Interrogatories

• Author: Scott Brister (Ret.)/Dan S. Boyd
• Pages: 1035-1082

30-1

Chapter 30

INTERROGATORIES

QUICK VIEW

Defined: Interrogatories are written questions directed to a party requesting that party to provide sworn answers

to the questions.

Scope of chapter: General principles and techniques about interrogatories; how to propound interrogatories;

how to respond, including both answering and objecting; supplemental and amended answers; motion practice

related to interrogatories; and evidence issues.

Strategies and tactics:

Propounder: Draft interrogatories that identify the requested information with reasonable particularity. Use

Definitions and Instructions sections to make the interrogatories more concise, more effective, more clear, and

less objectionable.

Respondent: Work with the client to compile the responsive information. To avoid waiving objections to the

interrogatories, timely serve a written response asserting all the objections you want to preserve. If the interroga-

tories seek confidential information, propose the parties enter into a Confidentiality Agreement, or stipulate to a

protective order.

Statutes and rules: TRCP 192, 193, 197.

Related topics: All Discovery, Ch 24; Request for Admissions, Ch 31; Document Requests, Ch 27; Discovery

Motions, Ch 32; Initial Investigation and Research, Ch 2.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. General Points

§30:01 Basic Principles

§30:02 Advantages

§30:03 Disadvantages

§30:04 Propounded by Parties, on Parties

§30:05 Who Are “Parties”?

§30:06 Non-Individual Entities

§30:07 25 Interrogatories Limit

II. How to Use Interrogatories

A. General Points

§30:12 Goals and Purposes

§30:13 Using With Other Discovery Tools

§30:14 When to Delay Interrogatories

(Rev. 10, 4/13)

TEXAS PRETRIAL PRACTICE 30-2

B. Types of Interrogatories

§30:20 Witness Interrogatories

§30:21 Contention Inquiries

§30:22 “Should-Have-Done” Inquiries

§30:23 “Change-of-Heart” Inquiries

§30:24 “Source-of-Information” Interrogatories

§30:25 Damage Inquiries

III. Propounding Interrogatories

A. Format

§30:30 Caption

§30:31 Title

§30:32 Paper

§30:33 Footer

§30:34 Numbering

§30:35 Signature

§30:36 Certificate of Service

B. Preliminary Parts

§30:42 Cover Sheet

§30:43 Instructions

§30:44 Definitions

§30:45 Applicable Time Period

C. Areas of Inquiry

1. GENERAL POINTS

§30:50 Scope of Inquiry

§30:51 How to Identify Areas

§30:52 Element of Surprise

§30:53 Potential Parties

§30:54 Trial Witnesses

§30:55 People With Relevant Knowledge

§30:56 Consulting Experts

§30:57 People Who Contributed to Answers

2. FACTS

§30:62 Supporting Claims or Defenses

§30:63 Background Facts

§30:64 Party Admissions

§30:65 Damages

§30:66 Net Worth

§30:67 Criminal Convictions

§30:68 Insurance and Indemnity Agreements

§30:69 Settlement Agreements

3. DOCUMENTS

§30:74 Learn Existence and Location

§30:75 But Production Not Included

§30:76 Business Records

30-3 INTERROGATORIES

§30:77 Dealing With a Business-Records Response

§30:78 Public Records

D. Filing and Service

§30:84 Filing

§30:85 Service

§30:86 Methods of Service

§30:87 Completion of Service

§30:88 Effect of Service

§30:89 Proof of Service

§30:90 Earliest Time to Serve

§30:91 Latest Time to Serve

IV. Responding to Interrogatories

A. General Points

§30:96 Checklist for Respondent’s Counsel

§30:97 Evaluate Interrogatories

§30:98 Work With Client

§30:99 Duty to Provide Available Information

§30:100 Look for Confidential or Exempt Information

B. Deadline for Response

§30:106 30 Days to Respond

§30:107 Calculating Response Date

§30:108 Same Deadline for Objections

§30:109 Court May Shorten or Extend Deadline

§30:110 Modifications Agreements

C. Service and Filing

§30:116 Filing

§30:117 Service

D. Drafting Responses

1. GENERAL POINTS

§30:122 Options

§30:123 Basic Requirements

§30:124 Answer “Completely”

§30:125 Answer “in Writing”

§30:126 Write for Trier-of-Fact

§30:127 Referring to Deposition Testimony

2. FORMAT

§30:132 Caption

§30:133 Title

§30:134 Repeat Questions

§30:135 Signature

3. VERIFICATION OF RESPONSES

§30:140 Answers Must Be Verified

§30:141 Counsel Can’t Do It

§30:142 Non-Individual Entity

(Rev. 10, 4/13)