Opinion ID: 1398177
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Smith Deposition

Text: Attorney represented Mrs. Doe in a divorce action. [2] Pursuant to a temporary order, Mrs. Doe was receiving alimony. Attorney advised Mrs. Doe she could jeopardize her alimony if she had a boyfriend prior to her divorce. Mrs. Doe ended her relationship with Mr. Smith, apparently as a result of this advice. Thereafter, Mr. Smith contacted Mr. Doe's attorney and informed her he was having an adulterous relationship with Mrs. Doe. Based on this information, Mr. Doe filed a motion to terminate Mrs. Doe's alimony. Attorney noticed Mr. Smith's deposition. In December 1994, Attorney deposed Mr. Smith. Smith was not represented by counsel at the deposition. He was a retired school teacher who had been hospitalized for emotional problems on six occasions within the previous fifteen years. He suffered from several disabilities including injuries to his lower back as the result of an automobile accident, debilitating migraine headaches, and bipolar affective disorder for which he was being treated with a series of psychotropic medications. The witness's physical and mental disabilities were fully known to Attorney who agreed that Smith was not mentally well. We have reviewed both the written transcript and the audio recording of the deposition. The following are a few examples from the deposition transcript that illustrate Attorney's conduct at the deposition: (1) [Attorney]: And who was your lawyer in your first divorce? [Smith]: Me. [Attorney]: Was that because you are cheap or you think you are smart enough to be your own lawyer? Is that what you think? [Smith]: What kind of a question is that? [Attorney]: Its a good question. (2) [Attorney]: I don't need criticism from you. You ain't nearly as good as I am about answering questions or asking them. Just answer my questions, mister. (3) [Attorney]: Don't get snide with me. Just answer my questions or you are going to be in severe difficulty, especially if you make me angry at you. I'm not going to try to get angry with you. Just answer my questions. (4) [Attorney]: You are coming across as an absolutely ridiculous person. But that's okay, you will learn the hard way. (5) [Attorney]: You are not smart enough to question my questions. You are not smart enough to even answer my questions. But do the best you can. (6) [Attorney]: Do you understand English? I speak real clear English. (7) [Attorney]: Youyou must understand that this is not just a test of your telling the truth, this is also a test of your reasonableness. And whether you flunked or not is not going to be subject of my discussion here at this time. (8) [Attorney]: And if you keep your mouth shut I might get on to [the] next question. (9) [Attorney]: You are going to jail if you are an obstructionist in this State here, and especially if you are lying. (10) [Attorney]: Well, I am not going to argue with you. You are not smart enough to argue with. (11) [Attorney]: No, you don't tell me how to ask questions. We just take your answers down and we'll deal with you with the judge. See, and then we will see how smart you are. (12) [Attorney]: You are just not smart enough to know what a restraining order is. (13) [Attorney]: So you think it is your scintillating personality that caused him to want to play chess with you? (14) [Attorney]: And when was that? [Smith]: When was that? It was more than once. The first night was New Years Eve. [Attorney]: What year? [Smith]: It was, it was the New Years Eve we left the party. [Attorney]: What year? [Smith]: I would say it was January 1st 1994 was the first time we ever did it. [Attorney]: 1994? [Smith]: Uh-huh. (Indicating yes). [Attorney]: That's not New Years Eve. January first is not New Years Eve. [Smith]: I know but see the clock goes through 12:00. And when it goes past twelve then it is the next day, which makes it January 1st. [Attorney]: And no longer New Years Eve, is it? (15) [Attorney]: Did you fight them? [Smith]: Huh? [Attorney]: Did you fight them? [Smith]: No, I didn't fight them. [Attorney]: Okay. So they didn't need five, they just needed one, right? [Smith]: I bit one. [Attorney]: Why did you bite him? [Smith]: `Cause I was hungry. [Attorney]: Okay. Where did you bite him? [Smith]: (sigh) He had his foot [Attorney]: Where did [Smith]: in my [Attorney]: I didn't say why. I [Smith]: Okay. [Attorney]: Asked you where did you bite him? [Smith]: Okay. Somewhere around his ankle. It was right on top of my face. [Attorney]: Uh-huh. And was that because you were trying to fight them? [Smith]: If you had been there I would probably bite you, too. [Attorney]: No, I'd shoot you before you could bite me. [Smith]: Oh. [Attorney]: Guaranteed. Guaranteed. (16) Attorney referred to Smith, who had been a patient at Charter Hospital, as an inmate of the hospital. (17) Smith injured his back moving a box of books while preparing for the school year. Attorney asked Smith, who was a teacher, if he was the janitor: [Attorney]: You are not a janitor, are you? [Smith]: Huh? [Attorney]: You are not the janitor, are you? [Smith]: Gee, now what kind of question was that?.... [Attorney]: ... When you said you get the desks in order, that's something for the janitor to do, get the desks in order? Attorney testified the purpose of Mr. Smith's deposition was to destroy Mr. Smith's credibility. He denied he had any intent to embarrass, delay, or otherwise burden Mr. Smith, or to pollute the administration of justice. Attorney admitted he made some mistakes in the deposition. For instance, he stated he allowed Mr. Smith to get to him and admitted he should have set the tone for the deposition.