despositions

[clancy]

Washington State
Are legal depositions public information? If you are a party being sued and the plaintiff requests portions of his deposition not be shown to the defendent, can this information be accessed at the court house?

 

[JETX]

I don't understand your question.... You are asking if the Defendant is able to find out what is said during the Plaintiff's deposition.

If the Plaintiff is being deposed, it is normally the Defendant's attorney doing the deposition! How could something be said in the deposition that the Defendant not be aware of, since it is being said in front of him (or his attorney). Also, either party can purchase a copy of the transcript of the deposition, again making it pretty hard to keep it 'secret'.

So, my question to you.... "How could something be kept secret during a deposition, when you are a party to the lawsuit??"

 

[clancy]

Depositions

To Steve Halket
Further to our question and your reply.
We were not present at the deposition. Our attorney was asked by the Plaintiff to keep certain information from us ( Defendants). In other words, info. will be blacked out on our copy. My question, is this document public information obtainable at the courthouse?

 

[JETX]

If this is YOUR attorney, he would be required by ethics to advise you of any material fact that could affect your case. As such, I would find it very hard for your attorney to keep facts from the deposition from you.

My opinions:
1) Assuming you (your attorney) called the deposition, YOU are paying for it (either directly or through your attorney). You have every right to DEMAND information from your attorney.
2) And since you are paying for the deposition, you area also paying for the transcript (and/or video) of the deposition. You have every right to DEMAND full disclosure of what you are paying for.
3) And even if not, the transcript of the deposition, once admitted is public record. Again, you have every right to read it.

Finally, you certainly have my curiosity up... what do you suppose is 'so secret' that your attorney is trying to hide it from you???? And is it relevant to the case at hand (if the Plaintiff's attorney didn't object as to the question during depo, I assume it is relevant).

 

[Taxguy]

>>Our attorney was asked by the Plaintiff to keep certain information from us ( Defendants). In other words, info. will be blacked out on our copy<<

Fire your attorney.
File a complaint with the State Disciplinary Board.
This is nonsense,...
OR you have a terrible misunderstanding of what happend.