[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 16, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR3.32]

[Page 59-60]
 
                     TITLE 16--COMMERCIAL PRACTICES
 
                   CHAPTER I--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
 
PART 3_RULES OF PRACTICE FOR ADJUDICATIVE PROCEEDINGS--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart D_Discovery; Compulsory Process
 
Sec. 3.32  Admissions.

    (a) At any time after thirty (30) days after issuance of complaint, 
or after publication of notice of an adjudicative hearing in a 
rulemaking proceeding under Sec. 3.13, any party may serve on any other 
party a written request for admission of the truth of any matters 
relevant to the pending proceeding 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 are known to be, and in

[[Page 60]]

the request are stated as being, in the possession of the other party. 
Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set 
forth. A copy of the request shall be filed with the Secretary.
    (b) The matter is admitted unless, within ten (10) days after 
service of the request, or within such shorter or longer time as the 
Administrative Law Judge may allow, the party to whom the request is 
directed serves upon the party requesting the admission, with a copy 
filed with the Secretary, a sworn written answer or objection addressed 
to the matter. 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 
its 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 it has made reasonable inquiry and that the 
information known to or readily obtainable by the party is insufficient 
to enable it 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 deny 
the matter or set fourth reasons why the party cannot admit or deny it.
    (c) Any matter admitted under this rule is conclusively established 
unless the Administrative Law Judge on motion permits withdrawal or 
amendment of the admission. The Administrative Law Judge may permit 
withdrawal or amendment when the presentation of the merits of the 
proceeding will be subserved thereby and the party who obtained the 
admission fails to satisfy the Administrative Law Judge that withdrawal 
or amendment will prejudice him in maintaining his action or defense on 
the merits. Any admission made by a party under this rule is for the 
purpose of the pending proceeding only and is not an admission by him 
for any other purpose nor may it be used against him in any other 
proceeding.

[43 FR 56865, Dec. 4, 1978, as amended at 50 FR 53305, Dec. 31, 1985]