Discovery, Explained After a lawsuit is filed, each side is permitted to obtain information and documents from the other side. This process is referred to as discovery.  There are several methods of obtaining information – tools in the discovery tool belt. The methods covered in this book are those that are the least costly and easiest to employ: Interrogatories, Requests for Admissions, and Requests for the Production of Documents. Discovery enables you to get damaging information directly from the bank! Serving the lender with discovery. A defendant may usually commence discovery as soon as he or she has been served the complaint (the written document containing information about the lawsuit).  Sometimes, as is the case in federal court, there are mandatory disclosures that must be provided by each side without being asked. See Federal Civil Rule 26 for more information about mandatory disclosures if your foreclosure is in federal court. (The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are in Appendix L to 23 Legal Defenses to Foreclosure.)  Interrogatories are simply questions asked of the other party. For example, an interrogatory might say, "State the date and amount of each and every payment received by the plaintiff in payment of the mortgage or note since May 1, 2005." They can be questions, or directed statements, such as this one is, telling the other side to provide specific written information you seek.  Usually, interrogatories are preceded by a list of definitions so the other side is clear on what you mean when you use a particular term. For example, in the suggested definitions following this chapter, “identify” has a very specific (and extensive) definition. These are usually used so the other side’s attorney can’t avoid answering the question based on a limited definition. (See Appendix J to 23 Legal Defenses to Foreclosure.)  One of the most important things to remember about interrogatories is that they are generally limited in how many can be asked. In the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, each party is limited to asking just 25 interrogatories, and they can only be directed to parties.  A party is someone or some organization who is suing or being sued in a lawsuit.  This means interrogatories can’t be served on the mortgage broker who took the borrower’s loan application unless he or she is first brought into the lawsuit as a party (accomplished by filing a third party complaint). Federal Rule 33 governs interrogatories in federal court. Look at your state’s rules for a heading called “Interrogatories.”  Many chapters will have a section that suggests some interrogatories based on that particular defense. This assumes you will be using the model interrogatory form (see appendix J), and adding in the suggested interrogatories as paragraphs where indicated.  Here are some general rules to follow with respect to interrogatories: · Leave several spaces below each interrogatory for an answer. · Some courts require the interrogatory form be provided on diskette or CD to the other party, so the other party can type in the answers and return it to you. · You must mail a copy of your interrogatories to every other party in the lawsuit (everyone suing or being sued), even if the questions are only directed to the bank. · You will usually need to mail a copy of the interrogatories to the court, to be filed with the case. (Read your state’s rule on interrogatories.) Requests for Admissions. Requests for admissions are simple statements that requires the other party to either admit or deny the true of the statement. A request for admission to the lender might be, “Admit on May 5, 2006, plaintiff purchased the mortgage from ABC Corporation.” The lender would then respond in writing with a simple "Admit" or "Deny." If the lender objects to the request, it may state something similar to, "Plaintiff objects to this request for admission because…."  It may state it doesn’t have sufficient information to form a belief, or refuse to answer on other grounds.  The purpose of requests for admissions is that they narrow the scope of what is contested for trial. If the parties can admit that certain facts are true, then these facts do not generally need to be litigated later. These must be presented in a manner where the other side can either admit or deny each. If you seek to ask questions with open ended responses, then using interrogatories or depositions might be more useful.  Depositions are beyond the scope of this book, but well-crafted interrogatories might get you the information you seek. In federal court, Rule 36 governs requests for admissions. (See Appendix L.)  Like interrogatories, they can only be served on parties.  One of the most important facts to remember about requests for admissions is that in many states, failing to respond to requests within the time limit (30 days in federal court) is equivalent to admitting the statement’s truthfulness.  Be very careful if you are served with requests for admissions so your failure to respond doesn’t equate to admitting each!  Do not be late filing your responses, or you may find them deemed admitted.  Many chapters will have a section that suggests some requests based on that particular chapter. This assumes you will be using the model request for admission form (see Appendix H), and adding in the suggested requests as paragraphs where indicated.  Here are some general rules to follow with respect to requests for admissions: · Leave a couple of spaces below each for an answer. · Some courts require the requests be provided on diskette or CD to the other party. · You must mail a copy of your requests to every other party in the lawsuit (everyone suing or being sued), even if the questions are only directed to the bank. · You usually must mail a copy of the requests to the court, to be filed with the case. Requests for the Production of Documents. Requests for the production of documents or other tangibles (like records) are a right afforded to litigants during a lawsuit. You may ask the lender in a formal document (see Appendix I) to produce the original mortgage and note, as well as any other physical thing that relates to the lawsuit. Federal Rule 34 governs these requests. (See Appendix L.)  It would be wise to get copy of the closing documents from the title company, lender, broker, real estate agent, and whoever else is involved in the transaction that may have copies.  You may also want obtain copy of the invoice and appraisal via subpoena to ensure the amount showing on the settlement statement is correct. If the party you want information from is not a party to the lawsuit, you may have to subpoena them for the information. (See Appendix K for an example of a subpoena.)  When you have been served with this type of discovery by the lender, you will not mail a packet of documents court (again, do not mail documents in response to this type of discovery request to the court), although the court may want you to file a Notice that you did, in fact, respond. You will only send the packet of documents to the party requesting that you produce documents.  Getting served with discovery. Be very mindful that failing to respond to discovery within the time period prescribed by the rules can get you into deep trouble. Answering untruthfully can also get a party into trouble, opening up them to sanctions or attorneys fees and costs for trying to avoid a bona fide question.  Discovery Cut-Off. In some areas, the court may set a date as the cut-off for discovery. That means you must complete your discovery requests to other parties by this deadline. If the court sets a deadline, it will be included within the cover page of the lawsuit, or a notice will be mailed to you directly.