Rule 36.Requests for admission

A request for admission asks the other side to concede something outright, narrowing what needs to be proved at trial. Rule 36 lets a party ask another party to admit facts, opinions about facts, how the law applies to those facts, or that a described document is genuine — a copy of the document has to come with the request unless it's already been furnished or made available. Requests go out to the plaintiff once suit begins and to any other party once served with the summons and complaint. If the party receiving the request doesn't serve a signed written answer or objection within 30 days, absent a different deadline, the matter is deemed admitted automatically. Answering means either admitting, specifically denying, or explaining in detail why the party can't truthfully do either; a denial has to address the substance of what's asked, and if only part of a request is true, the answer has to admit that part and qualify or deny the rest. Claiming lack of knowledge only works if the party states it made a reasonable inquiry and still can't get enough information to answer. Objections have to state their grounds, and a party can't object just because the request touches something that will be contested at trial. If either side thinks an answer or objection falls short, a motion asking the court to rule on its sufficiency is available, and the court can order a proper answer served or deem the matter admitted.

Once something is admitted under this rule, it's conclusively established for that case — no more proof needed — unless the court, on motion, allows the admission to be withdrawn or amended because doing so would help resolve the case on its merits without unfairly prejudicing the other side. That admission has no life outside the case it was made in; it can't be used against the party in any other proceeding. A document attached to a pleading isn't automatically deemed admitted just because nobody filed a verified denial of it — that's a separate concept from a Rule 36 request. When admissions come up at trial or on a motion, only the relevant portion needs to go before the court, and copies work fine unless someone disputes authenticity. As with interrogatories and document requests, requests for admission and the answers to them stay out of the court file, though the propounding party keeps the originals for a year and files a notice of when and on whom they were served.