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Oklahoma Administrative Code (Last Updated: March 11, 2021) |
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TITLE 310. Oklahoma State Department of Health |
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Chapter 2. Procedures of the State Department of Health |
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Subchapter 25. Discovery |
SECTION 310:2-25-4. Methods of discovery
Latest version.
- (a) Interrogatories. A party may serve on any other party written questions not to exceed 20 in number, including discrete subparts. Interrogatories inquiring as to the names and locations of witnesses, or the existence, location and custodian of documents or physical evidence shall be construed as one interrogatory. All other interrogatories, including subdivisions of one numbered interrogatory, shall be construed as separate interrogatories. Each question shall be answered separately and fully in writing or shall be objected to by the person making the answer. If objected to, the reasons shall be stated. Answers or objections shall be made within twenty (20) calendar days after service unless a shorter or longer time is ordered or agreed upon by the parties. Where the answer to a question may be obtained from the records kept by a party, it is a sufficient answer to specify the records from which the answer may be obtained. The answer shall afford the party making the request an opportunity to examine, audit or inspect such records.(b) Requests for Production or entry upon land. A party may serve on any other party a request to produce, inspect and copy any designated documents not confidential or privileged; or to permit entry upon designated land or other property in the possession or control of the party upon whom the request is served for the purpose of inspection and measuring, surveying, photographing, testing or sampling the property or any designated object or operation thereon. A request shall describe with particularity the items to be produced or inspected and shall indicate a reasonable time, place and manner of making the inspection and performing any related acts. A written response to each item or category shall be made within twenty (20) calendar days after the service of a request unless a shorter or longer time is ordered or agreed upon by the parties. The response shall either state that the production or inspection will be permitted, or if objected to, the reasons shall be stated. A party who produces documents for inspection shall produce them as they are kept in the usual course of business or shall organize and label them to correspond with the categories in the request.(c) Requests for Admission. A party may serve on any other party written requests for admissions, not to exceed 20 in number, regarding the truth of any matters that relate to statements or opinions of fact or of the application of law to fact. This includes the genuineness of any documents described in the request. Copies of documents shall be served with the request unless they have otherwise been furnished or made available for inspection and copying. Each matter for which an admission is requested shall be answered separately. The answer shall admit or deny the matter or state why the answering party can not admit or deny the matter. A written response shall be made within twenty (20) calendar days after the service of a request unless a shorter or longer time is ordered or agreed upon by the parties. If an objection is made the reasons shall be stated. Any matter admitted is established unless withdrawal or amendment of the admission is permitted by the assigned administrative law judge.(d) Depositions. A party may ask questions of any other party or person, under oath, before a person authorized to administer such oath. A written transcript shall be made by the person seeking the deposition and that person shall provide a copy to the other party or person. The requirements for conduct of depositions set forth in 12 O.S. § 3230 shall be applicable to depositions in cases before the Department, unless such would conflict with the Administrative Procedures Act, or these rules. At the discretion of the assigned administrative law judge, depositions may be taken by videoconference and/or recorded on videotape or other electronic medium. Depositions so taken shall also be transcribed by stenographic means. The admissibility of video deposition evidence shall be at the discretion of the assigned administrative law judge. Video depositions for purposes of submission as testimony at the hearing, where the witness is unavailable, may be permitted on a case by case basis, subject to approval of the assigned administrative law judge.