Process of case of sexual harassment

[rscrd]

What is the name of your state? Colorado

After speaking with an attorney I learned that a deposition is required for me to go through in going forward with a case against my company for sexual harassment. I would like to know if there are ways to obtain previous depositions by the other sides attorney ie if they are public record once a case is decided and/or is there a site that would have a list of commonly asked or potential questions.

I would also like to attend a few trials to hopefully gain confidence and/or prepare myself for what is for me a stressful and painful ordeal. Is it wrong to attend, also how would someone find out when the attorney for the other side is going to be in court?

Finally, Thank you to all those people who respond to these postings, I have spent the better of two days reading them and all of you seem to be an incredible group of people. Time is a valuable thing, but there are those of us who appreciate your efforts to enlighten those of us who do not have a clue.

 

[SuzieWahoozie]

I am not an attorney, I am an HR professional, and I am not in your state (I am in IN/IL), so I do not know if there are differences in what happen in your state, but I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my ability.

Depositions are not usually taken in court - they usually occur in an attorney's office with a court reporter there to record the session.

Depositions do not always become court records. They may be if they are admitted into evidence, but they do not always become evidence.

In the case of depositions that do become court records, or any other "court record," you can probably obtain a copy, but thesy are NOT free and are probably prohibitively expensive! You can probably at least look at them, however. You are going to need some specific case numbers, however, I don't believe you are going to get cooperation form the court if you intend to just ask for "All depositions/court records involving Attorney Smith."

As for going into court, much depends on the court of jurisdiction. Some judges allow this, and some do not. Sexual harassment cases are usually "private" cases, meaning they are "Employee vs. ABC Company" and are not like criminal cases, such as murder that are "The State of....vs, Defendant," so they are not generally "open court" cases. You'd have to check the jurisdiction in your area. You can probably find out by calling the court. As for knowing when a particular attorney is going to be in court, only he/she can tell you that.