what documents should plaintiff attorney ask defendant doctor to bring to depo

by Prof. Monserrate Abbott 3 min read

Here are a few more key questions when the deponent is a defendant doctor in a medical malpractice case: Whether the doctor has ever had a medical license suspended or revoked; The contents of the doctor's medical records, if handwritten and hard to read;

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What do I bring to a deposition?

A copy of the front and back of your health insurance card, proof of insurance or any other document describing health benefits available to you. Any and all applications submitted for Social Security Disability, or any other disability benefit available to Plaintiff, at any time.

Who can be present at a medical malpractice deposition?

Dec 13, 2007 · Here are a few more key questions when the deponent is a defendant doctor in a medical malpractice case: Whether the doctor has ever had a medical license suspended or revoked; The contents of the doctor's medical records, if handwritten and hard to read; Whether the doctor's preparation for the deposition included the review of any medical literature, and if …

How should the plaintiff’s attorney prepare for deposition of the defendant?

Aug 22, 2018 · The physician/defendant may also be deposed by your attorney; however, as the plaintiff, you will be required to give your deposition first. During a deposition, attorneys for both sides are present. Expert witnesses may also be present, …

What should I do if my client's deposition notice is defective?

•Documents indentified in answers to interrogatories. •Documents, including emails and text messages, related to the lawsuit. •Documents, including emails and text messages, exchanged with current or former employees of the defendant. •Pleadings from other lawsuits, claims and administrative charges. 4. Third-Party Discovery.

How do I prepare for a medical deposition?

Preparing for the DepositionHaving you review documents a day or two before the deposition to jog your memory.Talking with you about key events to allow you to better focus your attention on the exact act of negligence.Giving you some sample questions that may be asked by the opposing attorney.More items...•Aug 22, 2018

How do you do a Depo summary?

How to Summarize a Deposition TranscriptRead the Entire Deposition. ... Tab Key Questions and Answers in the Deposition Text. ... State a Theme. ... Focus on Brevity. ... Keep a Consistent Format. ... Get Help With Depositions & Other Litigation Services.Sep 6, 2018

What should I ask in a deposition?

Deposition Preparation QuestionsHow did you prepare for this deposition?Have you spoken to anyone other than your counsel about this case? ... What, specifically was discussed?What documents pertaining to the case have you reviewed?Did you meet with counsel for the other side prior to this deposition?More items...•Mar 22, 2017

How do you authenticate a document at a deposition?

To "authenticate" evidence, you must introduce sufficient evidence to sustain a finding that the writing is what you say it is. (Evid. Code, § 1400 (a).) You need not prove the genuineness of the evidence, but to authenticate it, you must have a witness lay basic foundations for it.

How long should a Depo Summary take?

Generally, it takes around 2-4 hours to prepare a deposition summary. But for some complex cases, sometimes it may take several days to complete.

What is a transcript summary?

Report Summary: A comprehensive, structured synopsis of your transcription, including a cover page, executive summary, background, significance, key concepts, schedule, budgets, and concluding recommendations and/or proposals. Word count is 20% lesser than that of the original transcript.

What Cannot be asked in a deposition?

In most cases, a deponent cannot refuse to answer a question at a deposition unless the answer would reveal privileged or irrelevant private information or the court previously ordered that the information cannot be revealed (source).Jan 22, 2020

How do you not answer questions in a deposition?

in your deposition by, for example, saying they happen “never” or “always.” Qualifying your answers with words like “usually,” “generally,” “typically,” “it depends,” and “not necessarily” can help you avoid exaggerating with unwarranted absolutes. You must also answer completely. A half-truth is insufficient.

What do you say at the end of a deposition?

Procedurally, there is nothing magic that you need to do at the end of the deposition except to say, "I'm done for now." The other lawyers who are present then get to ask questions until everyone is finished; if another lawyer asks questions, you can follow up yourself.Dec 12, 2005

How do you get deposition into evidence?

You cannot read a deposition into evidence unless a deposition original (or a copy that has been signed and certified by the court reporter) is filed with the court before it is read into evidence.

Is a transcript hearsay?

