Videotaped Depositions Become More Common: A Developing Trend?

Are the lawyers who you work with expressing any of the following ideas--

• A feeling that it's important to videotape all depositions of any witness an opponent might use at trial?
• Surprise that the lawyers' opponents are not videotaping depositions of witnesses the lawyers plan to present at trial?
• A desire to videotape depositions with their own, in-house equipment?

There seems to be a trend towards videotaping depositions more frequently than in the past. Here's more evidence of that, as well as a possible explanation: "Put Your Best Foot-in-Mouth Forward: Use Depo Video Powerfully," by Dr. Kevin Boully.

Hat tip: The Discovery Update, 8/09, byAtkinson-Baker Court Reporters.

Related posts:

1. "Videotaping the Deposition of Your Opposing Expert"

2. "Controlling Abusive Counsel with Video Depositions"

3. "Videotaping Your Opponent's Deposition"

Comments

[Yeoman]

Man, have I ever witnessed that trend. A couple of lawyers in our office basically feel you should videotape them all. As there's no rule in our state requiring an official videographer (I know that in at least one state there is such a rule, and the videographer gives an oath, like a court reporter), those lawyers in our firm have taken up setting up a video camera we own to film their depositions themselves.

I have not done it, and frankly, I'm somewhat skeptical that it's necessary.

[FredN.]

I have not seen any increase in videotaping.