New California 7-hour Deposition Rule

California has added section 2025.290 to the Code of Civil Procedure, which limits a deposition to “seven hours of total testimony.” The new law will go into effect on January 1, 2013. The seven hours does not include examination by the witness’s own counsel. The limitation may be avoided by order of court, including a case management order. The law provides that the court shall allow additional time “if needed to fairly examine the deponent or if the deponent, another person, or any other circumstance impedes or delays the examination.”