FLORIDA PROBATE LITIGATION: WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM JUSTIN BIEBER’S DEPOSITION

Are you involved in probate litigation in Palm Beach ?  If so, you may have your deposition   taken. Knowing   what to expect at your Palm Beach deposition and knowing how to present yourself are important aspects of your trial strategy.   Your Palm Beach litigator will know all about this. If you saw the recent posts and videos posted online about Justin Bieber, take note. There’s a lot you can learn from that video.  Justin Bieber just had his deposition taken:  on videotape.   If you are involved in a Palm Beach lawsuit, including a Palm Beach probate case, here are some Palm Beach trial pointers and deposition pointers you may wish to consider:

1. Be respectful:  this is, after all, part of a court proceeding, even when the deposition is in a Palm Beach lawyer’s conference room.
2. Treat everyone with courtesy.  You don’t have to be overly kind or sweet, but don’t let the stress of litigation get the best of you.  Be a class act.
3. Smile for the camera: but not too much.  In Florida lawsuits, a deposition may be videotaped.  There are certain rules when it comes to videotaping a deposition before a Palm Beach trial, but your Palm Beach litigator will know all of them.   Just remember: your every act, smile, frown, sneeze, is seen.  And your every word is captured: for the world to see (potentially).
4. Don’t wink at the camera: don’t be cute.
5. Don’t show disdain for the lawyer on the other side.  There is no reason to hate him or her.  Your own Palm Beach lawyer can deal with him or her.
6. Dress tastefully: understand that this is serious business.
7. Respect the process.  Depositions are part of our civil procedure, our judicial process, the way we handle disputes.  Consider:  how do you want others, including a Palm Beach judge, or a jury, to view you ?
8. Remember:  a judge or a jury is going to see this videotape.  Videotaped depositions may be used in opening statements, during trial, during cross examination and as plain old evidence.  Statements of a party are admissible and an exception to the hearsay rule.    How do you want a Palm Beach judge or a Palm Beach jury to see you?

In the end, it’s up to your how you handle yourself in court and in your Palm Beach deposition.  Do you want to be like Justin Bieber or someone else?