Doral

DORAL , EL SUPREMO Y EL APELATIVO

Como indique anteriormente, Doral solicitó el 9 de enero de 2015 una certificación intrajurisidiccional al Tribunal Supremo de P.R. (TSPR) para que viera directamente los asuntos apelativos del caso. El 12 de enero de 2015, el TSPR denegó la solicitud. Afortunadamente para Doral, ese mismo día el Tribunal Apelativo emitió una orden calendarizando el proceso apelativo. Le concedió a Doral 5 días (que se vencen el 19 de enero) para “que exprese su anuencia u objeción al contenido de la transcripción de la prueba oral presentada por la parte apelante (ELA).” Se le concedieron 10 días a partir de la aprobación de esta prueba oral para que el ELA presente su escrito suplementario y 20 días desde ese momento a Doral para presentar sus escritos.

En cuanto a la apelación presentada por Doral, este tendrá 10 días a partir de la aprobación de la prueba oral (19 de enero) para presentar su escrito suplementario y el ELA 20 días para replicar. Todo estos términos culminarán, a menos que se pida otra prórroga, el 18 de febrero de 2015.

Si examinamos el Reglamento del Tribunal Apelativo (en específico Reglas 21-22), este especifica 30 días para el escrito suplementario y 30 días para la oposición a la Apelación. Por ende, aunque el TSPR no expidió la certificación intrajurisdiccional, el Tribunal Apelativo, consciente de la importancia de decidir el caso con prontitud, ha dado los pasos necesarios para así hacerlo. Espero una determinación no más tarde de junio o julio.

Advertisement

DORAL, THE PR SUPREME COURT AND THE APPELLATE COURT

As I said before, on January 9, 2015 Doral requested an intrajurisdiccitional certification from the P.R. Supreme Court (TSPR) so it would directly entertain the appellate issues in its case. On January 12 2015, the TSPR denied the request. Fortunately for Doral, on that same day, the Appellate Court issued an order setting the Schedule of the Appeals. It gave Doral 5 days (due on January 19) to express itself whether it accepts or objects to the transcript of the oral evidence presented by the ELA. The Government was granted 10 days from the aproval of the transcript for it to present its supplementary brief and 20 days from that date to Doral to present its objections to the appeal.

As to the appeal presented by Doral, it will have 10 days from the approval of the transcript (January 19) to present its supplementary brief and ELA will have 20 days to reply. Unless an extension is obtained, these deadlines will end on February 18 2015.

If we examine the Appellate Court’s regulations (specifically Rules 21-22), these call for 30 days for the supplementary brief and 30 days of the opposition to the appeal. Therefore, although the TSPR did not issue the intrajurisdictional certification, the Appellate Court, conscious of the importance of deciding swiftly this case, has taken the necessary steps to do so. I expect a decision no later tan June or July.

DORAL GOES TO THE PR SUPREME COURT

Today, as it has done in two previous occasions, Doral seeks intrajurisdictional certification to the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. What this means is that Doral is asking the Puerto Rico Supreme Court to review the case now, instead of waiting the 4-6 months it will take the Appellate Court to resolve the controversies and in which the loser will seek review from the maximum forum. This way, the case would go directly to the Puerto Rico Supreme Court.

Although in the two previous occasions the Puerto Rico Supreme Court has refused to grant the intrajurisdictional review, it has made clear that this is a case of great public importance that should be decided quickly. Different from the previous occasions, we now have a record, i.e., four days of hearings, which resulted in Judge Laureano’s extensive and well-reasoned opinion. In addition, there is evidence that the FDIC asked for amendments to Doral’s capitalization plan Juan Zaragoza, PR Treasury Secretary stated to the press that Hacienda had defended the “urgent” rights of the People of Puerto Rico. Rafael Blanco, Puerto Rico’s Financial Institutions Commissioner, also said to the press the disbursement of the refund represents Doral’s chance to recapitalize itself. Doral averse that it would be FATAL if the Appellate Court handled does not handle the case immediately and after the judgment the government waits 60 days to recur to the Supreme Court, leaving payment pending. Given these statements by representatives of the defendant in this case, it is very possible that the Supreme Court will accept the request and quickly decide this controversy, as I hope it will.