Utah Interrogatories to Defendant for Motor Vehicle Accident

Note: This summary is not intended to be an all inclusive summary of discovery law in Utah, but does include basic and other information.

Definitions

Discovery:

A procedure designed to allow disclosure of information between Plaintiffs and Defendants. Written questions, oral questioning, document production and admissions requests are generally allowed. Discovery was designed to to prevent trial by ambush.

Interrogatories:

Written questions from Plaintiff to Defendant, or from Defendant to Plaintiff. The questions are mailed to the Plaintiff, Defendant or the attorney for response in writing. The answers or responses are usually due between 20-30 days.

Deposition:

A procedure where verbal questions are asked a Plaintiff or Defendant for immediate response. Depositions are usually recorded by a court reporter, who swears the person to tell the truth before questioning begins.

Production of Documents:

The method of obtaining documents from the other party relevant to the case such as all documents a party intends to introduce at trial.

Requests for Admissions:

Written questions where you request the other party to admit or deny some relevant fact.

Objections:

Objections may be made to all discovery questions if the questions are not relevant, or likely to lead to the discovery of relevant evidence.

Civil Procedure Rules:

Virtually all states have adopted a version of civil procedure rules which include rules dealing with discovery.

Utah Rules of Civil Procedure

Utah has adopted the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure which contain rules governing discovery.

General provisions governing discovery.

(a) Required disclosures; Discovery Methods:

(a)(1) Initial disclosures. Except in cases exempt under subdivision (a)(2) and except as otherwise stipulated or directed by order, a party shall, without awaiting a discovery request, provide to other parties:

(a)(1)(A) the name and, if known, the address and telephone number of each individual likely to have discoverable information supporting its claims or defenses, unless solely for impeachment, identifying the subjects of the information;

(a)(1)(B) a copy of, or a description by category and location of, all discoverable documents, data compilations, and tangible things in the possession, custody, or control of the party supporting its claims or defenses, unless solely for impeachment;

(a)(1)(C) a computation of any category of damages claimed by the disclosing party, making available for inspection and copying as under Rule 34 all discoverable documents or other evidentiary material on which such computation is based, including materials bearing on the nature and extent of injuries suffered; and

(a)(1)(D) for inspection and copying as under Rule 34 any insurance agreement under which any person carrying on an insurance business may be liable to satisfy part or all of a judgment which may be entered in the case or to indemnify or reimburse for payments made to satisfy the judgment.

Unless otherwise stipulated by the parties or ordered by the court, the disclosures required by subdivision (a)(1) shall be made within 14 days after the meeting of the parties under subdivision (f). Unless otherwise stipulated by the parties or ordered by the court, a party joined after the meeting of the parties shall make these disclosures within 30 days after being served. A party shall make initial disclosures based on the information then reasonably available and is not excused from making disclosures because the party has not fully completed the investigation of the case or because the party challenges the sufficiency of another party's disclosures or because another party has not made disclosures.

(a)(2) Exemptions.

(a)(2)(A) The requirements of subdivision (a)(1) and subdivision (f) do not apply to actions:

(a)(2)(A)(i) based on contract in which the amount demanded in the pleadings is $20,000 or less;

(a)(2)(A)(ii) for judicial review of adjudicative proceedings or rule making proceedings of an administrative agency;

(a)(2)(A)(iii) governed by Rule 65B or Rule 65C;

(a)(2)(A)(iv) to enforce an arbitration award;

(a)(2)(A)(v) for water rights general adjudication under Title 73, Chapter 4; and

(a)(2)(A)(vi) in which any party not admitted to the practice of law in Utah is not represented by counsel.

(a)(2)(B) In an exempt action, the matters subject to disclosure under subpart (a)(1) are subject to discovery under subpart (b).

Rule 26(a)

(b) Scope and Limits:

Unless otherwise limited by order of the court in accordance with these rules, the scope of discovery is as follows:

(b)(1) In general. Parties may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, which is relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending action, whether it relates to the claim or defense of the party seeking discovery or to the claim or defense of any other party, including the existence, description, nature, custody, condition, and location of any books, documents, or other tangible things and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of any discoverable matter. It is not ground for objection that the information sought will be inadmissible at the trial if the information sought appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.

