Fighting has broken out in regard to the billion-dollar defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems against former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, right-wing news outlet OAN, and other pro-Trump figures — with some of the defendants objecting to a proposal that depositions of witnesses be conducted remotely, Law&Crime reported.
Dominion says that the remote depositions are the “most just, efficient, cost-effective, and safe” way to go about the “more than one hundred” Q&A sessions, and that the defendants’ opposition is “based largely on outdated or inapposite caselaw” designed to impose "outsize burdens on Dominion alone while virtually ensuring disorder and delay.”
Dominion also rejected the “completely overstated” and “speculative” concern that defendants “could be prejudiced if Dominion or its attorneys commit misconduct during a remote deposition.”
“And although it hardly bears writing, Dominion of course intends to conduct all depositions according to the ethical standards that apply under the Federal Rules and to litigants and attorneys more generally,” the voting tech company said in their filing, adding that if the defendants’ proposal is accepted, then Dominion will have to pay to fly its attorneys and witnesses “all over the country” while, “Defendants will be at their leisure to attend in person or virtually.”
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Powell's lawyer say she's asking for “nothing more than to have the means of depositions be governed” by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
“Armed with only speculation and hyperbole, mixed with a few subtle attacks, Dominion has requested an unprecedented blanket order for remote depositions by default. Its reasoning does not demonstrate a legitimate need for such an extraordinary request,” her lawyers said.
“Further, the request would prejudice Powell, who must defend against the claims brought against her.”
Powell's attorneys also mocked Dominion's claim that its remote policy would save travel costs.
“[Dominion’s concern] ignores that Dominion solely and wholly decided to file five separate lawsuits before this Court seeking over a billion dollars in damages against defendants, most of whom are individuals,” the filing said.
“To then complain about costs of travel to prove its claims is rich.”
Read the full report over at Law&Crime.