It is hearsay, but is admissible within one or more exceptions. Court reporters' transcripts are usually admissible as business records, since reporters are usually entrepreneurs, not public officials. Therefore, with the proper foundation, the transcript would be within the business records exception.

Are exhibits considered discovery?

Discovery is done in many ways, such as through depositions, interrogatories, or requests for ad- missions. It also can be done through independent research or by talking with the other side's lawyer. Evidence: Any proof legally presented at trial through witnesses, records, and/or exhibits.

What is the best source of information for an employment case?

The client’s documents and witnesses. By far the best sources of information in most employment cases are the client’s own documents and witnesses. Employment plaintiffs typically find themselves in an evi-dentiary deficit while employers have a surfeit of information. Personnel files, handbooks, policies, manuals, payroll records, write-ups, emails, performance evaluations, co-workers and supervisors all reside with the employer. Needless to say, defense counsel should meet with the key company witnesses and study relevant company documents well in advance of the plaintiff ’s deposition. The documents and information will be used to obtain admissions in the plaintiff ’s deposition.

Can a case be won on summary judgment?

Not all cases can be won on summary judgment, so defense counsel must treat the damages aspect of the case with as much vigor as liability. The same probing style should be employed when examining the plaintiff about damages.

What is the objective of a plaintiff's deposition?

One objective of the plaintiff ’s deposition (perhaps the more obvious one) is to discover informa-tion through open-ended questions : who, what, when, where, how and why? The goal is to pin down the plaintiff ’s claims and their factual bases. Establishing the absence of knowledge can be as important as armatively establishing a fact. In addition, witnesses or information (written or digital) disclosed in the deposition may lead to additional defense discovery. Much has been written about the discovery aspect of the plaintiff ’s deposition, which need not be repeated here. Cases are won not so much by discovery, but through admissions.

What is admissions in deposition?

For summary judgment, the plaintiff ’s admissions can mean the difference between a genuine factual dispute and an uncontroverted record. At trial, the cross-examiner is well advised to ask only questions as to which the answer is known. The ability to “know the answer” comes primarily from admissions gained in the plaintiff ’s deposition. The trial cross-examination of the plaintiff can be viewed as a distillation of the “greatest hits” from the deposition. For that reason, my preference is not to hold back in deposition. Unlike their Hol-lywood adaptations, real life trials lack surprise witnesses and concealed documents. Pre-trial orders requir-ing the exchange of witness and exhibit lists ensure that. The best chance to catch the plaintiff unawares is in deposition. Once the deposition testimony is locked in, the plaintiff is stuck with it.

What is the most important phase of auto related litigation?

One of the most critical phases of auto-related litigation is the deposition of the defendant driver. A well planned, properly executed deposition can greatly enhance the chance of successfully concluding any personal injury case arising from a motor vehicle collision.

Should a defendant be deposed?

The defendant’s deposition should be taken in any case, regardless of size, where liability remains an issue. It is recommended that the defendant driver be deposed in every case. It is certainly possible to learn about the basic facts of a case without deposing the defendant driver. However, interrogatories clearly have their limitations. With interrogatory responses no conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of the defendant as a witness. When interrogatories are served the responses received are essentially the defense attorney’s sanitized version of events. It may be difficult to determine if important facts have been omitted from an interrogatory answer. A deposition allows the free flow of information from he defendant to the plaintiff’s attorney without the filtering effect of the defense attorney’s influence.

What is the purpose of a deposition?

A deposition allows the free flow of information from he defendant to the plaintiff’s attorney without the filtering effect of the defense attorney’s influence. III. Goals-Purpose. There are at least three primary goals the plaintiff’s attorney should keep in mind while preparing for the deposition of the defendant driver.

What is the best deposition style?

Like most aspects of litigation, it is essential to develop your own deposition style. Some attorneys prefer an aggressive, confrontational style to deposition questioning while others prefer a more friendly, conversational approach.

What is videotaping used for?

It can also be used as part of a mediation presentation, video settlement brochure or shown to a focus group. The small cost associated with videotaping is easily outweighed by the potential benefit.

What is extent of education?

What is extent of education#N#2. Where attended high school – year of graduation#N#3. Where post-high school education#N#4. degrees#N#5. grade point averages#N#6. Technical or trade schools attended#N#7. Certificates or certification in what trades