Interrogatories to Defendant for Motor Vehicle Accident
Note: This summary is not intended to be an all inclusive
summary of discovery law in Oklahoma, 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.
Oklahoma Rules of Civil Procedure
The Oklahoma Rules of Civil Procedure are contained in the Oklahoma
State Statutes, Title 12. The discovery rules are specifically found in
Section 12-3226 through Section 12-3237.
Discovery Methods:
Parties may obtain discovery by one or more of the following methods: Depositions upon oral examination
or written questions; written interrogatories; production of documents
or things or permission to enter upon land or other property, for inspection
and other purposes; physical and mental examinations; and requests for
admission. Unless the court orders otherwise under this section, the frequency
of use of these methods is not limited.
Section 12-3226(A)
Scope:
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 a 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. Section 12-3226(B)(1)
Experts:
a. Discovery of facts known and opinions held
by experts, otherwise discoverable under the provisions of paragraph 1
of this subsection and acquired or developed in anticipation of litigation
or for trial, may be obtained only as follows:
(1) A party may, through interrogatories, require any other party
to identify each person whom that other party expects to call
as an expert witness at trial and give the address at which that
expert witness may be located.
(2) After disclosure of the names and addresses of the expert witnesses,
the other party expects to call as witnesses, the party, who has requested
disclosure, may depose any such expert witnesses subject to the scope of this
section. Prior to taking the deposition the party must give notice as required
in subsections A and C of Section 3230 of this title.
(3) In addition to taking the deposition of an expert witness the party
may, through interrogatories, require the party who expects to call the
expert witness to state the subject matter on which the expert is expected
to testify, and to state the substance of the facts and opinions to which
the expert is expected to testify and a summary of the grounds for each
opinion.
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 upon motion, when the
court may order discovery as provided in Section 3235 of this title
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 any other means.
c. Unless manifest injustice would result:
(1) The court shall require that the party seeking discovery pay
the expert a reasonable fee for time spent in responding to discovery under
division (2) of subparagraph a of this paragraph and subparagraph b of
this paragraph.
(2) The court shall require that the party seeking discovery with respect
to discovery obtained under subparagraph b of this paragraph, 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. Section 12-3226(B)(3)
Sequence and Timing of Discovery:
Unless the court upon motion, for the convenience of parties and witnesses and
in the interests of justice, orders otherwise, methods of discovery
may be used in any sequence. The fact that a party is conducting
discovery, whether by deposition or otherwise, shall not operate
to delay discovery by any other party. Section 12-3226(D)
Supplementation of Responses:
A party who has responded to a request for discovery with a response that was complete when it
was made is under no duty to supplement the response to include
information thereafter acquired, except as follows:
1. A party is under a duty seasonably to supplement the response
with respect to any question directly addressed to:
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 obtains information upon the basis of which:
3. A duty to supplement responses may be imposed by order of the court,
agreement of the parties, or at any time prior to trial through new requests
for supplementation of prior responses. Section 12-3226(E)
Discovery Conference:
At any time after commencement of an action, the court may direct the attorneys for the parties
to appear for a conference on the subject of discovery. The court
shall do so upon motion by the attorney for any party if the motion
includes:
5. A statement showing that the attorney making the motion has made
a reasonable effort to reach agreement with opposing attorneys on the matters
set forth in the motion.
Each party and his attorney are under a duty to participate in good faith
in the framing of a discovery plan if a plan is proposed by the attorney
for any party. Notice of the motion shall be served on all parties. Objections
or additions to matters set forth in the motion shall be served not later
than ten (10) days after service of the motion.
Following the discovery conference, the court shall enter an order tentatively
identifying the issues for discovery purposes, establishing a plan and
schedule for discovery, setting limitations on discovery, if any; and determining
such other matters, including the allocation of expenses, as are necessary
for the proper management of discovery in the action. In preparing the
plan for discovery the court shall protect the parties from excessive or
abusive use of discovery. An order shall be altered or amended whenever
justice so requires.
Subject to the right of a party who properly moves for a discovery
conference to prompt convening of the conference, the court may combine
the discovery conference with a pretrial conference.
Section 12-3226(F)
Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken:
Within this state, depositions shall be taken before an officer authorized to administer oaths
by the laws 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.
