Navigate Litigation 2.0

California courts are readying new standards for court interpreters with most changes focused on ethical behavior during remote and hybrid court proceedings. The proposed revisions to the Professional Standards and Ethics for California Court Interpreters, a document last revised in 2013, provide specific guidance for how court interpreters can fulfill their ethical obligations regarding impartiality,…

Thorough preparation of the deposition witness is critical to successful deposition practice. Prior to the deposition, the witness should be advised how and when to respond to questioning, the roles of counsel and the court reporter, and how to appear and behave during the deposition. A well-prepared witness will also appreciate the strategic importance of…

Depositions of witnesses residing in Mexico, at one time a relatively rare occurrence, are becoming commonplace for large law firm litigators. This is because many U.S.-based businesses have relocated manufacturing operations in Mexico in order to take advantage of free trade agreements, lower costs for skilled labor, and proximity to U.S. consumers. General Motors, Ford…

The convenience and widespread use of remote depositions and virtual hearings will not, in seems, make it any easier for plaintiffs to choose what they believe is the most advantageous forum for litigating their cases. At least not in Illinois, where an appellate court recently entertained a medical malpractice plaintiff’s argument that the modern information…

In civil litigation, depositions are a key pretrial discovery tool used to uncover facts, obtain admissions, gather evidence for motions, and assess witnesses. They prevent “trial by ambush” by revealing crucial information early, supporting the goal of a fair, efficient resolution of cases, as emphasized in Rule 1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.…

Ten is the presumptive upper limit on the number of depositions that each party may take in civil litigation in the federal courts. This number, provided by Rule 30(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, can be increased (or decreased) by stipulation, by court order, and by local court rule. In fact, district court…