Electronic evidence lets everyone in the courtroom see exhibits simultaneously. Evidence comes to life as key information is presented through our legal video services. In today’s visual society, presenting evidence through digital video production has become essential.

1. Contact your trial technician early.

In a simple one hour meeting we can form a presentation plan to fit your video production needs for your case.

2. Prepare video depositions

We understand that you can’t always get the judge to rule on evidence & testimony beforehand. Editing video depositions can be done during a trial, but in order to have that ability, we need time to synchronize the video to the transcript.

3. Pre-mark your exhibits.

If exhibits are pre-marked, then the electronic document can be named by the exhibit number. This allows for very easy communication with your trial tech.

4. Bates Stamps are a good alternative to pre-marking.

Bates stamping allows for every page of every record to have an individual name. They are especially helpful with records with hundreds of pages.

5. Use the original digital files for photos.

A scan of a printed photo will never look as good as the original file. Many digital photos have such high quality that you can zoom pretty far in without losing any detail.

6. Don’t change your routine.

The only change in conducting an electronic trial is that when you are speaking about an exhibit everyone will be looking at it.

Savvy litigators are using video depositions as a powerful discovery tool.  At trial, jurors rely heavily on nonverbal communication like eye contact and body language to judge the veracity of a witness, making video testimony invaluable.

A video deposition is like any deposition.  A court reporter is normally present to swear in the witness and take the stenographic record.  A simultaneous digital video record is taken with the time and date display in the lower portion of the screen.  As a precaution, we record redundant systems in the case of equipment failure.

Setting up a video deposition is as simple as picking up the phone and calling Geomatrix anytime between 8 and 5 Monday thru Friday.  You can also fax or email your notice so we get all the details needed.

It’s best if you can give us several days’ notice in advance of a deposition, but we are happy to accommodate the frequent “emergency” situation.  We are also well-accustomed to cancellations!

We always confirm the video services with a phone call on the day before the recording as well as on the scheduled day.  One of our videographers goes to the location, one hour in advance, so we are ready to begin when you, the deponent and other counsel arrive.

At the conclusion of the deposition, we take any copy orders from counsel, who are required by statute to pay for their own copies.

The original recording is returned to Geomatrix for processing, and is released to the noticing attorney on receipt of payment.

We strongly suggest you synchronize your video to the text, but that is discussed in our blog, “Five Reasons to Sync Your Video Deposition.”

Recap:

1. Pick up the phone and dial (203)389-0001. The Geomatrix Productions office is staffed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

2. Email a copy of your Notice of Deposition to: claire@geomatrixproductions.com or infor@geomatrixproductions.com

3.  Fax your Notice of Deposition to:  203-387-8558

When playing a video deposition in court before a jury, attorneys are faced with the question of how to make redactions from the video testimony. There are several options for editing recorded deposition videos. Objections, colloquy, etc. can be dealt with in several ways.

Here are three deposition editing techniques Geomatrix uses to prepare your videos for use at trial:

1. Electronic Editing Done in Advance.

You provide our office with a complete transcript along with a list of page/line numbers for redaction and our video production technician removes the objections prior to the date of the playback.  This allows for the least amount of interruptions in the proceedings and no “down time” during the playback.  Estimate that it will take approximately 1.5 to 2 times the length of the deposition for the edit work to be completed.  Please note that once the video editing is done in this manner, it is nearly impossible to make additional edits live during trial.  Therefore, it is best for all redactions to be agreed upon by the parties in this situation.

2. Synchronize the Video Deposition to the Transcript Electronically.

We can create a DVD which marries the video with the transcript, making keywords and page/line numbers searchable.  This allows us to make the edits more quickly, but also changes the way it is played back in court.   The advantage of this method is that it allows for last-minute changes to be made in court, with minimal interruption to the proceedings.

3. Low Tech in Court Video Editing.

With this method, our technician can perform the edits from a marked transcript – during the court session, by muting the sound to the courtroom and fast-forwarding the video beyond the objectionable material.  However, this creates considerable downtime and may be quite distracting if there are many objections to redact.  In addition, the jury becomes very aware of the video editing process.

