Depositions for Insurance Professionals

1) Purpose of Depositions
a) Personalize the corporation
b) Set expectorations for the case
c) Gather facts
d) Uses
i) Trial
(1) cross examination
(2) preparation/roadmap
ii) Used for motions
(1) Motion to dismiss
(2) Summary judgment
2) Importance of Preparation
3) Fundamentals
a) Definition
b) Setting for depositions
c) Role within pretrial discovery
d) Likely insurer deponents
e) The notice of deposition
f) Documents Requested for Deposition’
g) Scope and Focus
i) Deposition
ii) Preparation
h) Rule 30(b)(6) deponents
4) Recap
5) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 1 Materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Mental Preparation
a) Prepare with and without your lawyer
b) Document Review
i) Refresh your recollection
ii) File
iii) Claims procedures
iv) Other relevant internal documents
c) Litigation Review
i) Complaint/other relevant pleadings
ii) Depositions
iii) interrogatories
d) Consultation with your Lawyer
e) Review good facts
f) Review bad facts
g) Discuss facts only you know
h) Rehearse
i) Discuss inconsistencies/potential surprises
2) Preparation Time
a) Rule of thumb – double estimated deposition length
b) Proactively communicate needs to your supervisor
3) What to expect from your lawyer
a) Clear overview of the case
b) Theme of the case
c) Explanation of how your testimony fits into the theory
d) Him/her to make time to help you adequately prepare
e) Advise you about demeanor of opposing counsel
4) Physical/Practical Issues
a) Medical/physical limitations or restrictions
b) Length of Deposition
c) Scope of questions
d) The hostile attorney and your demeanor
5) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 2 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Background Questions
a) Home address
b) Professional experience
c) education
d) criminal conduct
2) Compensation Structure
a) Defined
b) Signs
3) Special Masters
4) Correcting Mistakes
a) Review your transcript
b) errata sheets
c) Typos/mistakes
d) Extensive changes
5) Scheduling Your Deposition
6) Things you Shouldn’t Review
7) Scope of Testimony
a) Limit to your conduct
b) Limit to your knowledge
c) No guessing
i) I think . .
ii) I believe . .
iii) I assume . .
8) What to bring
9) Question: Did you prepare?
10) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 3 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Preparation Tips – Continued
a) Parties’ changes in strategies
b) Practice/Mock Deposition
c) Protecting the witness
d) First question re: key issue
e) Off the record remarks
f) “Best friend” type attorney
g) Rehabilitation questions
2) The Deposition
a) Common Answers
i) I don’t know
ii) I don’t recall
iii) I don’t remember
b) Be truthful
c) Don’t pass the buck
d) Demeanor
3) What attorneys Expect
a) Advanced preparation
b) Prepared questions for the lawyer
c) Bring relevant documents
4) What is a good witness
a) Likeability
b) Credibility Factors
i) Nervous appearance/fidgety
ii) Eye contact
iii) Body language
iv) Drinking too much water
v) Looking at your lawyer
vi) Nit picking words
vii) Evasiveness
viii) Incomplete sentences
5) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 4 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Fatigue/Confusion
a) Breaks
b) Objectionable Questions
c) Assumption of understanding
2) Enhancing Credibility
a) Calm-assertive
b) Maintain eye contact
c) Politeness
d) Even tempered
3) Objections
a) Repetitive questions
b) Ignore the interruption
c) Answer over objection
d) Speaking objections
e) Opinion questions
4) Refer to Documents
5) Bad Facts
a) Tell your lawyer
b) Illustrations/Examples
6) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 5 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Unaccounted for Documents
a) What to do?
b) Destruction
c) Records Retention Policies
2) Do’s and Don’ts
a) Be courteous
b) Off the record Remarks
c) Examples
d) Be positive
e) What to wear
f) Passing Notes
g) Falling for the “nice attorney”
h) Self-importance
i) Insured at the deposition
3) Quick Tips
a) You don’t get out of trial
b) Pause and Think
c) Don’t guess the meaning of a question
d) Don’t fill the silence
e) It’s O.K. if you don’t remember
f) It’s not O.K. if you don’t remember your own name
4) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 6materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz