NMRA, Rule 1-034
RULE 1-034. PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS AND THINGS AND ENTRY UPON LAND FOR INSPECTION AND OTHER PURPOSES
A. Scope. Any party may serve on any other party a request:
(1) to produce and permit the party making the request, or someone acting on the requestor's behalf, to inspect, copy, test or sample any designated documents, electronically stored information any tangible things which constitute or contain matters within the scope of Rule 1-026 NMRA and which are in the possession, custody or control of the party upon whom the request is served; or
(2) to permit entry upon designated land or other property in the possession or control of the party upon whom the request is served for the purpose of inspecting and measuring, surveying, photographing, testing or sampling the property or any designated object or operation thereon, within the scope of Rule 1-026 NMRA.
B. Procedure. The request may, without leave of court, be served upon the plaintiff after commencement of the action and upon any other party with or after service of the summons and complaint upon that party. The request shall set forth the items to be inspected either by individual item or by category and describe each item and category with reasonable particularity. The request shall specify a reasonable time, place and manner of making the inspection and performing the related acts. The request may specify the form or forms in which electronically stored information is to be produced.
The party upon whom the request is served shall serve a written response within thirty (30) days after the service of the request, except that a defendant may serve a response within forty-five (45) days after service of the summons and complaint upon that defendant. The court may allow a shorter or longer time. The response shall state, with respect to each item or category, that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested, unless the request is objected to, including an objection to the requested form or forms for producing electronically stored information, stating the reasons for objection. If objection is made to part of an item or category, the part shall be specified. If objection is made to the requested form or forms for producing electronically stored information, or if no form was specified in the request, the responding party must state the form or forms it intends to use. The party submitting the request may move for an order under Rule 1-037 NMRA with respect to any objection to or other failure to respond to the request or any part thereof, or any failure to permit inspection as requested.
Unless the parties otherwise agree, or the court otherwise orders,
(1) a party who produces documents for inspection shall produce them as they are kept in the usual course of business or shall organize and label them to correspond with the categories in the request;
(2) if a request does not specify the form or forms for producing electronically stored information, a responding party must produce the information in a form or forms in which it is ordinarily maintained or in a form or forms that are reasonably usable; and
(3) a party need not produce the same electronically stored information in more than one form.
C. Persons not Parties. A person not a party to the action may be compelled to produce documents and things or to submit to an inspection as provided in Rule 1-045 NMRA.
[Amended effective Jan. 1, 1998; May 15, 2009.]
COMMITTEE COMMENTARY FOR 2009 AMENDMENTS
See the 2009 Committee Commentary to Rule 1-026 NMRA for additional information.