How to prepare for a deposition during EEOC discovery

How To Prepare for a Deposition

Deposition is an interview session where an attorney asks questions to a witness or

complainant who is expected to answer in the spirit of cooperation. Failure to cooperate

may

result in sanctions under the authority of the judge (who authorizes the Agency to

make

discoveries by means of deposition, interrogatories (a written questionnaire), and

request for

production of documents).

(The following may also apply to a hearing or fact-finding conference.)

The session is transcribed by a

ourt reporter

. You will be sworn in. The questions and

answers will be recorded and will become part of record. You may be charged for

perjury for

intentional lying, not for mistaken belief or information or for honest

inconsistencies.

The attorney may

ask if you had a deposition before. If you did not, the attorney may

instruct

you

the following: Do not nod or shake your head for an answer. The

ourt

reporter

cannot

record body gestures. Don’t guess the answer. But estimation is

acceptable, etc.

Here are some do’s and don’ts

when you are deposed by an attorney

Some Don’ts:

Do not explain.
Do not try to make the opposing counsel understand the issue or the circumstances,
unless asked to explain.
Don’t go back to the beginning or explain how things have developed into what it is
today. Stick with the date asked in the question. Only answer about the event asked and
referenced by the time or date mentioned in the question.
Do not assume that the question follows from the previous one or will lead to the next
question. Just focus on the question posed at the moment and answer it.
Do not expect the opposing counsel to sympathize with you. (When he or she says she
does, watch out.)
Do not show carelessness, disrespect, or charlatan attitude about the attorney or about
the session.
Never burst out in anger or in violence. (No matter how egregious the question is.) You
can object to the question but will have to still answer it (unless stopped by the judge or
the fact-finder—not applicable to a deposition).
Do not provide more information than necessary or what was asked.
Do not try to guess the intention behind the questions.
Do not think too much when answering. Just tell what you know or saw, not what you
think you saw or what you think should have happen.
Don’t believe everything that is said by the opposing counsel off the record. Whatever is
said off the record counts for nothing.
Do not be pressured to commit to an answer. Feel free to revise the answer based on
new information, new records, or more clear memory.

Some Do’s:

Answer with Yes or No first, or stop thereafter. (About 90% of answers can be dealt with
by saying Yes or No and no more. The shorter your answer, the shorted the session will
be and less questions.)
If 90% of questions can be handled with yes or no, the rest may well be handled with just
providing names or dates.
Explain only when asked. Explain as simply as possible. Give the conclusion or
culminating event first, then explain what preceded or caused it, for example.
Answer to the best of your knowledge, information, and belief. (Answer even if you don’t
have an evidence to support your answer.) Hear-say evidence is allowed in EEOC
hearing process.
If you don’t remember or don’t know the answer, say so--but not too frequently.
Ask for break time and lunch time. If you are still employed by the Agency you filed
against, you are on the clock. (Don’t be scared by an attorney warning you that the
deposition may go on well into the evening. He or she is dying to get out of there as
much as you are.)
Ask for permission to consult records or memo you prepared for the session in order to
“refresh your memory.” Feel free to refer (and take time to refer) to the Report of
Investigation (ROI), the Investigation File (IF), or the Investigation Report (IR), if you have
one.
If you feel sick, uncomfortable, or feel intimidated, say so on the record and explain why.
Say as much as possible only on record (that is, when the stenographer is recording).
In other words, do not say important things when stenographer is not recording.
You can enter your objection to the question on record. But you must still answer the
question. (At a hearing, when raising an objection, the ground for raising it must be
stated. The opposing counsel responds to the objection. Then the judge rules on the
objection either to sustain or overrule it. At a deposition, an objection can only be
entered on record without stating the ground for it.)
If you have a representative, feel free to consult with him or her in private before the
question is posed or after answering.
Go over the Notice of Accepted Issues and/or Partial Dismissal letter Agency EEO
director issued shortly after your filing a form and/or amended complaint. Agency
attorney will go over these issues and ask you about the details.
Agency attorney may also ask you about the discovery responses you provided to the
Agency in response to Agency's Interrogatories, Request for Production of Documents,
and Request for Admissions.
You have a right to break and lunch.
Your deposition time should be paid as your official time.
Any body language that is intimidating or threatening or any such tone of voice should be
indicated on record by stating and describing what the attorney is doing to you with such
behavior.
If the room is too hot or too cold, it should be stated on record.
Be aware that the room you are deposed in may not have internet or cell phone
transmission.