 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
 |
Scheduling A Deposition
Date
Time
Location
Witness Name, Attorney’s Name and Case
Provide the Notice
Order/Delivery Requirements
Expedited Delivery
Type of Deposition and Key Words (Word List)
Stipulations and Signature
Videography
Realtime Text Viewing of Depositions
Rough ASCII or Rough Disk
Interpreter
Exhibits
Deposition Confirmation/Cancellation
What To Bring to the Deposition
Scheduling A Deposition
To properly schedule a deposition, please note that local scheduling arrangements may be different than out-of-state or out-of-the-country arrangements. Deposition rules vary from state to state and certainly from country to country. Many countries do not allow depositions to take place without a local attorney present. Also, be aware that Certified Court Reporters are in demand, especially in metropolitan areas. This means that rates for reporting services will vary greatly. You will tend to find them higher on the West and East Coasts.
Preparation is the key to a properly scheduled deposition and accurate transcript.
Date
Day, month and year
Time
Include the time zone because you may be calling or setting up a deposition on-line with a company located in another part of the country.
Location
Clear directions and location are a must. All too often a court reporter cannot find the location of the deposition. Last minute cell phone calls usually correct the problem, but it starts the deposition off on a sour note. Be sure to include the following:
1. Street address with a room number or office name.
2. The name of a contact person at the deposition site.
3. If it is at an airport, the specific terminal and room
name or number.
4. Hotel depositions should have contact and room number.
Witness Name, Attorney’s Name and Case
Include all the witnesses if you are scheduling multiple depositions for the same case. Hearings and arbitration meetings should have both parties listed.
Provide the Notice
To assist the reporter before the deposition, send or fax the notice to us. We will verify spelling and location against your scheduling information.
Order/Delivery Requirements
Although your order can change after a deposition, let us know how soon you will need the transcript. A "Regular Delivery" time frame for transcript completion is usually 15 business days.
Expedited Delivery
6 to10 Business Days: + 25%
3 to 5 Business Days: + 50%
2 Business Days: + 80%
Daily or Next day: + 100%
Same Day – Available with advance notification.
Type of Deposition and Key Words (Word List)
For smoother and more accurate transcripts, let us know the type of information that will be discussed at the deposition. We know which reporter is better at taking a medical or technical deposition. If you can fax or e-mail a list of words that you know will be used at the deposition, the reporter can load this into his or her system before the deposition. This may include proper names, company or product names. This is especially helpful when realtime reporting is being requested.
Stipulations and Signature
Examples of Stipulations may include "Read and Sign" or "All Objections Reserved." Because the reporter is an impartial party to the deposition, he or she must know which party will handle signature of the witness. If no stipulation is agreed upon the applicable state or federal codes will be followed.
Videography
When the interested parties review a deposition, nothing can convey the tone of the deposition better than videography. The deponent’s expressions and speech are recorded and can be very useful in the future, especially in front of a jury. Many options are available with a video. Time stamping the transcript with the video can improve searching for a specific part of the video. You can even synchronize the deposition to view the transcript and video simultaneously.
Realtime Text Viewing of Depositions
New technology has created tools for realtime text viewing of depositions. A reporter will connect a laptop to his or her steno machine and, if requested, connect to the attorneys at the deposition. This allows the attorneys to see the text as it is spoken, add notes to the testimony, and scroll up or down to review in preparation for cross examination. It is also more efficient to use realtime if an interpreter is being used for the deposition.
Rough ASCII or Rough Disk
Best if ordered when a deposition is scheduled. After the deposition, reporters can provide a rough draft in text form of the deposition. The reporter will note that the copy is not edited, not certified and not in final form. Page numbers and line numbers will not match the certified transcript when it is received. It is best to delete or dispose of this draft when the final transcript arrives.
Interpreter
Legal interpreters are also in short supply, so it is always better to book well in advance of the deposition. Rates will vary according to the language being interpreted.
Exhibits
If exhibits are premarked, they can be sent to os before the deposition for copying and collating. We can provide binders and tabs for the exhibits. If you know there will be many exhibits to mark at the deposition, inform us that exhibit stickers will be needed.
Exhibits should be stacked chronologically for easy access at the deposition. They can also be scanned into electronic form on diskette or CD-ROM media. If you require unusual types and sizes of exhibits, including photographs, blueprints, etc., we can have them reproduced.
Deposition Confirmation/Cancellation
Since reporting agencies charge an appearance or late cancellation fee, make sure you cancel your deposition well in advance. We always confirm a scheduled deposition by phone the day before the deposition.
What To Bring To The Deposition
> Business cards for proper spellings by the reporter
> A copy of the deposition subpoena
> Any documents you will need the witness to
authenticate or explain
> A caption that best describes the case and
docket number
> Any witness fees you may be obligated to give the witness.
Site Design: The Sherwood Group