“Requests for admissions cannot be used to compel an admission of a conclusion of law.”
How later courts described this case
- “Requests for admissions cannot be used to compel an admission of a conclusion of law.”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
a
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
ALEXANDRIA DIVISION
MARCO DAMON DUNCAN, CIVIL DOCKET NO. 1:17-CV-1623-P
Plaintiff
VERSUS JUDGE DRELL
JOSE NUNEZ, , MAGISTRATE JUDGE PEREZ-MONTES
Defendants
MEMORANDUM ORDER
Before the Court is a Motion to Determine Sufficiency of Defendants’
Supplemental Answers to Plaintiff’s Third Request for Admissions (Doc. 181) filed by
Plaintiff Marco Damon Duncan (“Duncan”) (#37679-048). Duncan is an inmate
in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons incarcerated at the United States
Penitentiary in Florence, Colorado.
Because Defendants’ response is partially deficient, Duncan’s Motion to
Determine Sufficiency of Defendants’ Supplemental Answers to Plaintiff’s Third
Request for Admissions (Doc. 181) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
I. Background
Duncan initiated this litigation pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Agents of
the Federal Bureau of Narcotics1 (Docs. 1, 16, 20) alleging that he was subjected to
1In Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388
(1971), the Supreme Court recognized that certain circumstances may give rise to a private
cause of action against federal officials that is comparable to the statutory cause of action
permitted against state officials by 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
excessive force when he was incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary in
Pollock, Louisiana.
Duncan previously filed a Motion to Determine the Sufficiency of Plaintiff’s
Third Request for Admissions (“RFA”) (Doc. 154) arguing that Defendants’ responses
to certain requests did not comply with Rule 36(a)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. A hearing was conducted on July 8, 2019, at which the Court denied in
part and granted in part Duncan’s Motion. Defendants were specifically ordered to
supplement their responses to RFA 3, 4, 5, 10, and 24. (Doc. 164).
In this Motion (Doc. 181), Duncan claims that Defendants’ supplemental
responses to RFA 5 and 10 are still insufficient and should be deemed admitted.
II. Law and Analysis
Rule 36 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allows parties to request
admissions regarding the truth of any matters within the scope of Rule 26(b)(1),
including ultimate facts, as well as applications of law to fact, or opinions about
either. Fed. R. Civ. P. 36; see also Carney, 258 F.3d 415, 419 (5th Cir. 2001).
The scope of Rule 36 “allows litigants to winnow down issues prior to trial and thus
focus their energy and resources on disputed matters.” Carney, 258 F.3d at 419.
However, Rule 36 does not provide for requests for admission regarding pure legal
conclusions. Id. (citing Playboy Enterprises, Inc. v. Welles, 60 F. Supp. 2d 1050, 1057
(S.D. Cal. 1999) (“Requests for admissions cannot be used to compel an admission of
a conclusion of law.”)).
In responding to requests for admission, a party must “specifically deny [them]
or state in detail why the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny.” Fed. R.
Civ. P. 36(a)(4). “A denial must fairly respond to the substance of the matter; and
when good faith requires that a party qualify an answer or deny only a part of a
matter, the answer must specify the part admitted and qualify or deny the rest.” Id.
“The answering party may assert lack of knowledge or information as a reason for
failing to admit or deny only if the party states that it has made reasonable inquiry
and that the information it knows or can readily obtain is insufficient to enable it to
admit or deny.” Id.
RFA 5 states:
Please admit that there were inmates on the prison recreation yard at
USP-P on 1-13-2017, while plaintiff was briefly escorted in front of the
B-2 housing unit by defendant Shavers and Cottongin.
(Doc. 154-1, p. 2).
Response to RFA 5 states:
Defendants can neither admit nor deny as they are seeking information
regarding the RFA. Defendants will supplement their response when
adequate information is obtained to properly respond to the RFA.
(Doc. 154-1, p. 2).
