Episode #149 - The Problem with Pivoting During Deposition Testimony

Dr. Steve Wood and Dr. Bill Kanasky, Jr. talk about witness testimony and the problems and dangers of pivoting during deposition questioning. They discuss how defense attorneys don’t realize how they are opening the door to counterattacks from opposing counsel when they encourage their witnesses to pivot and answer questions with phrases like "Yes, but..." Steve and Bill describe the psychology behind why providing detailed explanations in normal, everyday situations is very different than in the adversarial environment of a deposition. Another danger for witnesses they talk about is repetitive questions and how witnesses must be trained to hold their ground with plaintiff questions that are repeated over and over again.