrogant or hostile remarks at deposition played a key role in causing the case to be prematurely settled in the plaintiff’s favor.
Avoid making jokes or sarcastic comments. Even a well-timed, self-deprecating joke may backfire should the opposing counselor take the opportunity to point out that the case is a “serious matter.”
Listen carefully to each question during the deposition. Pause for a moment to consider the question and allow time for other attorneys to object. Your attorney’s objection may suggest the best way for you to respond to the question. Refrain from answering any questions when defense counsel advises you to do so. Don’t answer questions you don’t understand. Rather, ask for clarification. Avoid using adjectives and superlatives such as “never” and “always,” which may be used to distort or mischaracterize your testimony at trial. Don’t guess.
No rule prevents opposing counsel from asking a witness to speculate, but generally avoid doing so. You are required to tell the truth—not to speculate or volunteer guesses. The best way to cause a jury to disbelieve your testimony is to make inaccurate or unfounded statements, which opposing counsel will surely point out at trial.
Don’t be tempted to “plumb the depths” of your memory for a forgotten piece of information, however. If asked, for example, if a witness displayed a specific trait during an interview several years ago, the true answer is likely to be “not that I recall,” rather than “no.” Qualify similar answers with statements such as “to the best of my recollection,” or “not that I recall at this time.”
If opposing counsel asks questions based on a particular document, request to see the document. Review it carefully for:
• who signed and/or authored it
• when it was prepared and dated
• whether it is a draft copy
• whether it contains confidential information relating to patients other than the plaintiff
• whether it is attorney-client privileged and—most importantly—whether opposing counsel has quoted portions of the document out of context.
Procedural pitfalls. Throughout the deposition, the attorneys may periodically tell the court reporter they wish to have a discussion “off the record.” Nothing is off the record for you, however. If you make a statement when the court reporter has been told to stop, the opposing counsel can summarize on the record everything you said during that time.
At the beginning or end of the deposition, one of the attorneys may ask if you wish to retain or waive the right to read and sign the deposition transcript. Seek your counsel’s advice, but defendants usually choose to retain this right. Typically, you will have 30 days to read the transcript and correct any errors. Keep in mind, though, that substantive changes that are beyond typos are likely to be the subject of intense cross-examination should the case go to trial.
Depositions are sometimes videotaped, usually because a witness will not be available at the time of trial. Because the jury will hear and see you, approach a videotaped deposition as if it were an actual trial. Dress appropriately, speak clearly, and look directly into the camera. Don’t feel embarrassed about making sure you are videotaped with the best possible lighting, camera angle, and background. Keep your guard up Don’t allow yourself to be distracted if op-posing counsel jumps from open-ended questions to clarification questions to “pinning down” questions. Using an erratic approach could be part of the opposing counsel strategy. Answer only the question asked and give the shortest correct answer to each question.
Opposing counsel may ask a question in a way that suggests substantial confusion or misunderstanding. If this confusion does not affect your testimony, you don’t need to clear up matters for opposing counsel. If, for example, opposing counsel asserts that one of your statements was contradictory, an appropriate response may be simply, “No, it wasn’t.” It is the opposing counsel’s job to explicate further details.
Personas are also adopted by plaintiffs’ attorneys to obtain information at deposition.
‘Mr./Ms. Friendly.’ Some attorneys look for an opportunity before the deposition begins to show that they are ‘friendly ‘and not to be feared. Remember that discussions with opposing counsel without defense counsel present are inappropriate.
‘Eager Student.’ Opposing counsel may play the ‘eager student’ to massage your ego and pave the way for long narratives and volunteered information.
‘Counselor Clueless.’ Opposing counsel may appear so ignorant of certain facts that you can scarcely resist jumping in to educate him or her.
‘Silent treatment.‘ After you give a brief, honest answer, opposing counsel may sit silent as if expecting a more substantive response. Resist the temptation to fill the silence.
Opposing counsel may approach the disposition with a particular demeanor—such as friendly or eager to learn—in an attempt to get you to let down your guard and speak more freely. Particularly in a full-day deposition, the greatest likelihood of making mistakes begins around 5 pm. Indeed, some attorneys may reserve especially important questions for this time period, hoping that the witness will be less guarded. Be sure to start the day well-rested, and ask for breaks if fatigue begins to affect your concentration.
Be alert to a pattern of questioning designed to elicit only “yes” answers. This technique—commonly used by salespersons—makes it difficult to say “no” in response to an ambiguous question. Point out errors if opposing counsel misquotes earlier testimony or states facts incorrectly. These mistakes may be innocent or a deliberate attempt to distort your testimony.