siriusly in the depositions taken from me, the big guns were in the room, from both sides. Associates were there also to take notes, separate from the court reporter, who kept the official transcript of the procedings. However recordings were also made. I don't know the deposition taken in your case, mine were business related, anti-trust, fraud, patent infringement, product liability.
Depositions are very important for both sides, even though the plaintif gets to ask the questions, it's the answers that count.