In its supplemental response to RFA 5, Defendants provided:
Defendants can neither admit nor deny. When the original incident
occurred on 1-13-17, around 9:44 a.m., inmates were on the recreation
yard. The inmates were ordered to cease movement and get on the
ground. The inmates were then recalled to the housing units. There are
no recorded times these events occurred. But it is possible inmates were
on the recreation yard when plaintiff was briefly escorted in front of the
B-2 housing unit.
(Doc. 181-1, p. 2). Duncan contests the veracity of the response. According to
Duncan, Defendant Cottongin previously testified at trial that “inmates were on the
prison recreation area” at the time in question. (Doc. 223, p. 1).
The Court finds Defendants’ response sufficient. The RFA asks Defendants to
admit that inmates were on the yard as Duncan was being escorted past a housing
unit. Defendants state that they cannot admit or deny whether inmates were on the
yard at the exact time Duncan was escorted in front of the housing unit. Although
Duncan disputes the truthfulness of Defendants’ response, as the Court informed
Duncan during a telephone hearing on July 8, 2019, Duncan can produce evidence or
testimony at trial to refute Defendants’ contention. (Doc. 157).
Duncan also challenges the sufficiency of Defendants response to RFA 10.
RFA 10 states:
Please admit that Officer Latisha Peak did use her O.C. spray inside of
the B-2 housing unit at USP-P on 1-13-2017.
(Doc. 154-1, p. 3).
Defendants’ initial response provided:
Defendants can neither admit nor deny as they are seeking information
regarding the RFA. Defendants will supplement their response when
adequate information is obtained to properly respond to the RFA.
(Doc. 154-1, p. 3).
Defendants’ supplemental response states:
Defendants can neither admit nor deny as they are unable to contact
Officer Peak who is currently assigned to USP Atlanta, Georgia. Officer
Peak is out on extended leave.
(Doc. 181-1, p. 2).
Duncan argues that the response is inadequate because the Defendants
“clearly have the records to admit RFA #10, and it should therefore be deemed
admitted.” (Doc. 181, p. 2).
In their response to Duncan’s Motion, Defendants argue that, whether Officer
Peak used chemical spray is not relevant to the issues for trial, and the request for
admission is only being used to harass Defendants. (Doc. 206, p. 2). Nonetheless,
Defendants certify that the response cannot be admitted because Officer Peak is on
extended leave and unavailable. (Doc. 181-1, p. 2; Doc. 206, p. 2).
Rule 36(a)(4) requires that the answering party make a reasonable inquiry and
state “that that it has made reasonable inquiry and that the information it knows or
can readily obtain is insufficient to enable it to admit or deny.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
36(a)(4). “Reasonable inquiry” means an “inquiry of documents and persons readily
available and within the responding party’s control.” Dickie Brennan & Co., Inc. v.
Lexington Ins. Co., 09-CV-3866, 2010 WL 11538525, at *5 (E.D. La. Feb. 10, 2010)
(citing JZ Buckingham Invs. LLC v. United States, 77 Fed. Cl. 37, 47 (Fed. Cl. 2007)
and cases cited therein). “A reasonable inquiry includes both (1) an investigation of
officers, administrators, agents and employees who conceivably and realistically may
have information that may lead to a necessary and appropriate response, and (2) a
review of relevant documents and regulations.” Id. (citations omitted).
Defendants’ response does not comply with the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure because Defendants do not certify that they have made a reasonable
inquiry. Defendants do not explain what, if any, steps have been taken to contact
Officer Peak, nor do they address any documents that may establish whether the
Officer Peak deployed the spray.
Ill. Conclusion
Because Defendants’ response to RFA 10 is deficient, Duncan’s Motion to
Determine Sufficiency of Defendants’ Supplemental Answers to Plaintiffs Third
Request for Admissions (Doc. 181) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
IT IS ORDERED that, within 14 days of the date of this Order, Defendants shall
supplement their response to RFA 10 to certify that a reasonable inquiry has, in fact,
been made in accordance with Rule 36(a)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
If a reasonable inquiry has not been made, Defendants must make that inquiry and
supplement the RFA response within the same time frame.
THUS DONE AND SIGNED in Alexandria, Louisiana, on this f7th day of
November 2019.
THLE
JOSEPH H.L. PEREZ-MONTES
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE