Interrogatories To Parties

(1) Any party may serve upon any adverse party written interrogatories to be answered by the party served or, if the party served is a public or private corporation, a partnership or association or governmental entity, by an officer, agency or employee, who shall furnish such information as is available to the party. Interrogatories may be served after commencement of the action by the Respondent without leave of the Commissioner, Hearing Officer, or Administrative Law Judge. Interrogatories may be taken by the Complainant, after commencement of the action, without leave of the Commissioner, Hearing Officer, or Administrative Law Judge, except that leave, granted with or without notice, must be obtained if notice of the taking is served by the Complainant within five (5) days after commencement of the action. The Commissioner, Hearing Officer, or Administrative Law Judge may continue the hearing, upon notice of any party, to provide additional time for the taking of interrogatories. The interrogatories shall be answered separately and fully in writing under oath. The answers shall be signed by the person making them; and the party upon whom the interrogatories have been served shall service a copy of the answers on the party submitting the interrogatories within fifteen (15) days after the service of the interrogatories, unless the Commissioner, Hearing Officer, or Administrative Law Judge, on motion and notice and for good cause shown, enlarges or shortens the time. Within ten (10) days after service of the interrogatories a party may service written objections hereto, together with a notice of hearing, the objection at the earliest practicable time. Answers to interrogatories to which objection is made shall be deferred until the objections are determined. (2) Interrogatories may relate to any matters which can be inquired into under Rule 0180-06-.10 and the answers may be used to the same extent as provided in Rule 0180-06-.10 for the use of a deposition of a party. Interrogatories may be served after a deposition has been taken, and a deposition may be sought after interrogatories have been answered, but the Commissioner, Hearing Officer, or Administrative Law Judge on motion of the Deponent or the party interrogated, may make such protective order as justice may require. The number of interrogatories or sets of interrogatories to be served is not limited except as justice requires to protect the party from annoyance, embarrassment, or oppression. The provisions of Rule 0180-06-.13 are applicable for the protection of the party from whom answers to interrogatories are sought under the rule.