witness deposition fee

[alaska.kelly]

What is the name of your state? alaska

i am an independent contractor for an orthopedic surgeon, hourly fee is $25.00. i have numerous responsibilities, such as: receptionist, medical records custodian and billing. i recently was deposed by an established patient's attorney for an hour and a half in regards to the patient's medical records and that attorney was billed for the office's standard deposition fee of $1500.00. also because of the doctor's malpractice insurance, no... the civil suit is not against him, we were advised that the doctor's attorney be present for all depositions, and his attorney billed for $2300.00 for the deposition and several hours in court to try and squash my deposition since the doctor had already provided a video deposition and also had 30 minute consults with both attorneys.

the patient's attorney returned the bill with a check for only $12.50 and Alaska Rules of Court, Rule 7 Witness Fees, stating a witness attending before any court, referee, master, grand jury or coroner's jury or upon a deposition in a discovery proceeding, whose testimony is necessary and material to the action, shall receive a witness fee of $12.50 if such attendance, etc.

my question is this... how do i challenge the attorney's payment and get him to pay the original billed amount? this has always been the office protocol to bill that amount for any deposition and has never been argued by any other attorney.

thank you in advance for your time and consideration to this matter.