Veritext Acquires David Feldman Worldwide Court Reporting
Clients of both companies will benefit from DFW’s and Veritext’s experience in complex case management, service, data security and technical innovation.
Livingston, NJ – January 16, 2018 – Veritext, the national leader in court reporting and litigation support solutions, today announces its acquisition of David Feldman Worldwide (DFW) Court Reporting. DFW’s experience with very complex litigation cases and exemplary customer service complements Veritext’s full breadth of technical solutions and world-class data security. Together they will offer clients of both companies premier court reporting and litigation support solutions.
“DFW’s expertise in very complex litigation fits well with the experience and advanced technology Veritext brings to the table,” said Nancy Josephs, Chief Executive Officer of Veritext. Clients of DFW will have immediate access to Veritext’s state-of-the-art deposition suites, multimedia depositions, document repositories, remote depositions, online and mobile scheduling, paperless depositions and more. In addition, they will experience the world-class, HIPAA-compliant data security Veritext offers. “Combining the services of both companies makes the perfect union,” Josephs continued.
DFW was founded by David Feldman in 2002 along with his two children, Michael and Sheril, who have owned and operated the company since 2009. DFW’s client-facing team will stay on with David Feldman Worldwide, a Veritext Company after the acquisition, ensuring that clients will receive the same stellar service they have come to expect. DFW is based in New York City and serves clients across the United States and in foreign locations.
“By joining with Veritext, we will be able to offer our clients a full breadth of technology solutions to make the deposition process more effective. They will also have access to the more than 50 Veritext offices around the country,” said Michael Feldman, President of David Feldman Worldwide, a Veritext Company. “Veritext shares our commitment to quality court reporting and impeccable service, which makes this transition the perfect fit for our clients and our employees.”
Veritext is the largest nationwide provider of deposition and litigation support solutions. The company provides court reporters, advanced technology and services to law firms and corporations across the United States. Veritext has been serving the legal community since 1997 and has extensive experience in all types of complex litigation. The company recently announced acquisitions in Florida and New Jersey and their expansion in the St. Louis marketplace.
About Veritext
Veritext is the leader in deposition and litigation support solutions. For law firms and corporations, the company provides national coverage, skilled court reporters, advanced technology and unmatched client service. Our solutions utilize the latest easy-to-use technologies that streamline the deposition process, enhance delivery flexibility and reliably handle the most complex cases. Proprietary video, mobile and remote services combined with unmatched security, including HIPAA and PII compliance, ensure that Veritext clients have the best tools available and the confidence of working with the market leader. More information can be found at www.veritext.com.
Contact:
Valerie E. Berger
973.549.4541
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The Legal Do’s and Don’ts of Depositions
Whether you’re an individual finding yourself in court for the very first time or a sophisticated business person used to the process, legal proceedings can be stressful and confusing. The variety of ancillary proceedings such as depositions can pose their own hurdles and are often fundamental to building your legal case.
This article looks at depositions.
What is a Deposition
A deposition is the sworn (under oath) testimony of a witness in a legal proceeding. Depositions are often used as part of the discovery process, or the evidence gathering phase of a trial. Witnesses will often have their lawyers present in the room to provide guidance although they do not have the right to make “speaking objections” or counsel a witness. Testimony at a deposition can be used at trial.
How Long is a Deposition?
Courts recognize the value of a witness’ time and take that into consideration by limiting the length of depositions. While rules may vary from state to state, generally, rule 30(d) of the Rules of Civil Procedure limit depositions to one day of seven total hours of questions, asked by all parties. That time can be extended and can be day to day, but that is the general rule.
Where can Depositions Take Place
While you may be required to attend a deposition, there are also limitations on where they can occur. Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure deponents must be given appropriate notice of the time and place of a deposition. These typically take place at an attorney’s office rather than the courthouse. Practically, attorneys will often communicate for a preferred location and time that is convenient for all parties. In cases where an agreement cannot be reached, the rules allow for the filing of a motion requesting an order for a new location. These motions or requests aren’t granted automatically and you should be prepared to show cause as to why the change of venue is needed.
How to Prepare for a Deposition
Before attending a deposition, witnesses should discuss any concerns or questions they may have with their lawyer. While a lawyer should never lead their client into a specific answer, consulting with your legal counsel first can help solidify your account of the events and refresh your memory. This step can also help make witnesses comfortable with the process of a deposition and help them understand what to expect during the proceeding itself.
What Should You Never Do in a Deposition
As with any legal proceeding, when providing testimony at a deposition you should be sure to always give accurate and truthful answers to questions. This does not include providing information other than what is asked. Deponents should ensure they do not offer up information beyond the scope of the question. Witnesses should also feel free to ask for clarification if they don’t fully understand a given question. A calm and cool demeanor will also help make the deposition go more smoothly and quickly. If at any point during the deposition you have questions or are unclear about an answer you are always free to ask.
While this list of pointers certainly isn’t all-inclusive, it should provide an excellent starting spot for becoming comfortable with your upcoming deposition. As with other legal proceeding, deponents should not hesitate to contact a lawyer to protect both their rights in the event they are called to testify.
5 Key Questions Asked in a Divorce Deposition
Going through a divorce is a stressful time for all parties involved. The divorce process can be lengthy, stressful, and unnerving since you might not know what to expect. One key component of divorce proceedings is the deposition.
