Coaching a testifying witness is, without a flinch, contemptuous

Through Glazed Eyes

By Adam J. Glazer

Adam J. Glazer is a partner at Schoenberg Finkel Newman & Rosenberg, LLC, and an adjunct professor at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. His practice focuses on business litigation, and he is available at adam.glazer@sfnr.com.

Posted November 19, 2019 3:30 PM

Usually, it happens well into a key deposition.After hours of grueling questioning, the witness starts to wear down, his loss of confidence becoming palpable, but the interrogator doesn’t let up. Picture a rickety sailboat trying to navigate with a failing rudder as storm clouds settle in.Each of the predicate questions was quickly answered with a “Yes.” Then, moving in for the kill, the attorney notices the vulnerable witness’ eyes nervously shift to the right in the direction of his lawyer. Subtly …

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