Terms Used In N.Y. Civil Practice Law and Rules 4501

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.

A competent witness shall not be excused from answering a relevant question, on the ground only that the answer may tend to establish that he owes a debt or is otherwise subject to a civil suit. This section does not require a witness to give an answer which will tend to accuse himself of a crime or to expose him to a penalty or forfeiture, nor does it vary any other rule respecting the examination of a witness.