Should I give a deposition for my previous company

[hereandnow]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maryland

When I worked for my previous company, another employee brought a lawsuit against the company for wrongful termination. I helped the company gather evidence to defend the company.

Now I work for a new company and my previous company called me to provide a deposition because the employee in question has brought a second lawsuit against them.

- Do I have any obligation to provide a deposition since I am not an employee anymore?
- What are the risks if I do provide one?
- If I provide one, should I have my own personal lawyer involved to represent my interests?

Thank you!

 

[Nellibelle]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maryland

When I worked for my previous company, another employee brought a lawsuit against the company for wrongful termination. I helped the company gather evidence to defend the company.

Now I work for a new company and my previous company called me to provide a deposition because the employee in question has brought a second lawsuit against them.

- Do I have any obligation to provide a deposition since I am not an employee anymore?
- What are the risks if I do provide one?
- If I provide one, should I have my own personal lawyer involved to represent my interests?

Thank you!

If you have answers that are important to the case, it may be necessary for you to allow your testimony in a deposition. Otherwise, you can be supeanoed into court to give testimony at a trial if it gets that far.

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maryland

When I worked for my previous company, another employee brought a lawsuit against the company for wrongful termination. I helped the company gather evidence to defend the company.

Now I work for a new company and my previous company called me to provide a deposition because the employee in question has brought a second lawsuit against them.

- Do I have any obligation to provide a deposition since I am not an employee anymore?
- What are the risks if I do provide one?
- If I provide one, should I have my own personal lawyer involved to represent my interests?

Thank you!

- You can be compelled to provide a deposition.
- There could be more risks to you if you fail to provide a deposition.
- Having an attorney is never a dumb idea if you think your interests need protecting.

The following is a link to the Reporters Committee for Freedom on the Press with information on Maryland depositions: http://www.rcfp.org/maryland-privilege-compendium/1-service-subpoena-time

 

[The Occultist]

Have you actually been served a subpoena? or is it, thus far, an informal request?

 

[hereandnow]

Thank you, everyone.

I have not been served a subpoena yet. If I'm going to have to cooperate in the end anyway, I'd rather volunteer. I may want to work at that company again.

What type of lawyer would be best suited to protect my interests?

 

[TigerD]

What type of lawyer would be best suited to protect my interests?

We do not know what your interests are. Are you worried about criminal charges, civil liability, or something else? You will have to make that decision after determining what it is that you need to protect.

TD

 

[You Are Guilty]

We do not know what your interests are.

Sunsets, holding hands and long walks on the beach. You?

And whenever I have to deal with the deposition of a former employee, I always, always, always recommend the former employer assign counsel to represent them (and even hire conflict counsel if necessary). Sending a layperson into a dep unarmed is like bringing Silly String to a knife fight.