Don`t nod their heads to agree with their questions or statements, and don`t fill in their gaps if they can`t find the words. Sit quietly, wait for the question to be formulated, and let the lawyer find the right words to formulate the question. It`s not your job to help, just to respond to what has been asked. No white lab coat unless you literally visit the Dep between rounds, clinics, or lab classes. Everyone knows what your profession or profession is; We don`t need the costume to tell us. Where the lab coat creates trust in patients, it creates a barrier in the repository that doesn`t need to be there. Leave it at home. Even though it`s a video statement, the white coat simply burns directly on the screen and dazzles anyone who sees it. Remember my motto: Don`t cut off the heads you`re trying to convince! Break the rhythm of the other lawyer when he feels like he is too much on a role.
Respond even slower, more accurately, more clearly. Ask for clarification, even if you`re relatively sure you know what they`re asking for. Take a break if you can. If necessary, ask to view a record again. Break the rhythm and also give yourself a break. Once you`ve given an answer or statement, don`t let the lawyer rephrase what you said to try to get you to question your answer. Simply indicate that the rewording is inaccurate and that you will stick to the statement that has already been recorded. If you are confused about an issue, do not give the plaintiff a choice of what he or she might have meant. You may not have even thought about these decisions.
Don`t ask, « Did you mean A or B? » Maybe originally they only meant C and never thought of A or B. But now that you mention it. maybe they benefit from asking for A or B. Just ask for clarification on the meaning. Some lawyers will handle construction defect cases on a contingent basis, but most charge by the hour. You may be able to hire a limited scope lawyer to help you with some parts of the case while you handle other parts yourself. Learn more about the limited presentation. Smile. It is very difficult for a lawyer to maintain a façade of wickedness in the face of approval. A jury would respond well to a smile, and you should always behave as if a jury were sitting directly with you in the room. To assess whether or not to sue, you should consult a lawyer. There are many common legal terms used in courtrooms, from one lawyer to another, to the judge or by the judge himself.
Some of these terms are used quite often in everyday conversations, but their general definition of use may be different from their use in a courtroom. There are many specific actions and laws used by lawyers and judges – understand their jargon better so that you can be more competent and stubborn about cases, or start developing your own interest in the legal field. Below is a list of 25 common terms that will make it a little easier to understand the law. Whatever the reason, you have the right to represent yourself, to be your own attorney in all cases in California. But just because you can represent yourself doesn`t mean you should. It is very important that you know what is at stake in your case and what is expected of you and what you need to know to deal with it on your own. If you work as a health care provider in the United States, there is an exceptionally high chance that you will eventually be called as a witness or defendant in medical malpractice, workers` compensation, insurance, or any other type of lawsuit. As lawyers, we tell our doctors, physician assistants (MAs) and often our nursing clients, « It`s not IF you`re sued during your career, it`s IF you`re sued. » Given the processuality and blameworthy nature of our society, many of you will be asked to testify to a certain set of facts when making a statement.
Yet many health care providers don`t even really know what a statement is, why it`s needed, and how important it is in litigation. Statement: Extrajudicial oral testimony from a witness that will be used later in the case as written evidence. These can be done during pre-trial in the office of a lawyer or judge. Be specific in your word choices. Don`t say « coordinate » when you mean « manage » or « organize. » Use the right word. Filings can last for hours on the inaccurate use of a word or phrase. Say what you want to say and think what you say. Know your records and facts at your fingertips. Make sure they won`t surprise you with anything. Know what is there and, more importantly, what is not. Also, never accidentally say that you are sure of anything because you have memorized the recordings practically. We do not just want to rely on your brief, we want to know that you know the files and that you can testify to what they contain or what is not.
We only need your great memory skills when you testify to facts and events that do not have records. Don`t make assumptions about anything. Don`t assume the other lawyer is nice, mean, smart, stupid, informed, ignorant, hardworking, negligent, or anything else. Always be accurate and truthful in what you say, and you don`t have to worry about false assumptions. When testifying, the rules are slightly less strict than when questioning a party or witness in court. In a statement, the investigation aims to gather all information that can reasonably lead to relevant evidence. The Federal Rules of Evidence state that « relevant evidence » is any evidence that tends to make the existence of a fact relevant to determining action more likely or less likely than would be the case without the evidence. [2] It`s a good idea to have a lawyer to represent you. But, as we have just explained, this is not always necessary or possible. Do not use acronyms and abbreviations. Use the title or entire expression. Don`t say « CCU, » say « Intensive Care Unit. » Don`t say « ASBS, » say « American Society for Bariatric Surgery. » Some acronyms and abbreviations are common, such as ECG, but most are not.
Do not assume that anyone, including the court reporter, knows what you are talking about. Be clear and precise. Look the lawyer directly in the eye when he answers. Many people find this difficult, including lawyers, but if you look the dead lawyer in the eye, with a pleasant look on your face when you respond, you will unbalance that lawyer more than a few times during the dep. Sneaky eyes and someone who doesn`t look you in the face are sure signs of someone who is nervous, a liar, or at least very unsure of what they`re saying. .