Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

Your employer cannot require you to perjure yourself or to give testimony that is in any way incorrect or misleading. Other than that, they can require you to do anything and everything necessary to assist them with litigation involving the company. If you refuse they can fire you. In fact they can fire you just for hesitating to say "yes." In fact they can fire you for wearing the wrong color socks to the meeting with the lawyer. Unless it is a case of racial or other discrimination, they can fire you for breathing (if you stop breathing, of course, they don't have to fire you). Seriously, though, this is not optional. They can even fire you for taking the Fifth Amendment to avoid being criminally prosecuted yourself. So if you're wondering why it was "just assumed that [you] would," that's why: because you will. Broad overview of what to watch out for: cooperate and tell the truth, unless it will subject you to criminal prosecution. If you have committed a crime, take the Fifth and get fired if that's what it comes to. There's nothing more you can or should do than those things.

You seem nervous about something, without disclosing it here. (Which I suggest you don't.) Why don't you speak to a private attorney to discuss the issue at length, where you will be cloaked with attorney client privilege and attorney client confidentiality?