Legal Definitions - RFA

RFA stands for Request for Admission.

A Request for Admission (RFA) is a formal written document used in the discovery phase of a lawsuit. It is a tool that one party sends to the opposing party, asking them to admit or deny specific facts or the authenticity of certain documents. The primary purpose of an RFA is to narrow down the issues that need to be proven at trial, thereby streamlining the litigation process and potentially saving time and resources. If a party admits a fact in response to an RFA, that fact is considered conclusively established for the purpose of that lawsuit and does not need further proof.

• Example 1: Contract Dispute

  Imagine a small business owner is suing a client for unpaid services based on a written contract. During the discovery phase, the business owner's attorney might send a Request for Admission to the client asking them to "Admit that you signed the service agreement dated October 26, 2023" or "Admit that you received the invoice for services rendered on December 1, 2023." If the client admits these facts, the business owner no longer needs to present witnesses or other evidence at trial to prove the contract's existence or the invoice's delivery, focusing instead on the issue of non-payment.

• Example 2: Personal Injury Claim

  Consider a scenario where a pedestrian is suing a driver after being hit by a car. The pedestrian's attorney might send a Request for Admission to the driver stating, "Admit that your vehicle was traveling above the posted speed limit of 25 MPH at the time of the collision" or "Admit that you failed to stop at the red traffic light immediately prior to striking the plaintiff." If the driver admits to these statements, it significantly strengthens the pedestrian's case regarding the driver's negligence, as these critical facts are no longer in dispute.

• Example 3: Property Boundary Dispute

  Suppose two neighbors are involved in a lawsuit over the exact boundary line between their properties. One neighbor's attorney might send a Request for Admission to the other, asking them to "Admit that the survey conducted by Acme Land Surveyors on April 15, 2024, accurately depicts the property line between Parcel A and Parcel B" or "Admit that the fence you erected extends beyond the boundary line shown in the 2024 survey." An admission to such a request would establish the accuracy of the survey or the location of the fence as undisputed facts, allowing the court to focus on the legal implications rather than the factual determination of the boundary itself.