Depositions may be taken outside of Oklahoma:
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 this state; or
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
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. 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 this state. Section 12-3228
Depositions
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 other procedures governing or limitations placed upon
discovery, except that stipulations extending the time provided in Sections
3226, 3233, 3234 and 3236 of this title for responses to discovery may,
if they would interfere with any time set for completion of discovery,
be made only with the approval of the court. A person designated by the
stipulation has the power by virtue of his designation to administer any
necessary oath. Section 12-3229
Interrogatories
A. Any party may serve upon any other party written interrogatories
to be answered by the party served or, if the party served is a public
or private corporation or a partnership or association or governmental
agency, by any officer or agent, who shall furnish such information as
is available to that party. Interrogatories may, without leave of court,
be served upon the plaintiff after commencement of the action or upon any
other party with the summons and petition or after service of the summons
and petition on that party.
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. The number of interrogatories to
a party shall not exceed thirty in number. Interrogatories inquiring as
to the names and locations of witnesses, or the existence, location and
custodian of documents or physical evidence shall be construed as one interrogatory.
All other interrogatories, including subdivisions of one numbered interrogatory,
shall be construed as separate interrogatories. No further interrogatories
will be served unless authorized by the court. If counsel for a party believes
that more than thirty interrogatories are necessary, he shall consult with
opposing counsel promptly and attempt to reach a written stipulation as
to a reasonable number of additional interrogatories. Counsel are expected
to comply with this requirement in good faith. In the event a written stipulation
cannot be agreed upon, the party seeking to submit such additional interrogatories
shall file a motion with the court (1) showing that counsel have conferred
in good faith but sincere attempts to resolve the issue have been unavailing,
(2) showing reasons establishing good cause for their use, and (3) setting
forth the proposed additional interrogatories. The answers are to be signed
by the person making them, and the objections signed by the attorney making
them. The party upon whom the interrogatories have been served shall serve
a copy of the answers and objections if any, within thirty (30) days after
the service of the interrogatories, except that a defendant may serve answers
or objections to interrogatories within forty-five (45) days after service
of the summons and complaint upon that defendant. 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 Section 3229 of this title. 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. The party
submitting the interrogatories may move for an order under subsection A
of Section 3237 of this title with respect to any objection to or other
failure to answer an interrogatory.
B. Interrogatories may relate to any matters which can be inquired
into under subsection B of Section 3226 of this title, and the answers
may be used to the extent permitted by the Oklahoma Evidence Code as set
forth in Sections 2101 et seq. of this title.
An interrogatory otherwise proper is not necessarily objectionable
because an answer to the interrogatory involves an opinion or contention
that relates to fact or the application of law to fact. 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. Section 12-3233
Production
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,
but not limited to, writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, motion
picture films, phonograph records, tape and video recordings,
records and other data compilations from which information can
be obtained, translated, if necessary, by the respondent through detection
devices into a reasonably usable form, or to inspect and copy, test
or sample any tangible things which constitute or contain matters within
the scope of subsection B of Section 3226 of this title 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 subsection B of Section 3226 of this title.
Section 12-234
Physical and Mental Examinations of Persons
When the physical, including the blood group, or mental condition
of a party or of a person in custody or under the legal control of a party,
is in controversy in any proceeding in which the person relies upon that condition
as an element of his claim or defense, an adverse party may take a physical
or mental examination of such person.
The party desiring to take the physical or mental examination of
another party or of a person in custody or control of another party within
the scope of subsection A of this section shall serve his request upon
the person to be examined and all other parties. The request shall specify
the time, place, manner, conditions and scope of the examination and the person
or persons by whom it is to be made.
No request shall be served until thirty (30) days after service
of summons and petition upon the defendant. The request shall set a time for
the examination not less than five (5) days after service of the notice.
If the party or person in custody or control of the party who is
to be examined objects to the physical or mental examination then
he shall file a motion objecting to the examination and setting
out the reasons why his mental or physical condition is not in
controversy or such person may apply for a protective order under
the provisions of subsection C of Section 3226 of this title. The burden
of proof is upon the person objecting to the examination or requesting
a protective order. The court may set the conditions for examination or
refuse to permit such examination if the mental or physical condition is
not in controversy. If the party or the person in custody or control of
the party refuses to obey the court order to submit to a physical or mental
examination the court may impose those sanctions provided for in paragraph
4 of subsection A and paragraph 2 of subsection B of Section 3237 of this
title.
