New Spanish-language video from the State Bar of
Wisconsin offers advice for Latinos facing depositions
Latino residents of Southcentral Wisconsin now have a new tool to
help manage their legal needs thanks to the State Bar of Wisconsin. The
association has donated a Spanish-language instructional DVD on how to
prepare for a deposition to Centro Hispano of Dane County.
George Brown, State Bar Executive Director (left) presents DVD to Centro
Hispano Executive Director Peter Muñoz.
“Imagine your anxiety if you were required to give testimony under oath as a witness in a legal proceeding
where you know that every word you say will be recorded
for possible use in court at a later date. Now imagine what that
experience would be like if the proceedings were conducted entirely in a
foreign language,” notes George Brown, State Bar Executive
Director.
For many Hispanics in Wisconsin that scenario is only too real
because in Wisconsin, like other states, attorneys routinely use
depositions to obtain detailed information about a pending lawsuit.
While depositions are a routine and essential part of our civil justice
system, they are an unfamiliar experience for most people. That’s
why the State Bar has created updated educational DVDs and booklets in
both English and Spanish.
Brown explains that the 43-minute Spanish language DVD helps walk
viewers through a typical deposition process, showing, for example, how
court interpreters contribute to the process. Both versions explain why
depositions are taken, what participants should expect and how to be the
best witness possible, including suggestions on how to avoid common
mistakes that can undermine the testimony of even the best-intentioned
witness.
“We serve up to 400 clients annually who are representing
themselves in legal proceedings of one kind or another,” adds
Centro Hispano Executive Director Peter Muñoz, who accepted the
donated DVD from Brown on Dec. 11. “This new DVD will be of real
value to many of them and their families.” Muñoz invites
Latinos facing a deposition to view or borrow the instructional DVD and
booklet at 810 W. Badger Rd., Madison, WI 53713 (Tel: 608-255-3018).
Service hours are 8 a.m. - 5p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and
8a.m. - 8p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The DVDs are part of a series of law
office videos produced by the Bar over the past 20 years and
distributed primarily to law offices across the nation. The DVDs are
designed to help both legal staff and clients address common legal needs
and opportunities. The next Spanish language title in the series will be
released in 2009 and will focus on compulsory medical examinations.
