How to Answer Discovery That is Conclusory and Inflammatory

[Arazu Toth]

My question involves court procedures for the state of: Arizona

What's the best legal and proper way to deal with Request for Admissions and Interrogatories which ask/utilize inflammatory and conclusory questions/statements? Examples of such statements would be "When did you stop beating your wife?" or "Provide a list of every puppy you have kicked in the past 10 years".

[Mr. Knowitall]

In the first case, that's a compound question so you can object to its form. Or, depending upon the full context, you can consider breaking it into its component questions (Do you beat your wife? If so, when did you stop?) and answer them separately.

The second is easy: If you have kicked puppies, you provide the list. If you have not, you have nothing to list.

[Arazu Toth]

Understood; but where should one draw the line in addressing questions that are so "ridiculous" they simply serve no purpose relative to the claims, or are designed solely to convolute and burden the discovery process?

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you can articulate an appropriate objection, articulate away. If you object or refuse to answer inappropriately, the other party will bring a motion to compel.

Without seeing the question, nobody here can comment on any theoretical objection.

[cmre3456]

Understood; but where should one draw the line in addressing questions that are so "ridiculous" they simply serve no purpose relative to the claims, or are designed solely to convolute and burden the discovery process?

You can object just as you might on a witness stand. That sounds like "irrelevant and immaterial" and "overly broad and vague" to me, without hearing the questions.