The discovery process takes some time to get all of the details. However, you want to make sure everything sounds crystal clear to help you in case things go to trial. Outlining your pre-trial statement can give you an edge in the long run. Here are some tips to help you write quality deposition summaries.
One of the methods to help you prepare for deposition summaries is to read the transcripts. Going through the whole deposition helps you better understand the reason behind what you are writing.
Don't skip any details because you might miss a statement to use for your argument. Understanding the context of the deposition helps you get the minute details since you can note the attorney’s intention and detect what the witness discloses and declines to answer.
Maybe a witness stuttered or neglected to give a straightforward answer in specific parts of the deposition. It can help you find some weaknesses in the argument if you decide to cross-reference things. You may want to point this out in court to see how they react.
It could give you the upper hand to find some fallacies in the opposing testimony. Therefore, you can understand more about the case and confirm whether the allegations are valid.
A deposition summary also helps you identify the critical points you should include. The more you write depositions, the better you'll get at finding the meat and potatoes of witness statements. It can get tiring going through the grunt work.
You should only annotate the most relevant points, which goes a long way in breaking down the draft of the deposition. This way, you will emphasise the justifiable points that favour the lawsuit.
Also, you want to pay close attention to things that matter, such as dates, times, places, and faces. Make sure everything is related to each other to create something valuable that you can present to the judge and jury.
You can then use the highlighted key points to decide the deposition format. You can start by determining the most crucial parts, the style the presentation will take, and the summary type to make the document easier to understand for other people.
Also, learn how to truncate a ten-page transcript into two. You want everything to sound concise and make it easier to reference to counter your opponent in court.
A solid presentation makes things look good, and it's easier to find various points. You want all of the information organised in a way to help create a flow. Formatting a few details, mixed with the date, witness names, and summary of the events to help you be more consistent.
Additionally, you can start putting names with faces if it becomes a lawsuit. You might call out someone for negligence, and the witness saw a distinct birthmark on the person's face at fault. This identifier can be crucial for showing the court who was involved in the accident.
Write a concise deposition to help you keep an accurate log of the crucial details in the case.