Definition of Interrogatories in Civil Procedures
After a lawsuit is filed, the parties conduct discovery. One way to get information about a case is to serve interrogatories. Interrogatories are written questions to be answered. Interrogatories are exchanged between parties to the case, which would include you as the plaintiff, and the defendant or defendants.
What Happens Once You Receive an Interrogatory?
All of the questions must be responded to in writing and it must be done under oath. Often, once you answer the questions, the other side will use the answers to gather more information. For example, you may state that you saw Dr. Jones. When the other side sees that you saw Dr. Jones, they may write Dr. Jones to ask for a copy of your file.
Further Information & Rules on Civil Interrogatories
Interrogatories are a common tool used in civil litigation. You should give complete responses to your lawyer and let them decide what information to share with opposing counsel. Below are some important facts on Interrogatories.
Limits on Interrogatories in Civil Cases
There is a limit to the number of interrogatories that each party can send. It varies by state but in Georgia, the limit is 50. The number of the limit refers to the number of questions that are sent to each defendant (or received to be answered by the plaintiff). If you have multiple defendants that you are sending interrogatories to, you can send up to 50 to each one.
Legal Objections to Interrogatories
Objections can be made to questions of an interrogatory. The objection would be written in place of the response when submitted. Objections could include a dispute over the relevance or clarity of the question.
Answers to Interrogatories Can Be Used At Trial
The answers given in interrogatories can be used in court during a trial. The information from the interrogatories saves time in a trial because the basic facts have already been established and do not need to be repeated through questions of the witnesses in court.
Use of Interrogatories for Deposition
Interrogatories can be used to prepare for depositions both for your attorney to think of questions to ask the opposing party and for your attorney to prepare you for a deposition in terms of knowing what the opposing party will ask you during the deposition.
Contact a Georgia Civil Litigation Attorney
For further questions or more information on interrogatories, refer to the contact information below.
Stephen D. Apolinsky, Esquire
Apolinsky & Associates, LLC
Trial Lawyers
150 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 200
Decatur, Georgia 30030
call: 404-377-9191
fax: 404-745-0073
write: steve@aa-legal.com
visit: aa-legal.com
