inspired by the upcoming legal depositions about the Clinton email issue.
What limits are there on questions asked at a deposition? As I understand it, any lawyer who has filed a lawsuit can cause a subpoena to be issued requiring sworn testimony. And if necessary ask the court to compel participation, which the court may or may not choose to do. Assuming the individual participates in the deposition, either because they are willing or are compelled to, what limits are there in practice over the questions asked? Can a lawyer asked a completely off-topic question?
Say I have a simple but critical trade secret formula and I get sued over some unrelated issue. Can the lawyer demand that I state the formula? Lets assume that the lawyer knows the answer can’t be used in later proceedings and doesn’t care. The lawyer just wants to know what the formula for new coke is.
If the interviewee refuses to answer because in her opinion the question isn’t relevant, will the question be held until the judge rules on the relevance?