§ 5.350. Request for admissions.
(a) General. A party may serve upon another party a written request for the admission of the truth of any matters, within the scope of § § 5.321—5.324 (relating to general discovery), set forth in the request, that relate to statements or opinions of fact or of the application of law to fact, including the genuineness, authenticity, correctness, execution, signing, delivery, mailing or receipt of a document described in the request. Copies of documents shall be served with the request unless they have been or are otherwise furnished or available for inspection and copying.
(b) Form. Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set forth.
(c) Failure to admit. The matter is admitted unless, within 20 days after service of the request, the party to whom the request is directed answers or makes an objection to the matter, signed by the party or by his attorney.
(d) Response.
(1) Answer. The answer must admit or deny the matter or set forth in detail the reasons why the answering party cannot truthfully do so.
(2) Denial. A denial shall fairly meet the substance of the requested admission, and when good faith requires that a party qualify an answer or deny only a part of the matter of which an admission is requested, the party 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 the party states he has made reasonable inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable by him is insufficient to enable him to admit or deny.
(3) Objection. Grounds for objections must be specifically stated. A party who considers that a matter of which an admission has been requested presents a genuine issue for hearing may not, on that ground alone, object to the request.
(e) Motion to determine sufficiency of response. The party who has requested the admission may move to determine the sufficiency of the answer or objection. Unless the presiding officer determines that an objection is justified, the presiding officer will order that an answer be served. If the presiding officer determines that an answer does not comply with this section, the presiding officer may order either that the matter is admitted or may determine that final disposition of the request be made at a prehearing conference or at a designated time prior to hearing.
(f) Effect of admission. A matter admitted under this section is conclusively established unless the presiding officer on motion permits withdrawal or amendment of the admission. An admission by a party under this section is for the purpose of the pending action only and is not an admission by him for another purpose. An admission may not be used against a party in another proceeding.
Authority The provisions of this § 5.350 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 504—506, 1301 and 1501.
Source The provisions of this § 5.350 adopted October 12, 1984, effective January 1, 1985, 14 Pa.B. 3819; amended April 28, 2006, effective April 29, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 2097. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (225695) to (225696).
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