Solutions
Second Chair™ gives the defense bar something it has never had at scale — a unified, searchable national repository of expert-witness depositions that attorneys can rely on to prepare stronger, more informed defenses. By allowing lawyers to upload transcripts and video depositions, the platform turns isolated case materials into shared intelligence. Members can quickly find prior testimony, identify inconsistencies, understand how experts have positioned themselves in similar cases and build sharper cross-examinations.
In a legal landscape where the plaintiff’s bar has long benefited from coordinated access to expert records, Second Chair™ levels the playing field and creates a transparent, collaborative resource for defense attorneys, carriers and self-insureds. It transforms individual depositions into a national defense record — and that record strengthens every case.
The Video Deposition Process
The current deposition management process – focused on text and paper – is costly, labor intensive and delivers limited value to litigation managers. We believe that if “a picture is worth a thousand words,” then a video must be worth 10,000. Second Chair™ is founded on the principle that video depositions are both more cost effective and more valuable to litigation managers than text depositions.
The traditional current litigation process actually makes it very difficult for litigation managers to easily see the people involved in a case. Sure, they can read statements, Using Second Chair™ and seeing the witness testimony at your desktop, but that doesn’t provide a first hand impression of the witness any indication as to their demeanor, truthfulness and how they will be perceived by a jury. Second Chair™ technology makes it easy for litigation managers and their legal partners to see, share and store video deposition highlights.
The Second Chair™ video deposition management process has several advantages over the traditional process.
Less Costly
The Insurance Industry currently spends $10-15B on the deposition process, that’s up to 35% of total litigation cost. Cases average 2-4 years to resolve. Litigation costs for cases continue to grow with time.
The Second Chair™ video process is cost-neutral and in some cases actually less expensive than the traditional process. And better management of the deposition process compresses case timelines, further reducing paid loss.
Adds More Value
Depositions are rarely attended by claims litigation professionals and the related documents are rarely read in entirety. So the current process adds very little value – basing litigation decisions on a paper in a file, not a real evaluation of the people involved.
Leads To Better Outcomes
Plaintiff attorneys’ use video to tell the jury, “the story of the witness in how they want it told.” Second Chair™ helps even the playing field by making video technology available to the defense/client side. Using technology, claims staff makes the decision as to the future direction of the case.
