From Grace Casas, experienced, Miami-based litigator:
Your pearls of wisdom for practice are great. I found that Fla. R. Civ. P 1. 310 (d) can be helpful in cases such as you described this week. A lawyer can ask to suspend the deposition and then immediately file a motion according to that rule to suspend, adjourn or terminate the deposition. This rule isn’t to be used lightly as the movant must certify it’s in good faith because the deposition is being conducted in bad faith such as to annoy or oppress the witness. Sometimes this is best option especially when people are getting out of control and things may escalate.