Requests for admissions under Rule 36 are a legal tool used during the discovery process in a lawsuit. These requests are a set of written questions that one party asks the opposing party to admit or deny certain facts or statements. By making these requests, the requesting party aims to narrow down the issues in dispute and streamline the trial process. The receiving party must respond within a specified time frame, either admitting or denying each statement. If a statement is not admitted or denied, it is considered admitted by default. Requests for admissions can be an effective way to simplify and clarify the facts of a case before going to trial.