Alright, so, depositions. They sound scary, right? I recently had one, and let me tell you, I was sweating bullets beforehand. I mean, you’re there, under oath, answering questions, and everything feels so official. I kept thinking, “How will I know if this whole thing went okay?” Well, here’s what happened with me, and maybe it’ll help you out if you’re ever in the same boat.
First off, I prepared. Not like for a test, but I made sure I knew the timeline of events of what I was being deposed about like the back of my hand. I went over everything with my lawyer. We talked about the important stuff, the stuff that could trip me up, you know? The goal was to make sure I was confident with my story and that I remembered things well.
Then, the big day arrived. I showed up, all nervous, to this room with a long table. There was me, my lawyer, the other lawyer, and this person called a court reporter who typed down every single word. It was intense. I tried to stay calm, took deep breaths, and just answered the questions as honestly and clearly as I could. Sometimes, I had to ask them to repeat a question, or I’d take a moment to think before answering. My lawyer objected a few times when the other lawyer’s questions were confusing or not really related, which was a relief, it helped a lot.
After what felt like forever, it was over. I felt drained, but also a little relieved. The court reporter said they’d make an official transcript of everything, like a word-for-word record, and that it would take a few weeks. That transcript would go to the court and the lawyers.
Waiting Game
- Waiting was the hardest part. I kept wondering if I said the right things, if I messed up somewhere.
- When the transcript arrived, my lawyer reviewed it with me.
- We carefully went through it to make sure everything I said was accurately recorded.
- It was all good, thankfully.
So, how did I know it went well?
Well, I didn’t know for sure at first. But, my lawyer told me I did a good job staying calm and sticking to the facts. Later, seeing the transcript and how it reflected my words, that gave me more confidence. Also, my lawyer said that this deposition would help us prepare for a potential trial down the road, because it gave both sides a good idea of the information and evidence we each had. It was like a preview of what might happen in court. After all that, I figured it all went as well as it could have. It’s definitely not something I’d want to do again, but at least I know what to expect if I ever have to.