(b)(2) Limitations. The frequency or extent of use of the discovery methods set forth in Subdivision (a)(6) shall be limited by the court if it determines that: (i) the discovery sought is unreasonably cumulative or duplicative, or is obtainable from some other source that is more convenient, less burdensome, or less expensive; (ii) the party seeking discovery has had ample opportunity by discovery in the action to obtain the information sought; or (iii) the discovery is unduly burdensome or expensive, taking into account the needs of the case, the amount in controversy, limitations on the parties' resources, and the importance of the issues at stake in the litigation. The court may act upon its own initiative after reasonable notice or pursuant to a motion under Subdivision (c).Rule 26(b)

(b)(4) Experts:

(b)(4)(A) A party may depose any person who has been identified as an expert whose opinions may be presented at trial. If a report is required under subdivision(a)(3)(B), any deposition shall be conducted within 60 days after the report is provided.

(b)(4)(B) A party may discover facts known or opinions held by an expert who has been retained or specially employed by another party in anticipation of litigation or preparation for trial and who is not expected to be called as a witness at trial, only as provided in Rule 35(b) or upon a showing of exceptional circumstances under which it is impracticable for the party seeking discovery to obtain facts or opinions on the same subject by other means.

(b)(4)(C) Unless manifest injustice would result,

(b)(4)(C)(i) The court shall require that the party seeking discovery pay the expert a reasonable fee for time spent in responding to discovery under Subdivision (b)(4) of this rule; and

(b)(4)(C)(ii) With respect to discovery obtained under Subdivision (b)(4)(A) of this rule the court may require, and with respect to discovery obtained under Subdivision (b)(4)(B) of this rule the court shall require, the party seeking discovery to pay the other party a fair portion of the fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the latter party in obtaining facts and opinions from the expert. Rule 26(b)(4)

(e) Supplementation of Responses:

A party who has made a disclosure under subdivision (a) or responded to a request for discovery with a response is under a duty to supplement the disclosure or response to include information thereafter acquired if ordered by the court or in the following circumstances:

(e)(1) A party is under a duty to supplement at appropriate intervals disclosures under subdivision (a) if the party learns that in some material respect the information disclosed is incomplete or incorrect and if the additional or corrective information has not otherwise been made known to the other parties during the discovery process or in writing. With respect to testimony of an expert from whom a report is required under subdivision (a)(3)(B) the duty extends both to information contained in the report and to information provided through a deposition of the expert.

(e)(2) A party is under a duty seasonably to amend a prior response to an interrogatory, request for production, or request for admission if the party learns that the response is in some material respect incomplete or incorrect and if the additional or corrective information has not otherwise been made known to the other parties during the discovery process or in writing. Rule 26(e)

(f) Discovery and Scheduling Conference:

The following applies to all cases not exempt under subdivision (a)(2), except as otherwise stipulated or directed by order.

(f)(1) The parties shall, as soon as practicable after commencement of the action, meet in person or by telephone to discuss the nature and basis of their claims and defenses, to discuss the possibilities for settlement of the action, to make or arrange for the disclosures required by subdivision (a)(1), and to develop a stipulated discovery plan. Plaintiff's counsel shall schedule the meeting. The attorneys of record shall be present at the meeting and shall attempt in good faith to agree upon the discovery plan. Rule 26(f)

Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken:

(a) Within the United States or within a territory or insular possession subject to the dominion of the United States, depositions shall be taken before an officer authorized to administer oaths by the laws of the United States or of the place where the examination is held, or before a person appointed by the court in which the action is pending. A person so appointed has power to administer oaths and take testimony. In videotaped depositions taken pursuant to Rule 30.02(4)(B), any lawyer or lawyer's agent can operate the equipment. Rule 28.01

(b) In a foreign country, depositions may be taken (1) on notice before a person authorized to administer oaths in the place in which the examination is held, either by the law thereof or by the law of the United States, or (2) before a person commissioned by the court, and a person so commissioned shall have the power by virtue of his commission to administer any necessary oath and take testimony, or (3) pursuant to a letter rogatory. A commission or a letter rogatory shall be issued on application and notice and on terms that are just and appropriate. It is not requisite to the issuance of a commission or a letter rogatory that the taking of the deposition in any other manner is impracticable or inconvenient; and both a commission and a letter rogatory may be issued in proper cases. A notice or commission may designate the person before whom the deposition is to be taken either by name or descriptive title. A letter rogatory may be addressed "To the Appropriate Authority in (here name the country)." Evidence obtained in response to a letter rogatory need not be excluded merely for the reason that it is not a verbatim transcript or that the testimony was not taken under oath or for any similar departure from the requirements for depositions taken within the United States under these rules. Rule 28.02

Stipulations:

Unless the court orders otherwise, the parties may by written stipulation

(1) provide that depositions may be taken before any person, at any time or place, upon any notice, and in any manner and when so taken may be used like other depositions, and

(2) modify the procedures provided by these rules for disclosure and discovery, except that stipulations extending the time for disclosure or discovery require the approval of the court if they would interfere with the time set for completion of discovery or with the date of a hearing or trial. Rule 29

Depositions:

(a) When depositions may be taken; When leave required.

