Give Me a Break: Regulating Communications Between Attorneys and Their Witness-Clients During Deposition Recesses

40 Pages Posted: 3 Jul 2023 Last revised: 9 Nov 2023

Date Written: June 23, 2023

Abstract

Civil depositions typically include periodic breaks, and many attorneys naturally want to discuss the testimony with their witness-clients during those breaks. With the increase in remote depositions during the COVID-19 pandemic, an attorney and witness-client may wish to communicate even more frequently, for example, by exchanging text messages during the questioning. Case law varies greatly by jurisdiction and does not provide clear guidance on what types of communications during a deposition are permitted. This Article reviews the existing authorities, policy rationales, and other scholarly proposals before recommending an amendment to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide greater clarity and predictability to attorneys and their witness-clients.

Keywords: Litigation, Civil Litigation, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Civil Procedure, Depositions, Legal Ethics, COVID-19, Remote Depositions

Suggested Citation

Iverson, Brian, Give Me a Break: Regulating Communications Between Attorneys and Their Witness-Clients During Deposition Recesses (June 23, 2023). 36 Geo. J. Legal Ethics 497, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4488489

Brian Iverson (Contact Author)

Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC ( email )

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20004
United States
(202) 827-2954 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.bassberry.com/professionals/iverson-brian-r/

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
123
Abstract Views
940
Rank
442,581
PlumX Metrics