interrogatories

Definition

Written questions one party sends to another during discovery, which must be answered under oath within 30 days. They're the legal equivalent of a take-home exam, except lawyers write them and billing by the hour.

Example Usage

The plaintiff served 25 interrogatories demanding detailed information about the company's financial records and communications.

Origin

From Latin 'interrogare' meaning 'to question'

Fun Fact

Federal rules limit parties to 25 interrogatories including subparts, though creative lawyers treat 'subparts' as a loophole worth exploiting.

Source: Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 33

Related Terms

Intermediate

remit

A fancy legal word for "send" that makes lawyers feel sophisticated when they talk about transmitting money or referring cases to lower courts. In business contexts, it means to pay what you owe; in legal contexts, it means a higher court is sending your case back down for a do-over. Also refers to someone's scope of responsibility, because apparently one word needed to mean three different things to keep everyone confused.

⚖️ Legal

Beginner

overturned

When an appellate court decides the lower court messed up so badly that the decision needs to be reversed or thrown out entirely. It's the judicial equivalent of hitting the undo button, except it takes years and costs a fortune. Every trial lawyer's nightmare and every appellant's dream.

⚖️ Legal

Beginner

citation

In law, either the official summons commanding someone to appear in court or the reference to legal authorities supporting an argument. Can also be that expensive piece of paper a cop gives you for parking wrong. Basically, it's any formal notification that someone wants your attention, usually for reasons that will cost you money.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

Discovery

The legal process of making your opponent hand over every embarrassing email they have ever written. Think of it as court-ordered snooping, except the snooping costs $500 an hour.

⚖️ Legal

Beginner

claimant

The optimistic soul who initiates a legal claim, demanding money, benefits, or justice from someone who probably disagrees with their interpretation of events. Whether seeking unemployment benefits, insurance payouts, or damages in a lawsuit, the claimant is the one who shows up saying 'I'm owed something.' They're the protagonist in their legal story, though the defendant might describe them differently.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

subpoena duces tecum

A subpoena requiring someone to bring specific documents or evidence to court, Latin for 'bring your receipts.' The legal system's way of demanding 'pics or it didn't happen.'

⚖️ Legal

Translate This Term

See “interrogatories” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Advanced

proteolysis

The molecular demolition derby where proteins get broken down into smaller peptides and amino acids, primarily happening...