ANSWERING INTERROGATORIES IN

NEW JERSEY SPECIAL CIVIL PART CASES

What are interrogatories?

New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatories are written questions that ask information about the facts of your case.  New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatories must be answered in writing and the answers must include an affidavit or certification that swears that the answers are truthful.  Plaintiffs and defendants in certain types of New Jersey Special Civil Part cases are allowed to serve interrogatories on their opponents.

What are affidavits?

In New Jersey Special Civil Part, an affidavit is a statement signed by a person that states that they are swearing that the information contained in the affidavit (or in an attachment to the affidavit, such as New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatory answers) is truthful.  A New Jersey Special Civil Part affidavit is notarized by a notary public of the State of New Jersey.

What are certifications?

In New Jersey Special Civil Part, a certification is a statement signed by a person that states that they are swearing that the information contained in the certification (or in an attachment to the certification, such as New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatory answers) is truthful.  Unlike affidavits, certifications are not notarized by a notary public of the state of New Jersey.

How are interrogatories used in New Jersey Special Civil Part?

In New Jersey Special Civil Part, interrogatories are conclusively proven facts that can be used at your New Jersey Special Civil Part trial against the party that provides the answers.   In New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatory answers must be completed very carefully.  Otherwise, the New Jersey Special Civil Part answers could defeat the answering party’s complaint or answer by giving the opposing party the information they need to beat the answering party in court.  Many people fail to take interrogatories seriously and thereby lose their case.   Parties that fail to serve interrogatories in New Jersey Special Civil Part are taking major risks in their New Jersey Special Civil Part case.  Interrogatories allow parties to find out important information about their opponent’s case before a New Jersey Special Civil Part trial. Without the information that parties can get through interrogatories, the parties could be going to a New Jersey Special Civil Part trial without knowing what the other party will say or do at the New Jersey Special Civil Part trial.  Many people lose their New Jersey Special Civil Part trial because they don’t understand what they must do to prove their case.  Many people think they just file a complaint or answer and then show up in New Jersey Special Civil Part court with papers and tell their story.  This is not always how New Jersey Special Civil Part trials work!   Never assume you can just show up to court with documents and use them to support the trial of your case or even refer to them at trial.  While it is true that you must bring all documents, photographs, videos and other items with you to the trial that are necessary to prove your case (preferably originals), even if you bring such documents and items to court, the New Jersey Special Civil Part may refuse to allow you to use them at your trial.  New Jersey has published cases, laws, regulations, court rules and rules of evidence that are very tricky and that can be used to prevent you from doing much of what you want to do at trial.  Accordingly, before trial, you must consult all of these rules to determine how you intend to get your documents and items into evidence or how to properly use them at trial.  Hearsay rules of evidence are particularly troublesome and you should study them carefully before trial.  For example, it is very common for courts to refuse to allow a party to use or refer to documents or items that the person themselves never prepared.  Often parties stumble into court with a video, photograph, bill or affidavit or other form of written statement, thinking they are going to use it as proof that they lost money or that they are not responsible for someone else’s damages, only to have a judge tell the parties that it is not going to even consider such items or documents.  Without the proper preparation, items and documents may never be considered by the New Jersey Special Civil Part court.  Written requests for information served and answered in advance of a New Jersey Special Civil Part trial are often useful tools to get the information needed before a New Jersey Special Civil Part trial to prove a case or a defense.

When are answers to interrogatories due?

In New Jersey Special Civil Part, interrogatories are due within 30 days after they are served (mailed) upon another party.  Do not confuse the date a party receives the New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatories as the same as the date of service!  The date of service is the date of their mailing.  If the New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatories are dated, that date may be the date of mailing.  If the New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatories are sent with a letter forwarding the New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatories, the date of that letter may be the date of service.

If I answer interrogatories, should I give original records, photographs or other items about my case to my opponents?

When you answer New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatories, Never give any opponent, get rid of or give away any original records about your case or about the facts of your case (such as invoices, bills, receipts, photographs, plans, blueprints, reports that you received from police departments, etc.)  – if you go to trial you shall need these documents and if you submit them to the court before the trial the New Jersey Special Civil Part court may not give them back to you for use at your New Jersey Special Civil Part trial!!!!   You never give originals to anyone before trial and you need to use originals at your New Jersey Special Civil Part trial!!!  Keep originals for your records and to bring these items to any New Jersey Special Civil Part court hearings.

