The Puerto Rico Court of Appeals has confirmed a ruling against Luis R. Lopez Noriega, ordering him to pay over $52,000 in a debt collection case. This decision is significant for consumers and debt collection agencies in Puerto Rico as it reinforces the legal framework surrounding debt recovery practices.
The case, Puerto Rico Consumer Debt Management Co., Inc. v. Luis R. Lopez Noriega, was filed on June 11, 2026, under docket number TA2025AP00714. It stemmed from a debt collection action initiated by Puerto Rico Consumer Debt Management Co., Inc. (CDM), which represented Jefferson Capital Systems, LLC (JCS). The court's ruling emphasizes the importance of adhering to legal procedures in debt collection and the consequences of failing to respond to legal actions.
In this case, CDM claimed that Lopez Noriega had failed to make payments on a financial lease agreement with Popular Auto Inc. After Lopez Noriega stopped making payments, Popular Auto transferred the debt to JCS, which then hired CDM to collect the amount owed. CDM alleged that despite multiple attempts to contact Lopez Noriega, including written notices and payment plans, he did not respond, prompting them to seek legal action.
Lopez Noriega was served with the complaint on April 15, 2025, but did not respond within the required timeframe. Consequently, the First Instance Court in Bayamón declared him in default and ruled in favor of CDM on October 6, 2025. The court ordered Lopez Noriega to pay $52,717.05 in principal and $7,000 in attorney's fees.
Lopez Noriega later appealed the decision, arguing that the court erred by ruling in favor of CDM without sufficient evidence that they were the legitimate holder of the debt. He claimed that CDM did not prove they had the legal right to collect the debt, which he argued was a fundamental requirement for the court's jurisdiction.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeals, led by Judge Trigo Ferraiuoli, confirmed the First Instance Court's decision. The court stated, "The evidence presented by CDM was sufficient to establish their standing to pursue the collection of the debt." The judges noted that CDM provided a declaration from its representative, which included documentation supporting their claim, including a bill of sale and communication records.
The court emphasized that Lopez Noriega had ample opportunity to contest the claims against him but failed to do so in a timely manner. The ruling highlighted that the legal framework governing debt collection requires agencies to demonstrate their right to collect debts, and in this case, CDM met those requirements.
This ruling has implications for both consumers and debt collection agencies in Puerto Rico. It reinforces the necessity for consumers to respond promptly to debt collection notices and the importance of agencies adhering to legal procedures when collecting debts. The court's decision also clarifies the standards for proving a debt's legitimacy in court, which may influence future debt collection cases.
Looking ahead, Lopez Noriega has the option to appeal the ruling to a higher court if he believes there are grounds for further legal action. However, the court's thorough examination of the evidence and procedural compliance makes it challenging for him to overturn the decision. Details were not available in the court filing regarding any related cases pending.