411.03    Requests for Admission

If a party on which requests for admission have been served fails to file a timely response thereto, the requests are deemed admitted by operation of Fed. R. Civ. P. 36(a) unless the party is able to show that its failure to timely respond was the result of excusable neglect; or unless a motion to withdraw or amend the admissions is filed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 36(b), and granted by the Board. [ Note 1.] It is not necessary to file a motion to deem requests for admissions admitted when no response is served, since the admissions are deemed admitted by operation of Fed. R. Civ. P. 36(a). See TBMP § 407.03(a) (Time for Service of Responses). For information on motions to withdraw or amend admissions, see TBMP § 525.

If a propounding party is dissatisfied with a responding party’s answer or objection to a request for admission, and wishes to obtain a ruling on the sufficiency thereof, the propounding party may file a motion with the Board to determine the sufficiency of the response or objection. [ Note 2.] If the Board determines that a response does not comply with the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 36(a), it may order either that the matter is admitted or that an amended answer be served. If the Board determines that an objection is not justified, it will order that a response be served. [ Note 3.] In instances, however, where a request for admission is either admitted or denied, such admissions or denials constitute a proper response even if the response also includes objections. [ Note 4.] The requesting party therefore should refrain from challenging the sufficiency of the response.

For information on motions to determine the sufficiency of answers or objections to requests for admission, see TBMP § 524.

NOTES:

 1.   See Giersch v. Scripps Networks Inc., 85 USPQ2d 1306, 1307 (TTAB 2007) (contrasting standard of review for motion to reopen time to respond to requests for admission and for motion to withdraw requests that stand admitted); Hobie Designs, Inc. v. Fred Hayman Beverly Hills, Inc., 14 USPQ2d 2064, 2065 (TTAB 1990).

 2.   Fed. R. Civ. P. 36(a); 37 C.F.R. § 2.120(i).

 3.   Fed. R. Civ. P. 36(a).

 4.   Fed. R. Civ. P. 36(a).