What happens if a defendant ignores interrogatories?

If you ignore New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatories and you are the defendant or a plaintiff facing a counterclaim, then the party that serves them on you can ask to have any answer that you file with the court “suppressed” or “stricken” or may ask the court to “compel” you or force you to provide answers or face court penalties.  If the party requesting the In New Jersey Special Civil Part answers files the proper papers with the court, this could eventually lead the requesting party to win their case, either by getting a money judgment in their favor.

What happens if a plaintiff or counterclaimant ignores interrogatories?

If you ignore New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatories and you are the plaintiff or a defendant with a counterclaim, then the party that serves them on you can ask to have any complaint or counterclaim that you file with the court “dismissed” or may ask the court to “compel” you or force you to provide answers or face court penalties.  If the party requesting the In New Jersey Special Civil Part answers files the proper papers with the court, this could eventually lead the requesting party to win their case, by getting a lawsuit or counterclaim forever dismissed. 

Need Help Preparing New Jersey Special Civil Interrogatory Answers?
If you were served with New Jersey Special Civil Part interrogatories, the Law Office of Paul DePetris will prepare your New Jersey Special Civil Part paperwork for you for a one time flat fee.   After you pay the fee and submit the necessary information to the firm, the New Jersey Special Civil Part paperwork shall be typed up and sent to you for you to send to your opponents.  Don’t take a chance getting your New Jersey Special Civil Part complaint or counterclaim dismissed or your New Jersey Special Civil Part answer suppressed and don’t rely upon legal advice from anyone other than an attorney licensed to practice law in New Jersey!   To get a quote to prepare your New Jersey Special Civil Part paperwork, call Paul DePetris at 609-714-2020 or email him @ paul@newjerseyspecialcivil.com. 

Need Help Preparing New Jersey Special Civil Part Interrogatories?

If you want to try to be better prepared for a trial or find out the reasons why a plaintiff is suing you in New Jersey Special Civil Part or why a defendant is defending against your New Jersey Special Civil Part lawsuit, the Law Office of Paul DePetris will prepare your New Jersey Special Civil Part paperwork for you for a one time flat fee.   After you pay the fee and submit the necessary information to the Firm, the New Jersey Special Civil Part paperwork shall be typed up and sent to you for you to file.  Don’t take a chance getting your New Jersey Special Civil Part complaint or counterclaim dismissed or your New Jersey Special Civil Part answer suppressed and don’t rely upon legal advice from anyone other than an attorney licensed to practice law in New Jersey!   To get a quote to prepare your New Jersey Special Civil Part paperwork, call Paul DePetris at 609-714-2020 or email him @ paul@newjerseyspecialcivil.com. 

Can I Handle A New Jersey Special Civil Part Case Myself?

Many people can and do successfully handle New Jersey Special Civil Part cases, from filing the first New Jersey Special Civil Part paperwork to the collection of a New Jersey Special Civil Part judgment.  However, many other people also make mistakes that lead to the dismissal of their New Jersey Special Civil cases or that result in the entry of a New Jersey Special Civil Part money judgment against them.  The greater the money at stake, the greater the reason to consider using the services of a competent attorney licensed to practice law in New Jersey to handle part or all of the New Jersey Special Civil Part case.  The following are reasons to use an attorney to handle part or all of your New Jersey Special Civil Part case:

