A Rock Star Slipped Past His Guard for a Heroin Binge, Then Nailed His Testimony Anyway
His father and brother had hired a guard to watch him at the hotel, but the guard fell asleep.
Original Jurisdiction · Trial Lawyer To The Stars: Orin SnyderOrin Snyder, the rock star's lawyer, sat waiting in the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, terrified that a judge was about to hold them in contempt.
His client, a famous musician Snyder calls Mr. X to protect his identity, was supposed to sit for a court-ordered deposition, a formal question-and-answer session where lawyers ask a witness about a case under oath. Mr. X was a heroin addict. He had already missed his prior deposition, and the court had ordered him to appear this time.
A second absence would be a bigger problem. Defying a court order to testify can lead a judge to fine or otherwise punish the person who disobeys, and Snyder feared that is exactly what would happen to them.
His father and brother were so worried he would not show up that they had paid a guard to keep an eye on him at the hotel. Sometime during the night, the guard fell asleep. Mr. X slipped out and spent the night using heroin.
Snyder arrived the next morning with no idea where his client was.
Then Mr. X walked in off the street. His hands were shaking. His eyes were bloodshot. He sat down.
Snyder said he "nailed the deposition."
Questions people ask
What is a deposition?
It is a pretrial interview where a witness answers questions under oath, with lawyers for both sides present and a transcript made. What is said can be used later in court, so preparing a client and keeping his answers tight matters a lot.
What happens if you skip a court-ordered deposition?
A judge can impose sanctions, including fines, limits on what you can argue at trial, or a finding of contempt of court. In extreme cases, contempt can bring additional fines or jail time until the person complies.
Why would a family hire a security guard in a case like this?
Families and lawyers sometimes hire a minder, often called a sober companion or close-protection guard, to keep someone from using drugs or disappearing before a key date. The guard is there to provide accountability, not medical treatment.