37 F.R.D. 11 | N.D. Ohio | 1963
Plaintiff has sued to recover for injuries and damages allegedly resulting from an automobile accident in which the defendants were involved. The plaintiff submitted twenty-four requests for admissions pursuant to Rule 36, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The defendants admitted three of the requests, and have filed objections to the remainder.
In regard to the proper use of Rule 36, Professor Moore has said: “As pointed out earlier, the procedure for obtaining admissions of fact should be used to obtain admission of facts as to which there is no real dispute and which the adverse party can admit cleanly, without qualifications. * * * It is not intended to be used to cover the entire case and every item of evidence.” 4 Moore’s Federal Practice, P. 36.04. To the same effect see Electric Furnace Co. v. Fire Assng. of Philadelphia, 9 F.R.D. 741 (N.D.Ohio E.D.1949) ; and Lantz v. New York Central Railroad Co., 37 F.R.D. 69 (N.D.Ohio E.D.1963, Kalbfleisch, J.).
Requests Nos. 1, 21 and 24: The objections will be sustained. Pittsburgh Hotels Assoc. v. Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, 29 F.R.D. 512 (1962 W.D. Penna.); Lantz v. New York Central Railroad Co., supra.
Requests Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12: These requests seek admissions as to facts surrounding the accident which appear to be the major areas of dispute between the parties. A request for admissions as to disputed facts appears to be nothing more than an attempt by one party, in anticipation of a favorable verdict at trial, to lay a foundation for transferring to the other party a large part of the costs of the lawsuit, pursuant to Rule 37(c), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Such an attempt will not be permitted. Lantz v. New York Central Railroad Co., supra. The objections to these requests will be sustained.
Requests Nos. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 and 23: Each of these requests concerns an admission as to the plaintiff’s health and general physical condition, except for the 23rd request which pertains to the plaintiff’s loss of wages.