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The Aptus San Diego Office is Moving – August 1st

Aptus CR Downtown San Diego

We are eager to announce that on August, 1, 2022 our Aptus San Diego office will relocate to a new location at 401 W. A Street, Suite 1680, San Diego, CA 92101. 

Our new office affords us the ability to better serve our loyal customers and streamline the work we do with our valuable business partners. We look forward to continuing to serve your needs from our new location.

With over 35 years of combined experience in the litigation support business, Aptus provides a one-stop solution for your deposition and trial needs.

Questions?  Contact us at 866.999.8310 or via Email.

Remote Proceedings – Tips for Facilitating Remote Trials & Mediation

lawyer-using-laptop-for-remote-trial

As the pandemic forced people to rely more heavily on remote access to products and services, we learned how to successfully navigate these circumstances. In fact, we realized the enormous benefits of conducting business, education, and community outreach via online spaces. The justice system is no exception. We now have a better understanding of how to facilitate remote trials and mediation. So, in this post, we examine some key benefits and tips for those involved in remote judicial proceedings.

What are remote trials?

There are a few different ways to conduct remote trials and mediation, but they all have one common goal: to allow parties involved in a legal proceeding to appear before a judge or jury without being in the same physical location. This can be done by video conferencing, teleconferencing, or even having the proceedings take place entirely online.

Benefits of conducting remote trials and mediation

There are many benefits to conducting remote trials, including:

  • Increased access to justice: Remote court trials can make it easier for people to access the justice system, as they do not need to travel to a court location. This is especially beneficial for people who live in rural or remote areas.
  •  Cost-effective: Remote court trials can save on costs associated with travel and accommodation for lawyers, witnesses and other court personnel.
  •  More efficient: Remote court trials can help to reduce delays in the justice system, as they do not rely on the availability of physical court facilities or personnel.

Tips for judges presiding over remote trials

 Here are tips for presiding over a remote court trial:

  • Establish ground rules at the beginning of the trial. Let the parties know what is expected of them in terms of decorum and participation.
  • Make sure everyone can see and hear each other. This may mean using video conferencing software or other technology to ensure everyone can see and hear each other clearly.
  • Be patient with technology glitches. There are bound to be some hiccups when moving a trial online, so be patient and try to work through them as best you can.
  • Keep an open mind. Just because a trial is happening remotely doesn’t mean it’s any less important or serious than an in-person trial. 

Tips for attorneys preparing for remote trials and mediation

If you are an attorney, below are some tips for  preparing for a remote trial or mediation:

  • Get organized and prepared. This is especially important when working remotely and communicating virtually. Make sure to have all your documents in one place so that you can easily access, and become familiar with the technology you will be using for the trial, and there are no surprises on the day of the proceeding.
  • Keep an open line of communication. With everyone working from home, it can be easy for miscommunications to happen. Stay in close contact with your client leading up to the trial to make sure they are updated on any changes and that everyone is on the same page.
  • Remain flexible. Because so many things are out of our control, it’s important to be flexible in your approach to trial. If there are any unforeseen technical difficulties or last minute changes, try to go with the flow and adjust as needed. The goal is to direct a strong case for your client, no matter what obstacles come up.

Tips for testifying in remote trials

If you’re scheduled to testify in a remote court trial, there are a few things you can do to prepare and make sure your testimony is effective.

  • Know the technology. It’s important to understand the technology you’ll be using. Make sure you know how to log into the video conferencing platform the court is using, and test your audio and video beforehand.
  • Give clear and concise answers. When you’re testifying, remember that the judge and jury can’t see your entire body, so they can’t easily interpret your body language. Because of this, it’s important to be clear and concise in your answers. Look directly into the camera when you’re speaking, and avoid distractions in your environment.
  • Dress appropriately. It’s also important to dress professionally for your remote court appearance, just as you would for an in-person trial. First impressions matter, so make sure you look presentable and trustworthy.
  • Prepare for any technical difficulties. If your audio or video cuts out, remain calm and try to troubleshoot the problem. If all else fails, have your attorney contact the court clerk to sort out the issue.

Use the tips above to get the most out of your remote experience. If you’re seeking advanced and user-friendly technology, leverage Aptus’ innovative technology & resources to conduct your remote trials & mediations anywhere across the country.  Ready to get started? Contact us to schedule today!

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Five Reasons to Consider Video Depositions Now

There is no doubt the world we live in today is video-driven. It exists everywhere there is human activity. The legal field is no exception. Most attorneys today rely on video depositions as an effective tool to make their work easier.

Video depositions play a significant role in pre-trial discovery and overall trial prep. Expect the following benefits as you consider video for all your depositions.

1.      Demonstrate a Witness’ Body Language

Video evidence is a powerful way to get a glimpse at body language, allowing attorneys to present a compelling case. If you only submit a deposition transcription in the record trial, you fail to show the jury the witness’s spontaneous reactions, body language, and emotional state.

You fail to show the pregnant pauses, angry glares, and nervous fidgeting. With a video deposition, you show your witness’s full demeanor when they testify. These are important to the jury or when you are preparing your team for trial.

2.      Video Depositions Are More Cost-Effective

Video depositions can save you costly expert witness fees and travel expenses. In most cases, you will require an expert opinion from a doctor or a highly qualified and respected witness. These services are expensive, especially if your witness must travel long distances to attend trial sessions that could last several days.

Using a video testimony allows you to present the words any time during proceedings and repeated sessions;- it will save you a lot of money in the long run.

3.      Preparing For Trial

Video depositions are valuable tools outside the courtroom too. You can use the video for reference when deciding who to use as witnesses at trial or when preparing a direct cross-examination of the witnesses. You can review the video beforehand and make accurate assessments during preparation and when you plan and fine-tune your trial presentation.

4.      Hold the Jury’s Attention

When presenting evidence, the last thing you want to see is jurors losing interest. In the modern age, people are conditioned to pay attention to video as they see it everywhere, from televisions at home to YouTube on their smartphones.

You can keep your jurors attentive to the video screen for long periods with video depositions. They are also likely to pay attention and understand the depositions better than listen to a transcript read from a record.

5.      Impeaching a Witness

Changing witness testimony is common in courtrooms. If you have video depositions, you can impeach them without hassle. Seeing the witness make an obvious different statement from what they did before will have a significant impact than simply reading from a written transcript testimony.

Is A Video Deposition Right For Your Case?

There is no question that the world has changed in the past few years. More than ever, most people rely on video for entertainment and education. These have found their way into jury boxes worldwide.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently reported that individuals who study video evidence find it more modest but meaningful and authentic than text. The same individuals also pay more attention to video evidence presented in a mix of textual and video evidence.

Now is a good time for litigators to reconsider the adage ‘seeing is believing’ that applies to court cases. A strategic video deposition will increase your presentation effectiveness and offer your client better results. With effective planning, you can use video depositions in your pre-trial prep to get the maximum benefit from this technology.

At Aptus Court Reporting, we want to help you succeed in your next deposition by scheduling it the way you want it designed. You can rely on our videography services, video streaming, and effective depositions technology to improve your presentations. Contact our video team to learn more about our videography & deposition recording services.