Deposition transcripts reveal district attorney’s work history
Elections for a public office can often become brutal tests for many candidates. While the Presidency is often the pinnacle of this, many local offices are subject to such scrutiny. In a recent case, David Soares, the current District Attorney (DA) for Albany County in New York had light shed on the consequences of some of his decisions as DA through the release of deposition transcripts.
According to the Albany Times Union, the 145-page transcript shows that Soares was admonished by a judicial panel for the way he described the owners of Signature Compounding Pharmacy, who are facing indictment for a steroids-related case.
Soares described the owners as akin to Tony Montana, according to the source, a fictional cocaine kingpin from the movie "Scarface." These comments were made in an interview with a local paper which published the comments, sparking the defendants to accuse the district attorney of defamation.
In addition, the transcripts revealed the the DA was reprimanded a second time for comments he made about the investigation of a police chief, who had been found guilty of gambling at a local casino while on the clock.
"I don't believe I had a right to say whatever I wanted," Soares told reporters. "I believe what I did say was protected speech and [I was] expressing an opinion."
With election day right around the corner, these exposing transcripts may hinder Soares' ability to get re-elected. Regardless, it's clear that deposition transcripts are highly upheld in court and are critical components to a successful and thorough litigation. Lawyers in the Midwest may want to contact Wisconsin court reporters that offer video deposition services to ensure a quality hearing.