If the motion is granted to prohibit the examination, the court
may impose those sanctions provided for in paragraph 4 of subsection
A of Section 3237 of this title upon the party requesting the
examination.
When the physical, including the blood group, or mental condition
of a party, or a person in the custody or under the legal control of a
party, is in controversy but does not meet the conditions set forth in
subsection A of this section, the court in which the action is pending
may order the party to submit to a physical or mental examination by a
suitably licensed or certified examiner or to produce for such examination
the agent, employee or person in his 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. The order shall specify the time,
place, manner, conditions and scope of the examination and the person or
persons by whom it is to be made.
A representative of the person to be examined may be present at
the examination.
If requested by the party or the person examined under this section,
the party causing the examination to be made shall deliver to him a copy
of a detailed written report of the examiner setting out his findings,
including results of all tests made, diagnoses and conclusions, together
with the 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 or person 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 he is unable to obtain it. The court
on motion may enter an order against a party requiring delivery of a report
on such terms as are just. If an examiner fails or refuses to make a report
the court may exclude his testimony if offered at the trial.
If the physician or psychotherapist-patient privilege has
not already been waived as provided in the Oklahoma Evidence Code requesting
and obtaining a report of the examination made or by taking the deposition
of the examiner, the party examined waives any privilege he 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
him in respect of the same physical or mental condition.
This subsection applies to examinations made by agreement of the
parties, unless the agreement expressly provides otherwise. This subsection
does not preclude discovery of a report of an examiner or the taking of
a deposition of the examiner in accordance with the provisions of any other section of the Oklahoma Discovery Code.
Section 12-3235
Requests for Admissions
A party may serve upon any other party a written request for the
admission, for purposes of the pending action only, of the truth of any
matters within the scope of Section 3226 of this title 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. Copies of documents shall be served with the request for admission
unless they have been or are otherwise furnished or made available for
inspection and copying. The request may, without leave of court, be served
upon the plaintiff after commencement of the action and upon any other
party with the summons and petition or after service of the summons and
petition upon that party. The number of requests for admissions for each
party is limited to thirty. No further requests for admission will be served
unless authorized by the court. If counsel for a party believes that more
than thirty requests for admissions are necessary, he shall consult with
opposing counsel promptly and attempt to reach a written stipulation as
to a reasonable number of additional requests for admissions. Counsel are
expected to comply with this requirement in good faith. In the event a
written stipulation cannot be agreed upon, the party seeking to submit
such additional requests for admissions shall file a motion with the court
(1) showing that counsel have conferred in good faith but sincere attempts
to resolve the issue have been unavailing, (2) showing reasons establishing
good cause for their use, and (3) setting forth the proposed additional
requests. Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately
set forth. The matter is admitted unless, within thirty (30) 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 forty-five (45) days after service of the summons
and petition 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 subsection
D of Section 3237 of this title, deny the matter or set forth reasons why
he cannot admit or deny it.
The party who has requested the admission 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 section, 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 paragraph 4 of subsection A of Section
3237 of this title apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation
to the motion. Section 12-3236
Compel Discovery
A party, upon reasonable notice to other parties and all persons
affected thereby, may apply for an order compelling discovery as follows:
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 district court in the county where the deposition is being taken.
An application for an order to a deponent who is not a party shall be made
to the district court in the county where the deposition is being taken
or to the court in which the action is pending.
If a deponent fails to answer a question propounded or submitted
under Section 3230 or 3231 of this title, or a corporation or other entity
fails to make a designation under paragraph 6 of subsection C of Section
3230 or subsection A of Section 3231 of this title, or a party fails to
answer an interrogatory submitted under Section 3233 of this title, or
if a party, in response to a request for inspection submitted under Section 3234 of this title, fails to respond that the inspection
will be permitted as requested or fails to permit the inspection as requested,
the discovering party may move for an order compelling an answer, or a
designation, or an order compelling inspection in accordance with the request.
The motion must include a statement that the movant has in good faith conferred
or attempted to confer either in person or by telephone with the person
or party failing to make the discovery in an effort to secure the information
or material without court action. When taking a deposition on oral examination,
the proponent of the question may complete or adjourn the examination before
he applies for an order.
If the court denies the motion in whole or in part, it may make such
protective order as it would have been empowered to make on a motion
made pursuant to subsection C of Section 3226 of this title.
For purposes of this subsection, an evasive or incomplete answer
is to be treated as a failure to answer. Section 12-3237
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.
