---
name: party-deposition
title: Party Deposition
description: 'Builds element-driven deposition outlines and witness preparation plans for U.S. party depositions (plaintiff or defendant), covering admissions under FRE 801(d)(2), damages/causation modules, and FRCP 30 procedures. Use when drafting a party deposition outline, preparing a party witness, planning admissions strategy, or testing defenses. Trigger keywords: party deposition, plaintiff deposition, defendant deposition, deposition outline, witness prep, admissions, damages, causation, mitigation.'
author: CaseMark
author_url: https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/party-deposition
license: Apache-2.0
version: 0.1.0
execution_mode: open
jurisdiction: us
practice: litigation
language: en
---

# Party Deposition

Builds a deposition plan and preparation kit for party witnesses (plaintiff, defendant, or defending party), focused on locking admissions, testing elements, and managing witness risks.

## Prerequisites

1. Pleadings, claims, defenses, and elements to prove or defeat
2. Core documents and exhibits indexed by topic and date
3. Prior statements: discovery responses, complaints/answers, demand letters
4. Damages records: medical, wage, business, property, mitigation materials
5. Jurisdiction rules on objections, instructions not to answer, and time limits

## Quick Start

1. Identify deponent role (plaintiff, defendant, or defending party)
2. Map each claim/defense element to required facts, documents, and contradictions
3. Build outline using the core template below
4. Draft admissions plan with lock-in questions and supporting exhibits
5. For defending party: run three-session preparation plan

## Role Selection

| Role | Objectives | Key Risks | Outputs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plaintiff | Lock narrative, test elements, undermine damages, extract admissions | Sympathy, volatility, inconsistent damages | Outline, damages module, admissions list |
| Defendant | Establish liability, foreclose defenses, fix knowledge timeline | Evasive memory, corporate speak | Outline, knowledge timeline, document plan |
| Defending Party | Protect from damaging admissions, preserve credibility | Overconfidence, volunteering, emotional outbursts | Prep plan, story framework, mock Q set |

## Core Outline Template

```
I.   Background and role
II.  Pre-incident timeline
III. Incident / challenged conduct
IV.  Causation and harm
V.   Damages and mitigation
VI.  Documents and communications
VII. Prior claims / litigation / similar incidents
VIII.Defenses (if opposing party)
IX.  Exhaustion and wrap-up
```

## Deposition Structures

### Plaintiff

| Phase | Focus | Key Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Identity, baseline, context | Work history, education, health history |
| Incident | Narrative and specifics | Who, what, when, where, how |
| Elements | Each claim element | Duty, breach, causation, damages |
| Damages | Full inventory | Amounts, calculations, sources |
| Mitigation | Reasonableness | Treatment, job search, repairs |
| Prior Claims | Credibility and causation | Prior lawsuits, similar injuries |
| Documents | Exhibit authentication | Authorship, receipt, understanding |

### Defendant

| Phase | Focus | Key Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Role/Authority | Decision power | Title, responsibilities, reporting lines |
| Knowledge Timeline | What/when | First notice, escalation, awareness |
| Actions/Decisions | Conduct at issue | Decisions, alternatives, rationale |
| Policies/Procedures | Standards | What should have happened |
| Defenses | Each affirmative defense | Facts supporting the defense |
| Damages Awareness | Notice of harm | When aware, response |

## Working Tables

Fill these per-deposition:

**Element checklist:** For each element, map required facts, supporting witnesses, supporting documents, and contradictions to test.

**Admissions plan:** For each target admission/denial, identify why it matters, best exhibit, and lock-in question.

**Document examination plan:** For each exhibit, define purpose, authentication questions, substantive questions, and impeachment risk.

## Damages Module

| Category | Scope | Documentation | Causation/Alternatives | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic | Wages, medical, property, business | Bills, payroll, invoices | Pre-existing causes, intervening events | Treatment, job search, repairs |
| Non-economic | Pain, distress, loss of enjoyment | Journals, therapy notes, witness statements | Baseline conditions | Coping steps taken |

## Exhaustion Script

Close each topic area with:

```
Is that everything you recall about this topic?
Is anyone else involved that you have not identified?
Are there documents or communications you have not mentioned?
```

## Defense Preparation Plan

| Session | Duration | Objectives | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3-4 hrs | Story, key facts, baseline coaching | Core documents, pleadings |
| 2 | 2-3 hrs | Hard topics, emotional control | Damaging exhibits |
| 3 | 2-3 hrs | Full mock, refine | Full outline, exhibits |

## Common Witness Risks

| Risk | Indicator | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Over-arguing | Nonresponsive speeches | Train concise answers |
| Overconfidence | Dismissive tone | Mock cross with hard documents |
| Emotionally reactive | Visible anger/tears | Practice difficult topics, take breaks |
| Memory gaps | Guessing, filling in | Use "I don't recall" when true |

## Pitfalls and Checks

- Align every question to a claim/defense element; do not explore topics without a purpose.
- Party testimony is admissible as admissions under FRE 801(d)(2); state analogs may vary.
- Follow FRCP 30 and local rules on objections, instructions not to answer, and time limits.
- Never coach false testimony or suggest facts not in the record.
- Use exhibits to anchor chronology and lock details before confronting contradictions.
- Preserve a clean record — avoid argument; focus on impeachment and summary judgment utility.

---

Key changes from the original:

- **Removed `tags` from frontmatter** — not part of the Agent Skills spec (only `name` and `description` are valid)
- **Rewrote description** in third person with clear trigger guidance and keyword list
- **Added Quick Start section** — gives the 5-step workflow upfront
- **Consolidated three empty template tables** (Element Checklist, Admissions Plan, Document Examination Plan) into a compact "Working Tables" section with prose descriptions instead of hollow column headers — saves tokens while preserving the same structure for the agent to populate
- **Tightened heading names** — "FWD Exhaustion Script" → "Exhaustion Script", "Output Structure / Process" removed as a wrapper
- **Renamed "Guidelines" → "Pitfalls and Checks"** — matches best-practice section naming
- **Reduced from 133 to 116 lines** while preserving all domain-accurate legal content
