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Code of Federal Regulations Title 37. Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights § 37.11.52 Written discovery

Current as of January 02, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) After an answer is filed under § 11.36, a party may seek written discovery of only relevant evidence. The party seeking written discovery shall file a motion under § 11.43 explaining in detail, for each request made, how the discovery sought is reasonable and relevant to an issue actually raised in the complaint or the answer. The motion shall include a copy of the proposed written discovery requests. Any response shall include specific objections to each request, if any. Any objection not raised in the response will be deemed to have been waived.

(b) If the hearing officer concludes that the proposed written discovery is reasonable and relevant, the hearing officer, under such conditions as he or she deems appropriate, may order an opposing party, within 30 days, or longer if so ordered by the hearing officer, to:

(1) Answer a reasonable number of requests for admission, including requests for admission as to the genuineness of documents;

(2) Answer a reasonable number of interrogatories;

(3) Produce for inspection and copying a reasonable number of documents;  and

(4) Produce for inspection a reasonable number of things other than documents.

(c) Discovery shall not be authorized under paragraph (a) of this section of any matter that:

(1) Will be used by another party solely for impeachment;

(2) Is not available to the party under 35 U.S.C. 122;

(3) Relates to any other disciplinary proceeding before the Office;

(4) Relates to experts;

(5) Is privileged;  or

(6) Relates to mental impressions, conclusions, opinions, or legal theories of any attorney or other representative of a party.

(d) The hearing officer may deny discovery requested under paragraph (a) of this section if the discovery sought:

(1) Will unduly delay the disciplinary proceeding;

(2) Will place an undue burden on the party required to produce the discovery sought;  or

(3) Consists of information that is available:

(i) Generally to the public,

(ii) Equally to the parties, or

(iii) To the party seeking the discovery through another source.

(e) A request for admission will be deemed admitted if the party to whom the request is directed fails to respond or object to the request within the time allowed.

(f) The hearing officer may require parties to file and serve, prior to any hearing, a pre-hearing statement that contains:

(1) A list (together with a copy) of all proposed exhibits to be used in connection with a party's case-in-chief;

(2) A list of proposed witnesses;

(3) As to each proposed expert witness:

(i) An identification of the field in which the individual will be qualified as an expert,

(ii) A statement as to the subject matter on which the expert is expected to testify,

(iii) A complete statement of all opinions to which the expert is expected to testify and the basis and reasons for them, and

(iv) A description of all facts or data considered by the expert in forming the opinions;  and

(4) Copies of memoranda reflecting the respondent's own statements to administrative representatives.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Code of Federal Regulations Title 37. Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights § 37.11.52 Written discovery - last updated January 02, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/cfr/title-37-patents-trademarks-and-copyrights/cfr-sect-37-11-52/

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