I once had a witness who thought he was being slick by using all these metaphors about sailing while answering questions. I ended up capturing a whole deposition where he compared everything to navigating stormy seas — it was a challenge to keep a straight face while trying to sort through the actual facts. Anyone else had a witness like that?
I once had a deponent who couldn’t stop with the metaphors either, and I realized that if I ask simpler, direct questions, they tend to drop the analogies. It’s a fine balance between letting them express themselves and keeping the facts straight. Ever had to cut someone off mid-sail to get back on course?
That sounds hilarious! I’ve had a few who think they’re poets. Have you tried rephrasing the questions to keep it simple?