House Speaker Tom Craddick went under oath for a deposition Thursday, in an ongoing dispute over a canceled fishing trip.

Craddick is being sued by North Texas business owner Patrick Marsteller, claiming the speaker abused his power in demanding a refund for the trip.

"Do you have any objection to the people of Texas seeing this tape?" plaintiff's attorney Kevin Buchanan asked.

"You don't have to answer that," said Tom Thomas, Craddick's Dallas attorney.

Craddick's attorneys filed a motion asking that the deposition stay out of public view, but a judge denied the motion.

Hours after the deposition ended, the video was made available to KVUE and sister station WFAA exclusively.

During the 80-minute deposition that took place in Dallas, Craddick refused to answer several questions under advice from his attorney.

At issue is a letter on lobbyist and Craddick friend Bill Messer's letterhead, in which a threat of legal action and "embarrassment" to Marsteller's reputation was made. Craddick co-signed the letter as "Speaker" Tom Craddick.

"The speaker, I guess, felt the power given to him by the power of the speaker of the House gave him the right to do this," Marsteller said last May. "I wouldn't have filed the lawsuit if I didn't feel threatened."

Craddick said he never read the letter containing the threat.

"I didn't write this letter, I don't even remember signing this letter to be honest with you," Craddick said.

"You did sign it?" asked Buchanan.

"It is my signature," Craddick said. Questioning in the deposition never finished.

Tensions grew so heated that Craddick and his attorney stormed out.

"That's it, we're leaving," Thomas said.

Craddick took of his lapel microphone and walked off camera.

Buchanan says a judge has ordered the two parties to mediation, which could result in summary judgment or a settlement.

If neither is reached, the case can go to jury trial.