(1) A party may take the testimony of any person, including a party, by deposition upon oral examination without leave of court except as provided in paragraph (2). The attendance of witnesses may be compelled by subpoena as provided in Rule 45.

(2) A party must obtain leave of court, which shall be granted to the extent consistent with the principles stated in Rule 26(b)(2), if the person to be examined is confined in prison or if, without the written stipulation of the parties:

(A) a proposed deposition would result in more than ten depositions being taken under this rule or Rule 31 by the plaintiffs, or by the defendants, or by third-party defendants;

(B) the person to be examined already has been deposed in the case; or

(C) a party seeks to take a deposition before the time specified in Rule 26(d) unless the notice contains a certification, with supporting facts, that the person to be examined is expected to leave the state and will be unavailable for examination unless deposed before that time. The party or party's attorney shall sign the notice, and the signature constitutes a certification subject to the sanctions provided by Rule 11. Rule 30(a)

(b) Notice of examination; general requirements; special notice; non-stenographic recording; production of documents and things; deposition of organization; deposition by telephone.

(1) A party desiring to take the deposition of any person upon oral examination shall give reasonable notice in writing to every other party to the action. The notice shall state the time and place for taking the deposition and the name and address of each person to be examined, if known, and, if the name is not known, a general description sufficient to identify the person or the particular class or group to which the person belongs. If a subpoena duces tecum is to be served on the person to be examined, the designation of the materials to be produced as set forth in the subpoena shall be attached to or included in the notice.

(2) The party taking the deposition shall state in the notice the method by which the testimony shall be recorded. Unless the court orders otherwise, it may be recorded by sound, sound-and-visual, or stenographic means, and the party taking the deposition shall bear the cost of the recording.

(3) With prior notice to the deponent and other parties, any party may designate another method to record the deponent's testimony in addition to the method specified by the person taking the deposition. The additional record or transcript shall be made at that party's expense unless the court otherwise orders.

(4) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, a deposition shall be conducted before an officer appointed or designated under Rule 28 and shall begin with a statement on the record by the officer that includes (A) the officer's name and business address; (B) the date, time and place of the deposition; (C) the name of the deponent; (D) the administration of the oath or affirmation to the deponent; and (E) an identification of all persons present. If the deposition is recorded other than stenographically, the officer shall repeat items (A) through (C) at the beginning of each unit of tape or other recording medium. The appearance or demeanor of deponents or attorneys shall not be distorted through camera or sound-recording techniques. At the end of the deposition, the officer shall state on the record that the deposition is complete and shall set forth any stipulations made by counsel concerning the custody of the transcript or recording and the exhibits, or concerning other pertinent matters.

(5) The notice to a party deponent may be accompanied by a request made in compliance with Rule 34 for the production of documents and tangible things at the taking of the deposition. The procedure of Rule 34 shall apply to the request.

(6) A party may in the notice and in a subpoena name as the deponent a public or private corporation, a partnership, an association, or a governmental agency and describe with reasonable particularity the matters on which examination is requested. In that event, the organization so named shall designate one or more officers, directors, managing agents, or other persons who consent to testify on its behalf and may set forth, for each person designated, the matters on which the person will testify. A subpoena shall advise a nonparty organization of its duty to make such a designation. The persons so designated shall testify as to matters known or reasonably available to the organization. This Subdivision (b)(6) does not preclude taking a deposition by any other procedure authorized in these rules.

(7) The parties may stipulate in writing or the court may upon motion order that a deposition be taken by remote electronic means. For the purposes of this rule and Rules 28(a), 37(b)(1), and 45(d), a deposition taken by remote electronic means is taken at the place where the deponent is to answer questions.

The notice of deposition required under (1) of this subsection (b) may provide that the testimony be recorded by other than stenographic means, in which event the notice shall designate the manner of recording and preserving the deposition. A court may require that the deposition be taken by stenographic means if necessary to assure that the recording be accurate. A motion by a party for such an order shall be addressed to the court in which the action in pending; a motion by a witness for such an order may be addressed to the court in the district where the deposition is taken.

