Court Opinion

ID: 9779274
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 21:42:13.880797+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:24.667193
License: Public Domain

WALKER, Justice
(dissenting).
Rule 168 was amended effective February 1, 1973. At that time we eliminated the language that formerly authorized interrogatories to be answered by the attorney of the party interrogated. When the interrogatories in the present case were served, the rule required, as it does now, that the interrogatories be answered “by the party served, or, if the party served is a public or private corporation or a partnership or association, by an officer or agent.” Rule 168 is quite similar to Federal Rule 33, but there is one important difference. Federal Rule 33 specifically provides that if the party served is a “governmental agency,” the interrogatories may be answered by any officer or agent. There is no similar provision in Rule 168. Under our statutes and rules, information in the possession of public officials and employees is subject to discovery by deposition, but neither the Attorney General nor any other official or employee is authorized to answer interrogatories for and in the name of the State of Texas. Until we further amend Rule 168 or until the Legislature authorizes someone to answer interrogatories on behalf of the State, it is my opinion that the State may not be required to respond to interrogatories propounded under Rule 168.
GREENHILL, C. J., joins in this dissent.