How do you respond to a discovery request?

How do you respond to a discovery request?

Your answers to the interrogatories should usually be short, clear, and direct and should answer only the question that is being asked. This is not the time to set out your entire case or defense to the other side. Take the time to make sure your answers are correct and truthful.

What is the purpose of discovery?

Discovery enables the parties to know before the trial begins what evidence may be presented. It’s designed to prevent “trial by ambush,” where one side doesn’t learn of the other side’s evidence or witnesses until the trial, when there’s no time to obtain answering evidence.

What happens if the defendant does not respond to interrogatories?

Motions to Compel – If a party doesn’t respond to interrogatories or requests for production, then the party seeking those answers must file a motion to compel with the court. If the court grants the motion to compel, then the party who objected or failed to answer must then do so.

Are Answers to Interrogatories admissible at trial?

Interrogatory answers, in order to be used as substantive evidence at trial, must be introduced into evidence as part of the record.

Are interrogatories public record?

Courts nationwide recognize a right to inspect and copy public records and documents, including judicial records and documents. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Seattle Times Co. Rhinehart that “pretrial depositions and interrogatories are not public components of a civil trial.