Revisiting Asbestos Plaintiff And Fact Witness Depositions

As you know, we here at Abnormal Use often submit content to other publications, and 2015 is no exception. Our editor, Jim Dedman, recently had an article entitled “Revisiting Asbestos Plaintiff and Fact Witness Depositions” published in DRI’s For the Defense magazine. Here’s the first paragraph:

Over the years, many defense attorneys have found themselves playing a part in a plaintiff’s or the plaintiff’s coworker’s deposition in an asbestos or other toxic tort case. Whether a deponent is a plaintiff claiming exposure to asbestos, a personal representative of the estate of an individual who allegedly died as a result of such exposure, or a former co-worker of a plaintiff or a decedent, such depositions are often different than typical depositions, if only due to the sheer number of attorneys in the room. It is not uncommon for a dozen—or dozens—of defense attorneys to be present representing numerous manufacturers of products alleged to have contained asbestos. In light of the number of competing interests, asbestos depositions can sometimes veer into unexpected territory, and as a result, important factual information and deposition basics may be overlooked. Considering the potential traps for the unwary, attorneys can sometimes lose sight of the forest for the trees. To guard against such a risk, defense attorneys must not forget the basics of deposition taking when confronted with an asbestos deposition. This lesson is particularly important for young lawyers, many of whom are dispatched such depositions, who may see many cases settle and few proceed to trial.

You can read the rest of the article here.