Deposition editing can be tedious and extremely time-consuming. Attorneys can confidently hand their deposition materials to the professionals at Geomatrix Productions to improve the workflow process. We specialize in producing high-quality deposition videos for all types of cases and trial presentations. Contact us to learn more about our deposition editing services.

Learning how to utilize electronic evidence such as video depositions at trial is much easier than you might expect. Directing your trial tech to an exhibit is not any harder than directing your witness to one.  The difference is that everyone in the room will be able to see it, which will make questioning a witness about it much easier.

Here are a few tips:

1. Learn the lingo. Asking for an exhibit is as easy as directing a witness to look at it, simply refer to it by name and page number.
2. Focus everyone on specific parts of the records. If you need to enlarge a portion of a record, ask your tech to “call it out” or “blow it up.” If you want to further focus a witness and/or jury on a specific word or phrase, ask your tech to “highlight” it. The tech will change the color, just as easily as if using a traditional yellow highlighter—and you get to choose the color!
3. Get comfortable with the laser. Laser pointers are a great way of getting everyone in the room to focus exactly where you want them. You can direct your trial tech to call out a key phrase or image, then ask the witness to explain.

In no time you will wonder why you have not done it sooner!

Synchronized video depositions are a useful tool!  The video and transcript will show simultaneously on the screen and the software included allows easy keyword and page/line searching.  You can also create clips of pertinent sections of the deposition.

These clips can be used with other witnesses

With opposing or co-counsel

With other experts

With the plaintiff, judge and more.

The ease with which you can create clips means that you can present a variety of ideas to focus groups for feedback and reaction.

You will need to provide the following to synchronize your video deposition:

1. The video. If Geomatrix recorded the video deposition, you’re halfway there!  If recorded by another company, simply send the DVD to our offices for our video production services.

2. The transcript. The fastest way is to ask your court reporter to email a .txt (ASCII) version of the transcript to:  claire@geomatrixproductions.com.

That’s it!  You can expect to receive your synchronized deposition on DVD with 5 business days.

1. Plan Video Production Ahead of Time.

   Call to schedule the playback a week before your trial. In addition to helping the techs plan their schedules, it also allows time for video editing.

2. File the Video Production Equipment Permission Form.

   JD-CL-90 is the form you need to file with the court in order to bring electronic equipment into a courthouse.

3. Video Editing Before Trial.

   Work with your opposing counsel to come to an agreement on material to be admitted. Have the judge rule on objections in advance. Explain to the judge that the rulings will allow you to have a more seamless presentation during trial, limiting wasted time for in-court editing.

4. Plan to Finish the Legal Video in One Day.

   You will know the length of the edited video. If possible, allow for enough time to play the video in one day. This will save the added cost of bringing in a tech for a second day, and will leave a stronger impression on the jury.

5. Mornings are Better than Afternoons.

   If you have a choice, play a video deposition in the morning. After jury eats lunch, it may be harder for them to focus on a legal video for a long period of time.

The Day in the Life Documentary video production is an essential piece of evidence in personal injury litigation.  It not only captures the extent of the damages suffered by the plaintiff, but, done over time, can chronicle recovery.

There is nothing more compelling than “being there” as a severely injured client struggles to learn how to walk again for the first time, or learns to adapt to life with diminished capacity.

Preparing a successful and compelling Day in the Life Documentary, while still considering the rules of evidence takes careful planning and a skilled video production crew.

Before discussing your Day in the Life Documentary video production, you should be able to answer the following:

Is your client at home or in a facility?

Can he/she speak for himself or will a care giver do that?

Who is the primary care giver?

If at a facility – have they given permission for us to videotape staff?

What is the level of care required?

Is the client undergoing any kind of therapy?

Where is therapy done? Do we have permission to videotape the therapist?

Who else should be included in the video? Family? Professionals?

Do you know the client’s schedule?  For ex. if aqua therapy is important, when is it?

Who will do the voice over?

Has the client been informed of our video production services?

What is the client’s level of comfort with the video?

In addition, please consider:

Will the attorney be present during the recording?

What is the deadline?

How will the video production be presented to the opposition?

Geomatrix Productions has produced nearly 1,000 Day in the Life videos.  Our professional video production team will be happy to help.