4:17-1. Service, Scope of Interrogatories
(a) Generally. Any party may serve upon any other party written interrogatories relating to any matters which may be inquired into under R. 4:10-2. The interrogatories may include a request, at the propounder's expense, for a copy of any paper.
(b) Uniform Interrogatories in Certain Actions.
(1) Limitations on Interrogatories. In all actions seeking recovery for property damage to automobiles and in all personal injury cases other than wrongful death, toxic torts, cases involving issues of professional malpractice other than medical malpractice, and those products liability cases either involving pharmaceuticals or giving rise to a toxic tort claim, the parties shall be limited to the interrogatories prescribed by Forms A, B and C of Appendix II, as appropriate, provided, however, that each party may propound ten supplemental questions, without subparts, without leave of court. Any additional interrogatories shall be permitted only by the court in its discretion on motion.
(2) Automatic Service of Uniform Interrogatories. A party defendant served with a complaint in an action subject to uniform interrogatories as prescribed by subparagraph b(1) of this rule shall be deemed to have been simultaneously served with such interrogatories. The defendant shall serve answers to the appropriate uniform interrogatories within 60 days after service by that defendant of the answer to the complaint. The plaintiff in such an action shall be deemed to have been served with uniform interrogatories simultaneously with service of defendant's answer to the complaint and shall serve answers to the interrogatories within 30 days after service of the answer to the complaint. In all actions commenced prior to September 5, 2000, however, answers to uniform interrogatories shall be demanded by letter of demand served upon all adverse parties within the time prescribed by R. 4:17-2, and answers shall be served within the time prescribed by R. 4:17-4(b).
(3) Claims of Privilege, Protection. Privileged information need not be disclosed provided the claim of privilege is made pursuant to R. 4:10-2(e). Nor need information be disclosed if it is the subject of an identified protective order issued pursuant to R. 4:10-3.
(4) Obligation to Answer Every Question. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (b)(3) of this rule, every question propounded by a uniform interrogatory must be answered unless the court has otherwise ordered.
Note: Source-R.R. 4:23-1, 4:23-9. Last clause of second sentence and third and fourth sentences deleted (see R. 4:10B2(d) and R. 4:17B3) July 14, 1972 to be effective September 5, 1972; new caption for paragraph (a) and new paragraphs (b)(i) and (ii) adopted July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; paragraph (b)(i) amended and paragraph (b)(iii) added June 28, 1996 to be effective September 1, 1996; paragraph (b)(i) amended July 10, 1998 to be effective September 1, 1998; paragraphs (b)(i), (b)(ii), and (b)(iii) redesignated as paragraphs (b)(1),(b)(2), and (b)(3), redesignated paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) amended, and new paragraph (b)(4) adopted July 5, 2000 to be effective September 5, 2000.
