Comment

The only change in this article is to allow both parties to use requests for admissions instead of just the plaintiff as under current law (K.S.A. 61-1712), and to allow either party to submit interrogatories without the need for court order (61-1725a). 

1.  Request for admissions.  (a)  When an answer has been filed in an action commenced pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, any party may submit to any other party a written request for that party to admit:  (1) the genuineness of any relevant document described in and attached to the request; or (2) the truth of any relevant matter of fact set forth in the request.  The request shall be in a form which will permit the party to whom it is submitted to answer the questions on the request form under oath.  A request for admissions may not contain more than 10 requests unless permission of the court is obtained to increase the number.
(b) Each of the matters requested shall be deemed to be admitted for purposes of the pending lawsuit, unless within 15 days after the request is served, the party to whom the request is directed submits to the party propounding the request either:  (1) a sworn statement denying specifically the matters requested; or (2) written objections on the ground that some or all of the requested admissions are privileged or irrelevant or that the request is otherwise improper in whole or in part.
(c) If the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny a request, the party shall set forth in detail the reasons why.  If the answering party denies a request, the denial shall be in good faith and shall fairly address the substance of the request.  If in good faith the answering party can deny only a part of the request or qualify a request, the party shall specify which part is admitted and qualify or deny the remaining part.  If the answering party objects to a request, the party shall notify the court and the party propounding the request and schedule a hearing on the objection to be held within 10 days after making the objection. 

2.  Penalty for refusal to admit truth of matter requested.  If a party to whom a request for admission has been submitted denies under oath any matter requested, and the party submitting the request later proves the genuineness of any document or the truth of any matter of fact denied by the answering party, the party submitting the request may ask the court for an order requiring the answering party to pay the reasonable expenses incurred in making such proof, including reasonable attorney fees.  The court shall enter the order unless the court finds that there were good reasons for the denial or that the admissions sought were of no substantial importance.

3.  Interrogatories.  (a) Any party may submit to any other party up to 10 interrogatories.  The party receiving the interrogatories shall submit answers or objections, if any, to the party submitting same within 15 days after the interrogatories are submitted to the receiving party.  On motion, the court may allow a longer time to answer or may permit a greater number of interrogatories to be submitted.
(b) The provisions of K.S.A. 60-233 shall be applicable to interrogatories pursuant to this section, except that the provisions of this section relating to the time when interrogatories are to be answered shall be applicable.  The general discovery provisions of subsections (b), (c) and (e) of K.S.A. 60-226 and the sanction provisions of K.S.A. 60-237, as said sections relate to interrogatories, shall be applicable to interrogatories pursuant to this section. 

4.  Subpoenas.  Subpoenas may be issued by the clerk of the district court under the seal of such court or by the judge to compel the attendance of witnesses or for the production of documentary evidence in the manner provided in K.S.A. 60-245 and K.S.A. 60-245a, and amendments thereto.  Subpoenas shall be served in accordance with article 3 of this chapter, and shall be accompanied by the fees for one day's attendance and the mileage allowed by law.

5.  Depositions.  (a) Any party to an action pursuant to this chapter may take the testimony of any person, including a party, either within or without the state, by deposition upon oral examination or written questions but only for use as evidence in the action.  Unless the court orders otherwise, the parties may by written stipulation provide that depositions may be taken before any person, at any time or place, upon any notice, and in any manner and when so taken may be used like other depositions.  The taking of such depositions shall be governed by the provisions of K.S.A. 60-228, subsections (b) through (h), inclusive, of K.S.A. 60-230, K.S.A. 60-231 and subsection (d) of K.S.A. 60-232, except that any party desiring to take a deposition shall first file with the court, and serve on all other parties to the action, a motion that the taking of such deposition be allowed due to the existence of at least one (1) of the conditions prescribed in subsection (b) for the use of depositions as evidence. Within five (5) days after any such motion has been made, any other party to the action may file an objection to such motion, and in such event, the court shall hold a hearing within five (5) days thereof to determine the issue.  No deposition shall be taken unless and until the court shall have granted the motion requesting permission therefor.
(b) At the trial, or upon the hearing of a motion or an interlocutory proceeding, any part or all of a deposition of a witness, whether or not a party, so far as it is admissible under the rules of evidence, may be used for any purpose against any party who was present or represented at the taking of the deposition, or who had due notice thereof, if the court finds that: 
(1)  The witness is dead; or 
(2)  the witness is outside of the county of the place of trial or hearing, unless it appears that the absence of the witness was rocured by the party offering the deposition; or 
(3)  the witness is unable to attend or testify because of age, sickness, infirmity or imprisonment; or 
(4)  the party offering the deposition has been unable to procure the attendance of the witness by subpoena; or 
(5)  upon application and notice, that such exceptional circumstances exist as to make it desirable, in the interest of justice and with due regard to the importance of presenting the testimony of witnesses orally in open court, to allow the deposition to be used. 
(c)  In addition to the uses of depositions enumerated in subsection (b), the court may on motion permit the use of depositions as provided in subsections (b)(1), (2) and (4) in K.S.A. 60-232 in the interest of justice and on such terms and conditions as will fairly protect the parties. 

6.  Production of documents.  Production of documents and things for inspection shall be allowed in accordance with K.S.A. 60-234.