Pennsylvania Code › Title 231 - RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE › Part I - GENERAL › Chapter 4000 - DEPOSITIONS AND DISCOVERY › ENTRY UPON PROPERTY FOR INSPECTION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES › Rule 4014 - Request for Admission

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) A
				  party may serve upon any other party a written request for the admission, for
				  purposes of the pending action only, of the truth of any matters within the
				  scope of Rules
				  4003.1 through
				  4003.5 inclusive set forth in the
				  request that relate to statements or opinions of fact or of the application of
				  law to fact, including the genuineness, authenticity, correctness, execution,
				  signing, delivery, mailing or receipt of any document described in the request.
				  Copies of documents shall be served with the request unless they have been or
				  are otherwise furnished or available for inspection and copying in the county.
				  The request may, without leave of court, be served upon the plaintiff after
				  commencement of the action and upon any other party with or after service of
				  the original process upon that party.
(b) Each matter of which an admission is
				  requested shall be separately set forth. The matter is admitted unless, within
				  thirty days after service of the request, or within such shorter or longer time
				  as the court may allow, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon
				  the party requesting the admission an answer verified by the party or an
				  objection, signed by the party or by the party's attorney; but, unless the
				  court shortens the time, a defendant shall not be required to serve answers or
				  objections before the expiration of forty-five days after service of the
				  original process upon him or her. If objection is made, the reasons therefor
				  shall be stated. The answer shall admit or deny the matter or set forth in
				  detail the reasons why the answering party cannot truthfully do so. A denial
				  shall fairly meet the substance of the requested admission, and when good faith
				  requires that a party qualify the answer or deny only a part of the matter of
				  which an admission is requested, the party shall specify so much of it as is
				  true and qualify or deny the remainder. An answering party may not give lack of
				  information or knowledge as a reason for failure to admit or deny unless the
				  answering party states that he or she has made reasonable inquiry and that the
				  information known or readily obtainable by him or her is insufficient to enable
				  him or her to admit or deny. A party who considers that a matter of which an
				  admission has been requested presents a genuine issue for trial may not, on
				  that ground alone, object to the request. That party may, subject to the
				  provisions of Rule 4019(d), deny the matter or set forth reasons why he or she
				  cannot admit or deny it.
(c) The
				  party who has requested the admission may move to determine the sufficiency of
				  the answer or objection. Unless the court determines that an objection is
				  justified, it shall order that an answer be served. If the court determines
				  that an answer does not comply with the requirements of this rule, it may order
				  either that the matter is admitted or that an amended answer be served. The
				  court may, in lieu of these orders, determine that final disposition of the
				  request be made at a pre-trial conference or at a designated time prior to
				  trial.
(d) Any matter admitted
				  under this rule is conclusively established unless the court on motion permits
				  withdrawal or amendment of the admission. Subject to the provisions of Rule
				  212.3 governing pre-trial
				  conferences, the court may permit withdrawal or amendment when the presentation
				  of the merits of the action will be subserved thereby and the party who
				  obtained the admission fails to satisfy the court that withdrawal or amendment
				  will prejudice him or her in maintaining the action or defense on the merits.
				  Any admission by a party under this rule is for the purpose of the pending
				  action only and is not an admission by the party for any other purpose nor may
				  it be used against the party in any other proceeding.