NY CPLR § 3123 (2021)
2021 New York Laws CVP - Civil Practice Law and Rules Article 31 - Disclosure 3123 - Admissions as to Matters of Fact, Papers, Documents and Photographs.

§  3123.  Admissions  as  to  matters  of  fact, papers, documents and photographs. (a) Notice to admit;  admission  unless  denied  or  denial excused. At any time after service of the answer or after the expiration of twenty days from service of the summons, whichever is sooner, and not later  than  twenty  days  before  the trial, a party may serve upon any other party a written  request  for  admission  by  the  latter  of  the genuineness  of  any papers or documents, or the correctness or fairness of representation of any photographs, described in and served  with  the request,  or  of  the  truth  of  any  matters  of fact set forth in the request, as to which  the  party  requesting  the  admission  reasonably believes  there can be no substantial dispute at the trial and which are within the knowledge of such other party or can be  ascertained  by  him upon  reasonable inquiry. Copies of the papers, documents or photographs shall be served  with  the  request  unless  copies  have  already  been furnished.  Each of the matters of which an admission is requested shall be deemed admitted unless within twenty days after  service  thereof  or within  such  further time as the court may allow, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the party  requesting  the  admission  a sworn  statement  either  denying  specifically  the matters of which an admission is requested or setting forth in detail  the  reasons  why  he cannot  truthfully either admit or deny those matters. If the matters of which an admission is requested cannot be fairly admitted  without  some material  qualification  or  explanation, or if the matters constitute a trade secret or such party would  be  privileged  or  disqualified  from testifying  as  a  witness concerning them, such party may, in lieu of a denial or statement, serve a sworn statement setting forth in detail his claim and, if the claim is that the matters cannot  be  fairly  admitted without  some  material  qualification  or  explanation,  admitting  the matters with such qualification or explanation.  (b) Effect of admission. Any admission made, or deemed to be made,  by a party pursuant to a request made under this rule is for the purpose of the  pending action only and does not constitute an admission by him for any other  purpose  nor  may  it  be  used  against  him  in  any  other proceeding;  and  the  court, at any time, may allow a party to amend or withdraw any admission on such terms as may be just. Any admission shall be subject to all pertinent objections to  admissibility  which  may  be interposed at the trial.  (c)  Penalty  for  unreasonable denial. If a party, after being served with a request under subdivision (a) does not admit  and  if  the  party requesting  the  admission thereafter proves the genuineness of any such paper or document, or the correctness or fairness of  representation  of any  such  photograph,  or  the truth of any such matter of fact, he may move at or immediately following the trial for an  order  requiring  the other  party  to pay him the reasonable expenses incurred in making such proof, including reasonable attorney's fees. Unless the court finds that there were good reasons for the denial or the refusal otherwise to admit or that the admissions sought were of  no  substantial  importance,  the order  shall  be  made  irrespective of the result of the action. Upon a trial by jury, the motion for such an order shall be determined  by  the court outside the presence of the jury.