§ 13-9. Requests for Production, Inspection and Examination--In General

(a)In any civil action, in any probate appeal, or in any administrative appeal where the judicial authority finds it reasonably probable that evidence outside the record will be required, any party may serve in accordance with Sections 10-12 through 10-17 upon any other party a request to afford the party submitting the request the opportunity to inspect, copy, photograph or otherwise reproduce designated documents (including, but not limited to, writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs and phonograph records) or to inspect and copy, test or sample any tangible things in the possession, custody or control of the party upon whom the request is served or to permit entry upon designated land or other property for the purpose of inspection, measuring, surveying, photographing, testing or sampling the property or any designated object or operation thereon. Such requests will be governed by the provisions of Sections 13-2 through 13-5. In all personal injury actions alleging liability based on the operation or ownership of a motor vehicle or alleging liability based on the ownership, maintenance or control of real property, the requests for production shall be limited to those set forth in Forms 204, 205 and/or 206 of the rules of practice, unless, upon motion, the judicial authority determines that such requests for production are inappropriate or inadequate in the particular action. These forms are set forth in the Appendix of Forms in this volume.

(b)Requests for production may be served upon any party without leave of court at any time after the return day. In lieu of serving the requests for production set forth in Forms 204, 205 and/or 206 on a party who is represented by counsel, the moving party may serve on such party a notice of requests for production, which shall not include the actual requests, but shall instead set forth the number of the Practice Book form containing such requests and the name of the party to whom the requests are directed.

(c)The request shall clearly designate the items to be inspected either individually or by category. The request or, if applicable, the notice of requests for production shall specify a reasonable time, place and manner of making the inspection. Unless the judicial authority orders otherwise, the frequency of use of requests for production in all actions except those for which requests for production have been set forth in Forms 204, 205 and/or 206 of the rules of practice is not limited.

(d)If data has been electronically stored, the judicial authority may for good cause shown order disclosure of the data in an alternative format provided the data is otherwise discoverable. When the judicial authority considers a request for a particular format, the judicial authority may consider the cost of preparing the disclosure in the requested format and may enter an order that one or more parties shall pay the cost of preparing the disclosure.

(e)The party serving such request or notice of requests for production shall not file it with the court.

(f)A party seeking the production of a written authorization in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to inspect and make copies of protected health information, or a written authorization in compliance with the Public Health Service Act to inspect and make copies of alcohol and drug records that are protected by that act, shall file a motion pursuant to Section 13-11A. A motion need not be filed to obtain such authorization in actions to which Forms 204 and 205 of the rules of practice apply.