Video synchronization is the process of matching up the court reporter’s time-stamped ASCII file with the videotape.  The process can be time-consuming and requires specialized software to link the two together.  The reason the process is time-consuming is deposition testimony is not a constant process.  There are pauses and breaks where there is nothing happening so the ASCII file must be matched at different points throughout the video file with the time stamps on the ASCII file and pinned at different spots to make up for time pauses during the deposition where there is no speaking, as an example, perhaps the witness or counsel are reviewing a document for a pending question or the marking of exhibits.

There are trial presentation software packages such as TrialDirector, Sanction, Summation, LiveNote, and others.  Clips of the video can be easily created for quick playback of portions of the transcript.  There are inexpensive viewers than can play synced video straight from a disk with no software to install.

The advent of YouTube is a good example of the benefits of video to capture interest, entertain and contribute to the deliberation process when evaluating a witness’ testimony.  Transcripts are a great tool but they lack the visual cues provided by videotaped testimony.  The impact of the witness’ video testimony and the linking of the court reporter’s transcript can have an even stronger effect on the determination of the credibility of a witness by showing all the nuances of human interaction and puts the focus on the actual witness and not the simple process of reading from the written record to a jury or trier of fact by the lawyers in the trial.

Another aspect of videotaped depositions is that they can be done in any number of locations to demonstrate, as an example, the location of an accident and can provide a better perspective of the accident scene than a simple picture or artistic depiction of the location. Another use for videotaped depositions is to go to the location of a factory or office building to provide a visual depiction of the physical location.

Legal videotaped depositions for trial can be edited and the salient points boiled down to a shorter version that points out certain aspects of the witness’ testimony.  There are inexpensive editing programs available for use on computers such as Indata Corp’s Trial Director and Verdict Systems’ Sanction II and others.

In addition to video deposition synchronization, another product for legal videography is video wills, day in the life videotape presentations to demonstrate a day in the life of an injured man or woman.  The ability to see firsthand up close and personal the way an injured party lives their daily life is a powerful demonstration tool for juries and for the evaluation for settlement purposes.

Legal Videography is a more useful tool for attorneys preparing for trial than transcripts. By studying the deponent’s answers along with their facial expressions and mannerisms, attorneys can decide whether the witness will be a useful addition to their trial.

By seeing how clients perform during a deposition, lawyers can also give their clients guidance before the trial.

With a video camera present, lawyers and witnesses feel like they are speaking directly to the judge and jury. Lawyers tend to present less filler questions. Witnesses tend to answer questions more directly and avoid saying that they don’t know or don’t remember.

This includes witnesses who cannot travel to the court case.

Sometimes witnesses are unwilling or unable to travel to a court hearing. In these circumstances, clips from a video deposition can be played in a courtroom for a judge and jury, in place of a witness testimony.

Video depositions are more impactful than having a litigator read witness testimony to a judge and jury. When a litigator reads a deposition transcript, jurors can become bored. Legal Videography captures the jury’s attention by having the witness recount events. The jury is able to see what the witness looks like, their facial expressions when they pause to think about a question, and more.

In some situations, plaintiffs are unable to make it to court due to injuries they have suffered. Video depositions directly show the jury these injuries and how these injuries affect the plaintiff’s life.

In depositions, witnesses may be asked to give demonstrations, draw sketches of scenes, and point to certain areas of their bodies. If a lawyer just reads a transcript that describes these actions, the impact of these activities can be lost on the jury.

Legal Videography is especially important for deposing foreign witnesses who cannot travel to the United States. If you want to avoid flying to another country to depose a witness, you can use mobile video conferencing as a solution.

Legal Videography Services ensures your deposition is recorded accurately so you and your team can build your case. Book your videographer early to make sure you find the best professional for your deposition.

At California Deposition Reporters, we have court reporters to help with any of your needs. Our videographers can help you with everything from selecting a room for your deposition to troubleshooting technical issues. Contact us today to learn more about our services and get your deposition reporting started!