D.C. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 36

(a) SCOPE AND PROCEDURE.

(1) Scope. A party may serve on any other party a written request to admit, for

purposes of the pending action only, the truth of any matters within the scope of Rule

26(b)(1) relating to:

(A) facts, the application of law to fact, or opinions about either; and

(B) the genuineness of any described documents.

(2) Form; Copy of a Document. Each matter must be separately stated. A request to

admit the genuineness of a document must be accompanied by a copy of the document

unless it is or has been, otherwise furnished or made available for inspection and

copying. The request may, without leave of court, be served on the plaintiff after

commencement of the action and on any other party with or after service of the

summons and complaint on that party.

(3) Time to Respond; Effect of Not Responding. A matter is admitted unless, within 30

days after being served, the party to whom the request is directed serves on the

requesting party a written answer or objection addressed to the matter and signed by

the party or its attorney. A shorter or longer time for responding may be stipulated to

under Rule 29 or be ordered by the court. However, unless the court shortens the time,

a defendant is not required to serve answers or objections before the expiration of 45

days after service of the summons and complaint upon that defendant or before the

expiration of 75 days after service of the summons and complaint upon the District of

Columbia or its officer or agency or the United States or its officer or agency.

(4) Answer. If a matter is not admitted, the answer must specifically deny it or state in

detail why the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny it. A denial must fairly

respond to the substance of the matter, and when good faith requires that a party

qualify an answer or deny only a part of a matter, the answer must specify the part

admitted and qualify or deny the rest. The answering party may assert lack of

knowledge or information as a reason for failing to admit or deny only if the party states

that it has made reasonable inquiry and that the information it knows or can readily

obtain is insufficient to enable it to admit or deny.

(5) Objections. The grounds for objecting to a request must be stated. A party must

not object solely on the ground that the request presents a genuine issue for trial.

(6) Motion Regarding the Sufficiency of an Answer or Objection. The requesting party

may move to determine the sufficiency of an answer or objection. Unless the court finds

an objection justified, it must order that an answer be served. On finding that an answer

does not comply with this rule, the court may order either that the matter is admitted or

that an amended answer be served. The court may defer its final decision until a pretrial

conference or a specified time before trial. Rule 37(a)(5) applies to an award of

expenses.

(b) EFFECT OF AN ADMISSION; WITHDRAWING OR AMENDING IT. A matter

admitted under this rule is conclusively established unless the court, on motion, permits

the admission to be withdrawn or amended. Subject to Rule 16(e), the court may permit

withdrawal or amendment if it would promote the presentation of the merits of the action

and if the court is not persuaded that it would prejudice the requesting party in

maintaining or defending the action on the merits. An admission under this rule is not an

admission for any other purpose and cannot be used against the party in any other

proceeding.

(c) QUOTING EACH REQUEST IN FULL. Answers and objections to requests for

admissions must identify and quote each request in full immediately preceding the

answer or objection.

(d) ELECTRONIC FORMAT. A party, represented by counsel, serving requests for

admission must, upon request of any other party, promptly transmit to the other party an

electronic version of the requests for admission in a format that will enable the receiving

party to copy the language of the requests for admission electronically. A self-represented party may participate in electronic discovery pursuant to this rule, provided

that the party files a completed Civil Action Form 115, which includes the party’s email

address and confirms the party’s capacity to file documents and receive the filings of

other parties electronically and on a regular basis.