Indiana § 24-1-2-6 - Discovery proceedings; examination of defendant; sanctions for noncompliance

§ 24-1-2-6. Discovery proceedings; examination of defendant; sanctions for noncompliance

Sec. 6. In all proceedings instituted under and pursuant to section 5 of this chapter, the plaintiff may propound interrogatories to the defendant or defendants to be answered by such defendant or defendants under oath, as is provided by law in civil actions, and if any defendant to whom interrogatories be propounded as aforesaid be a corporation, then such interrogatories shall be answered by the highest officer of such corporation, or by any other officer, agent, or employee of such corporation designated by the plaintiff. The plaintiff in any such action shall be entitled upon motion to an order for an examination under oath before trial of any defendant or all the defendants in such action, and if any defendant in such action be a corporation, then of any officer, agent, or employee of any such defendant corporation, concerning any or all of the facts alleged in the information or other pleadings in such cause. The said defendant shall be given five (5) days' notice by the plaintiff of the time and place of the taking of said examination, but such officer, agent, or employee shall not be compelled to attend such examination except in the county where he resides or where the principal office or place of business of such corporation be situate in this state. If such defendant corporation be incorporated under the laws of the United States, or of any district or territory thereof, or of any state other than the state of Indiana, or of any foreign country, and the officer, agent, or employee to be examined be without the jurisdiction of this state, then such defendant shall produce the officer, agent, or employee to be examined as aforesaid at some place in the city or town where the principal office or place of business of such defendant be situate, upon five (5) days' notice being served upon the attorneys of such defendant corporation of the time and place fixed for the examination of such officer, agent or employee. In any examination of any defendant or of any officer, agent, or employee of any defendant corporation, such defendant officer, agent or employee may be compelled upon notice to produce for inspection by the plaintiff and to testify concerning the same, or for use in evidence upon the trial, or both, all books, papers, documents, or writings pertaining or in any wise relating to the facts, or any of them, stated in the information or other pleadings filed in the cause. In such notice to produce for inspection and testimony or for trial, or both, it shall only be necessary to notify the defendant or the attorney or attorneys of the defendant to produce, at the time and place fixed in the notice, all books, papers, documents, or writings pertaining or in any wise relating to the facts stated in the information or other pleadings filed, and it shall not be necessary to state in such notice the particular books, papers, documents, or writings to be produced at such time and place. Such examinations shall be taken before an officer authorized to take depositions and may be continued from day to day. Upon the failure or refusal of any defendant to comply with any order made as aforesaid to answer interrogatories, or for the examination of the defendant or the officer, agent, or employee of any defendant corporation, or upon the failure or refusal of any defendant corporation to produce any officer, agent, or employee for examination when notified as aforesaid, or upon the failure or refusal of any defendant to produce books, papers, documents, and writings when notified as aforesaid, then all pleadings of such defendant so failing to comply with such order or notice shall be stricken from the files upon motion supported by affidavit, and the allegations of the information as to such defendant in default shall be taken as confessed and judgment and decree shall be entered accordingly.

Formerly: Acts 1907, c.243, s.6. As amended by P.L.152-1986, SEC.8.