• New Jersey Special Civil Part fees often change
• New Jersey Special Civil Part rules often change
• New Jersey Special Civil Part employees cannot give you “free” legal advice and a judge may refuse to let you claim that you were right in taking an action (or in deciding not to take action) because you relied on advice from such employees
• New Jersey Special Civil Part court forms available on websites may not cover every situation you may face in court
• each New Jersey Special Civil Part case has its own particular legal issues and therefore, its own challenges
• it is very common for people to file inadequate or incorrect New Jersey Special Civil complaints that result in the New Jersey Special Civil complaints or answers to New Jersey Special Civil complaints being rejected by the New Jersey Special Civil Part or being dismissed by the New Jersey Special Civil Part after filing and before or after trial because of procedural deficiencies.  
• it is not uncommon for judges to get very frustrated by an unrepresented party’s lack of preparation or ignorance of the facts or law of the New Jersey Special Civil Part case. 
• a court has the power to punish unprepared parties, such as by throwing their case out of court or limiting what they can present at the New Jersey Special Civil Part trial. 
• New Jersey has many published cases, laws, regulations, court rules and rules of evidence that can be very tricky to understand and that can be used to prevent you from doing much of what you want to do at the New Jersey Special Civil Part trial. 
• it is very common for courts to refuse to allow a party to use or refer to documents or items at the New Jersey Special Civil Part trial that the person themselves never prepared.  Often parties stumble into New Jersey Special Civil Part with a video, photograph, bill or affidavit or other form of written statement, thinking they are going to use it as proof that they lost money or that they are not responsible for someone else’s damages, only to have a judge tell the parties that it is not going to even consider such items or documents. 
• without the proper preparation, items and documents may never be considered by the New Jersey Special Civil Part.  Also, if there are any legal issues to be dealt with at the New Jersey Special Civil Part trial, you must be prepared to argue them, which may require you to refer to court rules, evidence rules, laws, regulations or published cases. 
• you cannot show up at the New Jersey Special Civil Part expecting the judge hearing your New Jersey Special Civil Part case to explain court rules, evidence rules, court procedure or the details of the law that applies to your New Jersey Special Civil Part case.  The judge hearing your New Jersey Special Civil Part case is not permitted to give you legal advice.

It is important to remember that even if you have an attorney, you could lose your New Jersey Special Civil Part case.  Hiring an attorney to handle part or all of your New Jersey Special Civil Part case does not guarantee your success.  However, it may provide what is needed to win your New Jersey Special Civil Part case or to avoid certain mistakes.

Does The Law Office Of Paul Depetris Have Experience Handling New Jersey Special Civil Part Cases?

Yes.  Paul DePetris has performed the following tasks:

• handled New Jersey Special Civil Part cases for New Jersey Special Civil Part plaintiffs and New Jersey Special Civil Part defendants across New Jersey, from Bergen County Special Civil Part to Cumberland County Special Civil Part, including representations of individuals, small businesses and large corporations.
• provided New Jersey Special Civil Part pro se parties with New Jersey Special Civil Part legal advice and prepared New Jersey Special Civil Part legal forms
• prepared and filed many New Jersey Special Civil Part
• complaints
• tried New Jersey Special Civil Part nonjury trials
• tried New Jersey Special Civil Part jury trials
• mediated many New Jersey Special Civil Part cases
• served as a voluntary court mediator for the Burlington County Special Civil Part where he successfully assisted parties to lawsuits to settle their New Jersey Special Civil cases before they went to trial
• argued New Jersey Special Civil Part motions
• handled New Jersey Special Civil Part proof hearings
• handled New Jersey Special Civil Part post judgment collection proceedings

Mr. DePetris has appeared before the Superior Court of New Jersey in the following counties:

In What New Jersey Counties Will The Law Office Of Paul DePetris Handle New Jersey Special Civil Part Cases and New Jersey Small Claims Cases?

The Law Office of Paul DePetris offers to handle and help individuals and businesses with New Jersey Special Civil Part and New Jersey Small Claims cases in North, Central and Southern New Jersey, including cases in the following New Jersey counties:

What If I Don’t Have Enough Money To Hire An Attorney To Handle My New Jersey Special Civil Part or New Jersey Small Claims Case From Beginning To End?

In many situations, the Law Office of Paul DePetris offers alternatives to handling New Jersey Special Civil Part and New Jersey Small Claims Section cases for an hourly fee, such as by offering to handle the New Jersey Special Civil Part case or New Jersey Small Claim case up to trial for a fixed fee or to help you handle your New Jersey Special Civil Part case or New Jersey Small Claim case by yourself.  Such flexible methods may allow you to keep the amount legal fees you spend on your New Jersey Special Civil Part case or New Jersey Small Claims case to a fixed sum, while providing you the help you need to handle your New Jersey Special Civil Part case or New Jersey Small Claims case.  For a no obligation phone consultation about what the Firm might be able to do for you, call Mr. DePetris at 609-714-2020 or write an email to Mr. DePetris at paul@newjerseyspecialcivil.com.