The notice to a party deponent may be accompanied by a request for production of documents and tangible things at the taking of the deposition. The procedure governing production requests shall apply to the request. Rule 30(b)

Interrogatories

(a) Availability; procedures for use.

Without leave of court or written stipulation, any party may serve upon any other party written interrogatories, not exceeding 25 in number including all discrete subparts, to be answered by the party served or, if the party served is a public or private corporation, a partnership, an association, or a governmental agency, by any officer or agent, who shall furnish such information as is available to the party. Leave to serve additional interrogatories shall be granted to the extent consistent with the principles of Rule 26(b)(2). Without leave of court or written stipulation, interrogatories may not be served before the time specified in Rule 26(d). Rule 33(a)

(b) Answers and objections.

(1) Each interrogatory shall be answered separately and fully in writing under oath, unless it is objected to, in which event the objecting party shall state the reasons for objection and shall answer to the extent the interrogatory is not objectionable.

(2) The answers are to be signed by the person making them, and the objections signed by the attorney making them.

(3) The party upon whom the interrogatories have been served shall serve a copy of the answers and objections, if any, within 30 days after the service of the interrogatories. A shorter or longer time may be ordered by the court or, in the absence of such an order, agreed to in writing by the parties subject to Rule 29.

(4) All grounds for an objection to an interrogatory shall be stated with specificity. Any ground not stated in a timely objection is waived unless the party's failure to object is excused by the court for good cause shown.

(5) The party submitting the interrogatories may move for an order under Rule 37(a) with respect to any objection to or other failure to answer an interrogatory. Rule 33(b)

(c) Scope; use at trial.

Interrogatories may relate to any matters which can be inquired into under Rule 26(b), and the answers may be used to the extent permitted by the Rules of Evidence.

An interrogatory otherwise proper is not necessarily objectionable merely because an answer to the interrogatory involves an opinion or contention that relates to fact or the application of law to fact, but the court may order that such an interrogatory need not be answered until after designated discovery has been completed or until a pretrial conference or other later time. Rule 33(c)

Production

(a) Scope. Any party may serve on any other party a request:

(1) to produce and permit the party making the request, or someone acting on his behalf, to inspect and copy, any designated documents (including writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, phono-records, and other data compilations from which information can be obtained, translated, if necessary, by the respondent through detection devices into reasonably usable form), or to inspect and copy, test, or sample any tangible things which constitute or contain matters within the scope of Rule 26(b) and which are in the possession, custody or control of the party upon whom the request is served; or

(2) to permit entry upon designated land or other property in the possession or control of the party upon whom the request is served for the purpose of inspection and measuring, surveying, photographing, testing, or sampling the property or any designated object or operation thereon, within the scope of Rule 26(b).

Rule 34(a)

(b) Procedure

(1) The request shall set forth the items to be inspected either by individual item or by category, and describe each item and category with reasonable particularity. The request shall specify a reasonable time, place, and manner of making the inspection and performing the related acts. Without leave of court or written stipulation, a request may not be served before the time specified in Rule 26(d).

(2) The party upon whom the request is served shall serve a written response within 30 days after the service of the request. A shorter or longer time may be directed by the court or, in the absence of such an order, agreed to in writing by the parties, subject to Rule 29. The response shall state, with respect to each item or category, that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested, unless the request is objected to, in which event the reasons for objection shall be stated. If objection is made to part of an item or category, the part shall be specified and inspection permitted of the remaining parts. The party submitting the request may move for an order under Rule 37(a) with respect to any objection to or other failure to respond to the request or any part thereof, or any failure to permit inspection as requested.

(3) A party who produces documents for inspection shall produce them as they are kept in the usual course of business or shall organize and label them to correspond with the categories in the request. Rule 34(b)

Physical and Mental Examination of Persons.

(a) Order for examination.

When the mental or physical condition (including the blood group) of a party or of a person in the custody or under the legal control of a party is in controversy, the court in which the action is pending may order the party or person to submit to a physical or mental examination by a suitably licensed or certified examiner or to produce for examination the person in the party's custody or legal control. The order may be made only on motion for good cause shown and upon notice to the person to be examined and to all parties and shall specify the time, place, manner, conditions, and scope of the examination and the person or persons by whom it is to be made.