A deposition is used during the discovery phase of divorce proceedings. It provides the parties in the divorce with the ability to gain information relevant to the case. Depositions are conducted outside of a courtroom, but the information can be used at trial and a court reporter is present to record what happens. In a divorce deposition, it’s critical to obtain information that builds your case and gives you the best chance of getting what you want in the settlement. Prior to your deposition, an attorney will likely ask you most, if not all, of the following questions depending on the nature of your case.
1. Finances. Finances are a big concern in a divorce. Current income, potential sources of income, and any assets such as property, vehicles or investments can impact settlement negotiations. Having accurate financial information ensures that the division of marital assets is fair and doesn’t disadvantage one party over the other. Financial issues also need to be worked out when both parties have accumulated debt during the marriage.
2. Custody and child care. If there are children involved in the divorce, it’s critical to establish custody and visitation rights. Questions may include where the children will be while the other parent is at work or how they are going to care for them in their current living situation. The ultimate goal is to work towards the best outcome for the children. The situation may change drastically from how it was previously established while you were married and living together.
3. Recreational or dangerous activities. Some personal information might be relevant during a deposition such as illegal drug use or excessive alcohol consumption. Anything that might impact safety or the quality of life for the children should be addressed and considered.
4. Specific incidents and dates. If there are circumstances that led to the divorce that are relevant to any of the issues being contested during the divorce, whether it’s related to division of assets or custody, bring them up during the deposition. This ensures the information goes on the record and may help the judge make their decisions.
5. Health. Your health may come into question if you have a mental or physical condition that can impact your judgement or ability to care for children of the marriage. You may also be asked if you carry life, disability or homeowner’s insurance and who the listed beneficiary is for the policies.
Depositions can get emotional and be stressful as a result. Having an idea of what to expect can reduce or eliminate your anxiety.
Veritext Donates 13,750 Meals to Feeding America (Thank You to our Clients!)
Join us in celebrating the success of our Summer Promotion! For every deposition booked with Veritext between July through the end of September with the promo code “Summer16,” we offered a “Thank you for your business” donation of meals to Feeding America. Feeding America is an organization whose mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks.
Thank you to all who participated! The promotion was a great success. We are proud that our clients’ participation resulted in 13,750 meals donated!
10 Most Important Deposition Questions to Ask in a Wrongful Termination Case
As any lawyer should know, the deposition is a key part of the “discovery” portion of a civil lawsuit. It is comprised of a question and answer conversation between an attorney who represents one of the parties in a lawsuit and a witness who has information that may be helpful in the suit. Depositions are recorded by a court reporter through transcription and/or videography. A skilled court reporter can greatly improve the potency of a deposition. Having prompt and accurate transcripts of the questions and answers can help any legal team properly assess the value of the deposition, as well as use excerpts during settlement negotiations or trial.
A deposition can go on as long as an lawyers see fit, as the information gained in a deposition may be very valuable in a case. Some deposition sessions last several days.
The questions asked in a deposition are relevant to the case in question, so naturally the questions asked in a wrongful termination case will likely be pertinent to issues affecting the workplace and the employee in question. It may be helpful to approach this type of case with the goal of unveiling the employer’s defense strategy.
Call in The Supervisor
In many cases of wrongful termination, sexual harassment is an issue. In this type of case, the plaintiff’s supervisor (as in the recent case of Roger Ailes at Fox News) is often the harasser. To help support the plaintiff’s case, it would be wise to depose the supervisor and ask questions that test that person’s credibility.
There is a wide range of questions that can be asked of a supervisor in this type of case to help you establish credibility and to get a sense of how the employer might seek to defend themselves.
Key questions that you can ask of a supervisor during a deposition (whether the termination had anything to do with harassment or not) might include:
1. Did you (the supervisor) ever give the plaintiff any warning about a problem in their work performance? If so, when? Was anyone else present at the time of this warning?
2. If the plaintiff was warned, did they protest the grounds of the warning, and did they complain to anyone else?
It is also important to show that the employee was a hard working person who carried out their duties responsibly. Questions you may ask that pertain to this include:
3. Was the employee ever given a good performance evaluation?
4. Were any disciplinary actions ever taken against this employee?
Another issue that likely comes into play in wrongful termination is whether or not the company’s employment policies are clear and well communicated. If not, this may help you weaken the employer’s case. Questions on this issue might include:
5. Is there an employee handbook that clearly states the company’s policies regarding causes for termination?
6. Is any formal training regarding the company policies ever given? When and where?
It may be helpful to ask follow-up questions regarding corporate procedures for wrongful termination cases. These could include:
7. Were corporate procedures regarding discipline of the employee followed?
8. Has any other employee engaged in misconduct similar to this employee, and was that other employee disciplined? When and how?
Finally, another aspect of a wrongful termination suit you may want to focus on is the supervisor’s relationship with the employee. This could be explored and may even show a sense of discrimination towards the employee. Some of your questions might include:
9. Was there a social relationship outside of the workplace between the plaintiff and the supervisor?
10. Did the plaintiff ever indicate that they no longer wanted to have a relationship with the supervisor outside of the workplace?
To help make your case as strong as possible, it is important to ask deposition questions that thoroughly explore the nature of the employee’s work history and their relationship with their supervisor. As a Washington DC workers compensation lawyer knows, it can be crucial to take the time during a deposition to explore all possible avenues in order to build a case that is more likely to win a settlement for the plaintiff if their rights have been abused. This type of protection for employees is one of the foundations of our legal system, and it is your job to help every employee secure their rightful protection under the law.
Thanks to our friends and blog contributors from Cohen & Cohen, P.C. for their added insight into deposition questions to include in a wrongful termination case.
