10,000 Depositions Later Podcast

In this episode, Jim Garrity explains how depositions by written questions work, and when to use them. Many lawyers have never deposed a witness this way. Garrity argues that this tool has value, and that you should experiment with them to gain both a working understanding of this option and to further expand your deposition skill set. There's a bonus PDF with this episode as well, available f...

In this episode, Jim Garrity talks about the sequence and timing of your depositions. Who is allowed to go first? What if the opposing lawyers insist on deposing your client first, and won't agree to dates for your depositions unless you consent? What if your opponents won't agree to any depositions until your responses to their interrogatories are complete? And what if they're the fir...

In this episode, Jim Garrity looks at a tactic expressly allowed by the rules, but almost always prohibited by judges, specifically the reading of the entire deposition of an adverse party's witnesses to the jury. The practice seems authorized by Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(a)(3) and similar language in many state court rules, which say the deposition of an adverse party can be used “for any purpose” a...

In this episode, Jim discusses the November 18, 2021 decision of the Florida Supreme Court suspending a lawyer who was allegedly caught text-coaching a deponent while testimony was in progress. As always, keep in mind that our Lessons from the Front Lines episodes report on brand-new decisions, usually issued within a day or two of the podcast episode discussing them. That means that the decisions...

In this episode, Jim Garrity tackles a sometimes-sticky question: How many times do you have to ask an opponent or witness for deposition dates before you can just set them unilaterally? Garrity tells you (a) exactly how many times you should ask for dates before you set them without agreement, and (b) exactly what to say. Do you have an extra 60 seconds today? Our show production staff would grea...

In this episode - one in a recurring series where we share brand new deposition-related court rulings from around the country - Jim Garrity tells you about a ruling just three days ago, where a judge pondered the question whether a plaintiff's lawyer had violated a discovery stay by using a public-records act request to gather information while the stay was in effect. It's similar to a lin...

In this episode, Jim Garrity brings clarity to a quandary experienced by many litigators: Can the non-record lawyers of non-party deponents show up at the deposition and actively participate? By objecting, by asking questions, by giving directions to the court reporter, or engaging in colloquy with record counsel? As always, the cases upon which this episode is based are listed in the show notes b...

In this episode, Jim Garrity discusses so-called standing objections, where - in theory - the parties agree that defending lawyers need not make continual objections to a specific line of questioning in order to preserve their rights. What factors should you take into account in offering, or agreeing to, a standing objection? Garrity offers a wide range of practical tips to consider. Cases upon wh...

Why do litigators feel comfortable dismembering emails, and showing deponents only fragments of the actual conversation? More importantly, why do they think it's okay? In this episode, Jim Garrity discusses "rule of completeness" objections, and why you need to make them. As always, be sure to check out the show notes, which contain the authorities on which each episode is based. The s...

In this episode, Jim Garrity addresses the question whether your deposition subpoena, which contains a specific date and time for appearance, in fact expires (requiring the witness to be re-subpoenaed) if the deposition is postponed to a future date. As always, he ends the episode with incredibly insightful practice tips, including sample language to include in your subpoenas to avoid this expirat...

Did you know? Our show notes - where we list the cases and other authorities on which each episode is based - are dynamic. That means we're constantly updating and adding to them. As we encounter new cases in our daily deposition research that touch on a topic we've covered, we'll add them to that episode's show notes. These notes are a free, incredibly valuable research bank for y...

What exactly have your remote video deponents placed in front of them - on their screen, on the floor, on sticky notes, on a second monitor and elsewhere - to help them testify and spew the official line? Do you systematically inquire at the start of your remote depositions? In this episode, Jim Garrity recommends that you always ask about devices and information - within the deponent's reach...

Trial is approaching, and you learn a witness you planned to call live now isn’t available. You'll need to read or play their deposition testimony instead. That means that you must prove the witness' "unavailability" under the rules. How do you do it? Which rules do you need to analyze? How far in advance of trial do you have to do it? Can you just tell the judge that, last you hea...

In this episode, Jim Garrity explores the effect of language added by many litigators in their notices that the deposition may be used (apart from discovery purposes) at trial, in lieu of live testimony by the deponent. But does simply declaring this make it so? Does this eliminate the need to prove unavailability before the deposition can be read? Garrity discusses what courts have to say about t...

In this episode, Jim Garrity shares a valuable tool for protecting the identities of nonparty deponents and, in the process, protecting their careers, reputations, and families. A deponent who sees that you've taken steps to protect them is a deponent likely to tell you everything they know. Be sure to check out the show notes, as always, for citations supporting the observations in this episo...

In this Lessons from the Front Lines episode - where we review brand-new deposition-related cases from around the country - Jim Garrity discusses a new ruling that belongs in your research files (and in your briefcase at depositions) on the right and wrong way to make depositions. The opinion, written by a relatively new federal magistrate who took great pains to catalog cases on this topic, conta...

In this episode, Jim Garrity concludes the Core Essential Series on preparing your clients for depositions by discussing additional topics to cover with your clients, including the possibility of questions about dishonest or illegal acts, the likelihood of a wide range of personal background questions, inquiries about information your client has obtained and whether anyone associated with the adve...

In this episode, Jim Garrity continues the series on preparing your clients for depositions. He’ll wrap up this series in the next segment. Today's episode includes pointers to share with your clients about the importance of giving complete answers to lawyers who constantly interrupt, the importance of listening to the entire question, the need to read all documents with great caution, the sig...

In this episode, Jim Garrity shares additional critical insights for preparing your clients for deposition. Today's episode includes pointers to share with your clients about how judges, opposing lawyers, and juries use transcripts; appreciating and understanding the difference between answering questions in a social conversation and in a deposition; the importance of saying "I don't k...

In this fourth installment of Preparing Your Clients for Deposition, Jim Garrity begins sharing critical insights you need to tell your clients about the deposition process: the layout of the room where the deposition will take place, who will be present and where they will be seated, the importance of taking regular breaks to prevent mental exhaustion, and the differences between depositions as s...

In this third installment of our Core Essential series on preparing your clients for deposition, Jim Garrity covers the three building blocks for effective client deposition prep: explaining the deposition process start to finish, explaining the tricks and traps used by opposing lawyers, and conducting mock depositions in the exact style of the examining lawyer. In other words, train as you fight....

In episode 47, Jim Garrity spoke about the problems you may encounter when entities produce a large number of 30(b)(6) designees on an equally large number of topics (e.g., 29 designees on 30 topics). Today, Garrity covers the difficulties you'll face when an entity produces just a single designee to cover a large number of topics (e.g., one designee on 33 topics). What complications will this...

In this episode, Jim Garrity stresses the importance of always reserving the right to review the transcript of your client's deposition testimony, and provides a fresh example from one of his own cases about the errors that sometimes creep into the transcription of even the best reporters. CASE NOTES: CSC Holdings, Inc. v. Alberto,  379 F.Supp.2d 490, 493 n. 1 (S.D.N.Y.2005) (stating that “ori...

In this episode, Jim Garrity stresses the importance of beginning your first deposition-specific meeting by understanding what your clients THINK about depositions. What do they think they're for? How long do they think it will take? What do they think the opposing lawyers will do with the transcript? Do they know how judges and juries use them? Your clients will always arrive with at least so...

In this episode - the first in a new series on preparing your clients for deposition - Jim Garrity outlines the initial, essential steps for creating invincible deponents. That includes a deep dive into your client's background, so you're not caught off guard by side issues that could derail the case.