The Puerto Rico Court of Appeals has ruled against ESJ Resort LLC's request for summary judgment in a personal injury case involving Sandra Álvarez López. The court's decision, issued on September 21, 2026, means that the case will continue in the lower court, allowing López to pursue her claims against the resort for injuries she sustained during a fall.

This ruling affects both the plaintiff, Sandra Álvarez López, and the defendants, ESJ Resort LLC and its insurer, ACE American Insurance Company. The decision is significant because it allows López to continue seeking damages for her injuries, which she claims were due to the resort's negligence.

Background

The case began on August 28, 2024, when Sandra Álvarez López filed a lawsuit against ESJ Resort LLC, the operator of The Fairmont El San Juan Hotel. López alleged that she fell on September 7, 2020, due to loose and uneven paving stones at the hotel's entrance. She claimed to have suffered multiple injuries, including damage to her knees and pain in her shoulders and back.

López sought a total of $136,500 in damages, which included compensation for physical injuries, mental anguish, lost income, and medical expenses. In response, ESJ Resort LLC denied any negligence and argued that López had not provided sufficient evidence to support her claims.

After the initial filing, the court set deadlines for evidence discovery and motions. On January 30, 2026, the defendants filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that López lacked the necessary evidence to prove her case. López opposed this motion, providing evidence from her deposition and responses to interrogatories, asserting that there were factual disputes that warranted a trial.

The Ruling

On August 8, 2026, the lower court denied the motion for summary judgment, stating that there were genuine issues of material fact that required resolution at trial. The court found that the defendants had not demonstrated that López lacked sufficient evidence to support her claims. In its ruling, the court noted, "the part of the defendant did not demonstrate to the Court that, at this stage of the proceedings, the plaintiff does not have sufficient evidence to prove any essential fact of the cause of action."

In response to the lower court's decision, ESJ Resort LLC and ACE American Insurance Company filed a certiorari petition with the Court of Appeals, seeking to overturn the ruling. However, the Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's decision, stating that the case did not meet the criteria for granting the requested certiorari.

Impact

This ruling is important as it allows the case to move forward, giving López the opportunity to present her evidence in court. The decision underscores the court's position that summary judgment should only be granted when there is no genuine dispute over material facts. The ruling may also serve as a reminder to other potential plaintiffs that they have the right to have their cases heard in court if there are factual disputes.

The ruling does not set a new precedent but reinforces existing legal principles regarding summary judgment in personal injury cases. It emphasizes the necessity for courts to carefully consider whether there are genuine issues of material fact before dismissing a case without a trial.

What's Next

The case will now proceed in the lower court, where both parties will continue to prepare for trial. There is currently no indication that the ruling will be appealed further, but the defendants may still explore their options as the case progresses.