Rule 35(a)

(b) Report of examining physician

(1) If requested by a party against whom an order is made under Rule 35(a) or the person examined, the party causing the examination to be made shall deliver to the person examined and/or the other party a copy of a detailed written report of the examiner setting out the examiner's findings, including results of all tests made, diagnosis and conclusions, together with like reports of all earlier examinations of the same condition. After delivery the party causing the examination shall be entitled upon request to receive from the party against whom the order is made a like report of any examination, previously or thereafter made, of the same condition, unless, in the case of a report of examination of a person not a party, the party shows that the report cannot be obtained. The court on motion may order delivery of a report on such terms as are just, and if an examiner fails or refuses to make a report the court may exclude the examiner's testimony if offered at the trial.

(2) By requesting and obtaining a report of the examination so ordered or by taking the deposition of the examiner, the party examined waives any privilege the party may have in that action or any other involving the same controversy, regarding the testimony of every other person who has examined or may thereafter examine the party in respect of the same mental or physical condition.

(3) This subdivision applies to examinations made by agreement of the parties, unless the agreement expressly provides otherwise. This subdivision does not preclude discovery of a report of any other examiner or the taking of a deposition of an examiner in accordance with the provisions of any other rule. Rule 35(b)

(c) Right of party examined to other medical reports.

At the time of making an order to submit to an examination under Subdivision (a) of this rule, the court shall, upon motion of the party to be examined, order the party seeking such examination to furnish to the party to be examined a report of any examination previously made or medical treatment previously given by any examiner employed directly or indirectly by the party seeking the order for a physical or mental examination, or at whose instance or request such medical examination or treatment has previously been conducted. If the party seeking the examination refuses to deliver such report, the court on motion and notice may make an order requiring delivery on such terms as are just; and if an examiner fails or refuses to make such a report the court may exclude the examiner's testimony if offered at the trial, or may make such other order as is authorized under Rule 37. Rule 35(c)

Requests for Admissions

(1) A party may serve upon any other party a written request for the admission, for purpose of the pending action only, of the truth of any matters within the scope of Rule 26(b) set forth in the request that relate to statements or opinions of fact or of the application of law to fact, including the genuineness of any documents described in the request. The request for admission shall contain a notice advising the party to whom the request is made that, pursuant to Rule 36, the matters shall be deemed admitted unless said request is responded to within 30 days after service of the request or within such shorter or longer time as the court may allow. Copies of documents shall be served with the request unless they have been or are otherwise furnished or made available for inspection and copying. Without leave of court or written stipulation, requests for admission may not be served before the time specified in Rule 26(d).

(2) Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set forth. The matter is admitted unless, within thirty days after service of the request, or within such shorter or longer time as the court may allow, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the party requesting the admission a written answer or objection addressed to the matter, signed by the party or by his attorney, but, unless the court shortens the time, a defendant shall not be required to serve answers or objections before the expiration of 45 days after service of the summons and complaint upon him. If objection is made, the reasons therefor shall be stated. The answer shall specifically deny the matter or set forth in detail the reasons why the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny the matter. A denial shall fairly meet the substance of the requested admission, and when good faith requires that a party qualify his answer or deny only a part of the matter of which an admission is requested, he shall specify so much of it as is true and qualify or deny the remainder. An answering party may not give lack of information or knowledge as a reason for failure to admit or deny unless he states that he has made reasonable inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable by him is insufficient to enable him to admit or deny. A party who considers that a matter of which an admission has been requested presents a genuine issue for trial may not, on that ground alone, object to the request; he may, subject to the provisions of Rule 37(c), deny the matter or set forth reasons why he cannot admit or deny it.

(3) The party who has requested the admissions may move to determine the sufficiency of the answers or objections. Unless the court determines that an objection is justified, it shall order that an answer be served. If the court determines that an answer does not comply with the requirements of this rule, it may order either that the matter is admitted or that an amended answer be served. The court may, in lieu of these orders, determine that final disposition of the request be made at a pretrial conference or at a designated time prior to trial. The provisions of Rule 37(a)(4) apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion. Rule 36(a)

Compel Discovery

(a) Motion for order compelling discovery. A party, upon reasonable notice to other parties and all persons affected thereby, may apply for an order compelling discovery as follows:

(1) Appropriate court. An application for an order to a party may be made to the court in which the action is pending, or, on matters relating to a deposition, to the court in the district where the deposition is being taken. An application for an order to a deponent who is not a party shall be made to the court in the district where the deposition is being taken. Rule 37(a)

Domestic Actions Discovery Notes

If you require extra time to respond to discovery, you should ask the other side for an extension in writing. It may also be necessary to enter an order granting the extension to protect your rights.

Discovery questions are limited in number so select the most important questions to ask the other side. Don't waste your requests writing questions that you already know the answer to.