Requests for Admission

• Author: Scott Brister (Ret.)/Dan S. Boyd
• Pages: 1083-1114

31-1

Chapter 31

REQUESTS FOR ADMISSION

QUICK VIEW

Definition: A request for admission (“RFA”) is a written statement served by one party on another party request-

ing that the responding party admit or deny the truth of the statement.

Scope of chapter: How to use RFAs; propounding RFAs; responding to RFAs; drafting principles; protective

orders; challenging answer or objection; relief from admissions; use of responses at trial; sanctions for failure to

admit; sample forms.

Strategies and tactics: Treat RFAs with respect. Matters admitted are conclusively established. If an RFA

respondent fails to timely respond, the requests are deemed admitted. And by failing to admit a matter later

proved at trial, respondent may be liable for the requesting party’s costs of proof.

Statutes and rules: TRCP 198, 215.4.

Related topics: Motion practice, Ch 16; Scope of Discovery, Ch 24; Protective Orders, Ch 32; Interrogatories,

Ch 30; Service of Process, Ch 10.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. General Points

A. Overview

§31:01 Authority and Purpose

§31:02 Cheap and Effective

§31:03 By Whom, on Whom

§31:04 On State of Texas

§31:05 Admissions Are Binding

§31:06 Automatic Admissions

B. Scope of RFAs

§31:12 Broad Scope

§31:13 Intended for Uncontroverted and Evidentiary Matters

§31:14 Not for Asking a Party to Admit Defeat

§31:15 Ultimate Facts and Trial Issues

§31:16 Applying Law to Fact

§31:17 Not for Pure Legal Issues

§31:18 Opinions of Fact

§31:19 Establishing Prior Statements

(Rev. 10, 4/13)

TEXAS PRETRIAL PRACTICE 31-2

II. How to Use RFAs

A. General Strategies

§31:24 Uncontested Facts

§31:25 Matters Hard to Prove

§31:26 Eliminate Baseless Contentions

§31:27 Marshal Prima Facie Evidence

§31:28 Basis for Summary Judgment

§31:29 Withdrawing Deemed Admissions

B. Documents

§31:34 Establish Evidentiary Foundation

§31:35 Establish Authenticity

§31:36 Establish Hearsay Exception

§31:37 Establish Document as Business Record

C. Use With Other Discovery Tools

§31:42 Producing Admissions From Prior Discovery

§31:43 Depositions and Interrogatories

§31:44 Document Requests

§31:45 Serve With Interrogatories

§31:46 Embed in Petition?

III. Propounding RFAs

A. Drafting Format and Techniques

§31:50 Standard Pleading Format

§31:51 Caption

§31:52 Title

§31:53 Introductory Paragraph

§31:54 Definitions Section

§31:55 One Request for Each Matter

§31:56 Keep Requests Clear and Simple

§31:57 Avoid Subparts

§31:57.1 Avoid Conflicting Requests

§31:58 Numerical Order

§31:59 No Limit on Number or Sets

§31:60 Signature Block and Certificate of Service

§31:61 Attach Documents

B. Service and Filing

§31:65 Who to Serve

§31:66 Earliest Date to Serve

§31:67 Last Date to Serve

§31:68 Timing Strategies

§31:69 Service

§31:70 Filing

(Rev. 1, 12/00)

31-3 REQUESTS FOR ADMISSION

IV. Responding to Requests

A. General Points

§31:76 Harsh Consequences

§31:77 Automatic Admission if No Timely Response

§31:78 Consult With Client

§31:79 Service and Filing

B. Response Deadline

§31:84 Deadline

§31:85 Stipulation to Extend

§31:86 Motion to Extend

C. Drafting Points

1. FORMAT

§31:92 Standard Pleading Format

§31:93 Caption

§31:94 Title

§31:95 Introductory Paragraph

§31:96 Repeating the Requests

§31:97 Signature Required

§31:98 Certificate of Service

2. RESPONSES

a. Substantive Answers

§31:104 Response Choices

§31:105 Express Admission

§31:106 Deemed Admission

§31:107 Express Denial

§31:108 Multi-Part Response

§31:109 Qualified Response

§31:110 Unable to Admit or Deny

§31:111 Deemed Admissions

§31:112 Duty to Supplement

b. Objections

i. Form of Objection

§31:116 Object to Requests Individually

§31:117 Include Only Good Faith Objections

§31:118 Object to All or Part of RFA

§31:119 Deadline

§31:120 Must State Proper Objection

§31:121 Objection Coupled With Answer

§31:122 Preference Over Protective Order

§31:123 Requesting Party’s Options

ii. Specific Grounds

§31:128 Common Objections

§31:129 Improper Objections

§31:130 Outside Scope of Discovery

§31:131 Undue Burden

(Rev. 10, 4/13)