Ala. R. Civ. P. 36

(a) Request for admission. 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 Rule 26(b) set forth in the request that

relate to statements or opinions of fact or of the application of law to fact, including

the genuineness of any documents described in the request. Copies of documents

shall be served with the request unless they have been or are otherwise furnished

or made available for inspection and copying. 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 summons and complaint upon that party.

Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set

forth. The matter is admitted unless, within thirty (30) 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 a

written answer or objection addressed to the matter, 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 (45) days

after service of the summons and complaint upon that defendant. If objection is

made, the reasons therefor shall be stated. The answer shall specifically deny the

matter or set forth in detail the reasons why the answering party cannot truthfully

admit or deny the matter. A denial shall fairly meet the substance of the requested

admission, and when good faith requires that a party qualify an 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 party states that the party has made reasonable inquiry and that the

information known or readily obtainable by the party is insufficient to enable the

party 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; the party may, subject to the provisions of Rule 37(c),

deny the matter or set forth reasons why the party cannot admit or deny it.

The party who has requested the admissions may move to determine the

sufficiency of the answers or objections. 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 pretrial conference or at a designated time prior to trial. The provisions of Rule

37(a)(4) apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion.

(b) Effect of admission. 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 16 governing

amendment of a pretrial order, 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 that party in maintaining the action or defense on the

merits. Any admission made by a party under this rule is for the purpose of the

pending action only and is not an admission for any other purpose nor may it be

used against the party in any other proceeding.

(dc) District court rule. Rule 36 applies in the district courts in those instances

where a request for admissions is permitted by Rule 26(dc).