Reflections at 50 and 25 on the Practice of Law
In recent years I have noticed some changes in the practice of law, some of which may be based on changing customs and norms and others which unfortunately seem to reflect on a growing lack of civility and professionalism among lawyers.
April 24, 2019 at 10:00 AM
8 minute read
The year 2019 marks two milestones for me. I turned 50 years old, and in the fall I will celebrate 25 years as a member of the Florida Bar. In recent years I have noticed some changes in the practice of law, some of which may be based on changing customs and norms and others which unfortunately seem to reflect on a growing lack of civility and professionalism among lawyers. Here are my thoughts on a few of these issues.
Deposition Objections: Form and Substance Are Not the Same
Did you ever ask opposing counsel in a deposition why they objected to the “form” of your question, and learn that the only basis for the objection is relevance or calls for speculation. Form objections do not include relevancy, lack of predicate or foundation, or calls for speculation; those are trial objections and lawyers sometimes make them in depositions. However, “object to the form” means that the form of the question is improper. For example, it is compound or leading. Form objections must be made at the deposition to preserve them for trial or they are waived.
One of the many good articles on this subject is available in our Florida Bar Journal: “Let's Get Objective About Objections,” J. Evan Gibbs, III, Vol. 90, No. 7, July/August 2016. The trial lawyers section of the Florida Bar also produces a Civil Practice Discovery Handbook, which was last updated in 2016 and has good information on discovery objections and other discovery issues. It is available on the trial lawyers sections' website.
Serve, Don't File, Discovery Requests
There seems to be a growing belief among lawyers that discovery requests and deposition notices must be filed, and that they are invalid if they are not. The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, however, do not require the filing of discovery requests or responses, or deposition notices. See, e.g., Rules 1.340(a) and 1.350(b), Fla.R.Civ.P. If you review the Florida Rules that concern discovery, you will find that only Rule 1.340(e) references a “filing” requirement, and it relates only to notices of serving interrogatories (but not the interrogatories themselves). See Rule 1.340(e) (“A certificate of service of the interrogatories must be filed, giving the date of service and the name of the party to whom they were directed.”).
I am not sure why the rules have this caveat (if you do, I would love to hear from you), but two things are clear. First, this is the only filing requirement related to discovery requests and responses and, second, courts expect us lawyers to conduct discovery without court intervention. It is for this reason that discovery requests and responses, as well as deposition notices, are generally only to be filed in connection with a motion to compel. Granted, some lawyers may argue that filing discovery requests eliminates all uncertainty about whether and when you served the discovery. However, your discovery requests, responses, objections or notices are not any less valid because they were not filed, as they are not required to be filed in the first place.
Your Place or Mine
When I started practicing law, it was common practice and courtesy for lawyers to agree to the depositions of the parties in their respective lawyers' offices. The plaintiff was deposed in the plaintiff's lawyer's office, and the defendant was deposed in the defendant's lawyer's office (provided of course that both were located in the county where the case was filed or the defendant resides, or as otherwise required by the rules). It seems that these days very few lawyers are willing to agree to such practice and courtesy, which is a shame.
Ask First, File Later
Finally, I have also noticed in recent years an increase in state court practice of parties who file motions for extension of time to respond to complaints and discovery requests without first contacting the opposing counsel to request—and obtain consent for—an agreement on the extension, do not attempt to set such motions for hearing and do not seek agreement from the opposing party even after filing the motion. Oftentimes, the requests sought are lengthy, such as for an additional 30 days to respond to the complaint or discovery at issue.
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