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Course Details

Course Information
  • smart_display Format

    On-Demand

  • signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level

    Intermediate

  • work Practice Area

    Personal Injury and Med Mal

Date & Time
  • event Date

    Tuesday, January 14, 2025

  • schedule Time

    1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT

  • timer Program Length

    90 minutes

Credit Information

  • This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.

$197.00
CLE
ALL

This CLE course will prepare personal injury attorneys representing victims in trucking injury cases to depose truck drivers and trucking company representatives. The webinar will discuss best practices for effectively questioning deponents, videotaping driver depositions, using demonstrative exhibits, dealing with difficult drivers or trucking company representatives, and raising and defending objections. The panel will also discuss skillfully navigating Rule 30(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure when preparing deposition notices for trucking company corporate representatives.

Faculty

Steven M. Gursten
Attorney
Michigan Auto Law

Mr. Gursten focuses his practice on serious auto and truck accident injury and wrongful death cases. He frequently lectures at legal seminars throughout the country on trial advocacy, trucking litigation, and traumatic brain injury cases. He has recovered the top-reported jury verdict for a car or truck accident in Michigan for multiple years, according to published reports. He serves as President of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association and a Past Chair of the American Association (AAJ) for Justice Truck Accident Litigation Group. 

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Jordan M. Jones
Owner & Trial Attorney
Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyers

Mr. Jones is a trial lawyer licensed in Michigan and California. He sits on the executive board of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Truck Litigation Group. Mr. Jones has been recognized four times by Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" (2021; 2022; 2023; 2024); and was Michigan Lawyers Weekly's "Up and Coming Lawyer" (2015). He is board certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (2023), and presents nationally on truck accident litigation. 

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Description

For personal injury attorneys representing victims in trucking accident cases, the depositions of the truck driver and trucking company representatives are among the most significant events in the case. Effective questioning of truck drivers can reveal a driver's medical state, whether they were fatigued, and whether the driver was familiar with and complied with federal safety standards and trucking company policies and procedures on safety.

Depositions of trucking company representatives allow personal injury attorneys an opportunity to scrutinize the trucking company's policies and practices to determine if safety is a real priority. Testimony obtained from the trucking company representative during the deposition binds the trucking company.

Personal injury counsel have several strategic decisions regarding deposing truck drivers and trucking company representatives, including videotaping the depositions and using documentary or demonstrative exhibits such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, the CDL Manual, and other important documents we obtain through discovery. When preparing to depose trucking company representatives, personal injury attorneys must correctly define the deposition notice's scope under Rule 30(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Listen as our expert panel explains legal and practical considerations for personal injury attorneys when preparing for and conducting depositions of truck drivers and trucking company representatives in trucking injury cases. The panelists will share valuable insights on these depositions' strategic and practical use.

Outline

  1. Overview of important themes in trucking cases
  2. Preparing for the deposition
    1. Notice requirements for 30(b)(6) deposition of trucking company representatives
  3. Conducting the deposition
    1. Questioning the driver and corporate representative
    2. Videotaping the deposition
    3. Using demonstrative exhibits
    4. Raising and defending objections
    5. Dealing with evasive or difficult deponents

Benefits

The panel will review these and other high priority issues:

  • What topics should personal injury attorneys explore when questioning truck drivers and trucking company representatives during depositions?
  • How should personal injury attorneys use demonstrative exhibits during depositions of truck drivers and trucking company representatives?
  • What are best practices for crafting a deposition notice for the trucking company representative that sufficiently defines the scope of the 30(b)(6) deposition?
  • What are some best practices for dealing with difficult deponents?
  • What are proven techniques for raising and defending objections during depositions of truck drivers and trucking company representatives?