Patty from Green Ridge asks, “What is a deposition?” Simply stated, a deposition is someone’s testimony taken before trial. Depositions can be used for discovery to find out what someone is going to say before they testify at trial, or it can be used to preserve and present testimony at a future date. Depositions are recorded by stenographers – someone who typewrites everything that’s said, both the questions and the answers. They may also be video-recorded. So, not only can a jury listen to what is said, they can assess someone’s demeanor by observing how they express their answers. Frankly, a deposition is a lawyer’s most valuable tool to discover what happened and to present evidence at trial.
