Civil Procedure
Request for Admission
RFAA discovery request asking another party to admit or deny specific facts, document authenticity, or legal applications.
Governing rule: Fed. R. Civ. P. 36
Plain-English definition
Requests for admission narrow the case by forcing a party to admit what should not be disputed. They are not mainly fact-gathering tools; they are issue-narrowing tools. An unanswered request may be deemed admitted, which can be case-ending.
How it works
A party must admit, deny, or explain why it cannot truthfully admit or deny. Courts can permit withdrawal of admissions, but not when it unfairly prejudices the other side.
Why it matters
Admissions can remove facts from dispute and become powerful support for summary judgment.
Related terms
More in Civil Procedure
Amended Complaint
A revised complaint that changes, adds, or clarifies allegations, parties, or claims after the original complaint was filed.
Answer
The defendant's formal written response to the plaintiff's complaint, admitting or denying each allegation.
Class Certification
The judicial decision to allow a lawsuit to proceed as a class action on behalf of similarly-situated plaintiffs.
Collateral Estoppel
Also called issue preclusion. The doctrine that prevents re-litigating a specific issue that was actually decided in a prior case.
Complaint
The initial pleading filed by the plaintiff that starts a civil lawsuit.
Consolidation
Combining related cases for coordinated management, discovery, hearings, or trial.
Counterclaim
A claim brought by a defendant against the plaintiff within the same lawsuit.
Crossclaim
A claim by one party against a co-party, such as one defendant suing another defendant in the same case.
Not legal advice. Definitions are for general reference. Consult an attorney before relying on any term in a real case.