What is the discovery stage of civil procedure?

The discovery stage of civil procedure is a process in which the parties involved in a lawsuit gather information. It occurs after a complaint has been filed and before a trial. During the discovery stage, each party is allowed to ask questions, request documents, and demand answers from the other party. This allows each party to uncover any facts or evidence that may be relevant to the case. In Massachusetts, parties are allowed to use a variety of tools in the discovery process, such as deposition, interrogatories, requests for production of documents, requests for admission of facts, and requests for physical or mental examinations. Deposition allows for sworn testimony to be taken directly from a party or witness. Interrogatories are written questions that a party must answer under oath. Requests for production of documents allows parties to ask for copies of documents from the other side. Requests for admission of facts allows parties to demand answers to specific questions about certain facts that are relevant to the case. Finally, requests for physical or mental examinations allow parties to ask the court to order a medical or psychological evaluation of a party. The purpose of the discovery stage is to make sure each party has access to all necessary facts and information before a trial. This allows for a more efficient and fair trial process.

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What is the discovery stage of civil procedure?

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