527.01(c) Untimely Response to Discovery Requests
A party that fails to respond to a request for discovery (except for a request for admission) during the time allowed therefor, and that is unable to show that its failure was the result of excusable neglect, may be found, upon motion to compel filed by the propounding party, to have forfeited its right to object to the discovery request on its merits. [ Note 1.] See TBMP § 403.03. Objections going to the merits of a discovery request include claims that the information sought by the request is irrelevant, overly broad, unduly vague and ambiguous, burdensome and oppressive, or not likely to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. [ Note 2.] Objections based on claims of privilege or confidentiality or attorney work product do not go to the merits of the request, but instead to a characteristic of the information sought. [ Note 3.]
NOTES:
1. See No Fear Inc. v. Rule, 54 USPQ2d 1551, 1554 (TTAB 2000) (stating that the Board has great discretion in determining whether such forfeiture should be found); Luehrmann v. Kwik Kopy Corp., 2 USPQ2d 1303, 1304 (TTAB 1987) (circumstances do not justify waiver of right to object in view of confusion regarding time to respond); Envirotech Corp. v. Compagnie Des Lampes, 219 USPQ 448, 449-50 (TTAB 1979) (excusable neglect not shown where opposer was out of the country and, upon return, failed to ascertain that responses were due); MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v. Arrow-M Corp., 203 USPQ 952, 954 (TTAB 1979) (even where there is complete failure to respond to discovery, party seeking such discovery is required to make good faith effort to determine why no response has been made before filing motion to compel); Crane Co. v. Shimano Industrial Co., 184 USPQ 691, 691-92 (TTAB 1975) (waived right to object by refusing to respond to interrogatories, claiming that they served "no useful purpose").
2. See No Fear Inc. v. Rule, 54 USPQ2d 1551, 1554 (TTAB 2000).
3. See No Fear Inc. v. Rule, 54 USPQ2d 1551, 1554 (TTAB 2000) (party will generally not be found to have waived the right to make objections on the basis of privilege, confidentiality, or attorney work product).