So what does filing a lawsuit really entail?  Well for starters, depending on the type of lawsuit and the allegations, it can entail getting grilled about intimate details of your personal life – just ask Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise December 2008 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In response to his $50 million defamation lawsuit against Life & Style and In Touch magazines for printing that he “abandoned” his daughter after his split from Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise was subjected to a seemingly contentious videotaped deposition, according to the NYDailyNews.com:

“You have to work at it,” Cruise snapped back at the accusations of being a bad parent.

But the lawyer, Elizabeth McNamara, shot back, “It really doesn’t substitute for being able to be there does it?”

Cruise admitted, “No, it doesn’t.”

In many cases, this is what opposing lawyers do.  They get nasty and aggressively probe for any information that will give their side an edge or make you want to settle for unfavorable terms just to end the onslaught.  Just like what Paula Deen experienced, as we discussed in a previous blog post “If It Can Happen To Paul Deen . . . It Can Happen To You,” a lawsuit can expose you or your company to invasive deposition discovery.  And, depending on the type of lawsuit and allegations, it can also result in disclosure of sensitive documents, including physician, psychiatric or counseling records.

Be sure to understand exactly what being involved in a lawsuit will entail when deciding whether to file a lawsuit or vigorously defend one.  It can get really ugly and uncomfortable, and it is almost always public.  Ask your attorney what types of information can be sought by the other side during the fact-finding part of the litigation. Find out what will you be exposing yourself to.  After all, if it can happen to Tom Cruise    . . . It Can Happen To You.

You’ve got options.  The Center for Legal Practice Reform can help you navigate the attorney/client relationship and level the playing field.  Call LPR today for a free consultation – (301) 351-7970.

Related articles

• Tom Cruise Admits Katie Holmes Left Him To Protect Suri From Scientology (hollywoodlife.com)
• Tom Cruise FINALLY Admits Scientology Played A Role In Katie Holmes Divorce: ‘There Is No Need To Protect My Daughter From My Religion,’ He Fights Back In Angry Deposition (radaronline.com)
• Tom Cruise Admits Scientology Contributed to Katie Holmes Split (aceshowbiz.com)
• Tom Cruise admits he didn’t see Suri ‘for 110 days after divorce’ in deposition (dailymail.co.uk)