Interrogatories are written questions that may be sent to any person or legal
entity who is a party to the lawsuit (plaintiff or defendant). They may not be
sent to persons who are not parties to the litigation. The questions are
directed to the party personally, but they are sent to the party's attorney and
the attorneys representing all the other parties to the litigation. The
attorney gives the questions to the client and either asks the client to
prepare a set of draft answers or has a paralegal work with the client to
prepare the draft.
Once the draft answers are prepared, the attorney edits this draft to prepare
answers that are technically correct but provide as little information as
possible. If the question is even slightly ambiguous, the attorney will refuse
to provide an answer until the ambiguities have been resolved. This process of
disputing the interrogatories can take several months and one or more hearings
before the judge. Interrogatories can be a cost-effective way of collecting
information, but in practice they are often abused.
The Medical and Public
Health Law Site
The Best on the WWW Since 1995!
Copyright as to non-public domain materials
See DR-KATE.COM for home disaster preparation
Edward P. Richards, III, JD, MPH Webmaster
