In a recent ruling, the Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico denied an appeal from MCG Therapy Group LLC regarding sanctions imposed in a legal dispute with therapist Arlene J. Maestre Rivera. The court's decision, issued on June 30, 2026, upholds the lower court's ruling that barred MCG from using a deposition from a key expert witness. This case highlights the importance of proper evidence handling in legal proceedings.
The dispute began when MCG Therapy Group LLC filed a lawsuit against Maestre Rivera on April 3, 2023. The complaint included claims of breach of contract, damages, and tortious interference. Maestre Rivera provides therapeutic services to special education students through her company, AM Therapeutic Service for Children, Inc. MCG later amended its complaint to include AM Therapeutic Service as a defendant on July 12, 2023.
As the case progressed, the lower court, known as the Tribunal de Primera Instancia in Arecibo, issued a partial judgment on August 10, 2023, dismissing one of MCG's claims against Maestre Rivera. Dissatisfied with this ruling, MCG appealed to the Court of Appeals, which confirmed the lower court's decision on August 8, 2024. MCG then sought further review from the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, which denied the request but later reconsidered the case.
On March 12, 2025, the lower court sanctioned MCG's attorneys for allegedly concealing evidence during the deposition of Dr. Juan Villeta Trigo, an expert witness for Maestre Rivera. The court imposed a $500 fine on each of MCG's attorneys and prohibited the use of Dr. Trigo's deposition in the ongoing case. MCG argued that the sanctions were unjustified, claiming that there was no evidence to support the lower court's findings.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeals, which included Judge Pérez Ocasio and other judges, stated, "We conclude that the lower court did not err in law or abuse its discretion in sanctioning the petitioner and suppressing the deposition of the expert witness." The court emphasized that MCG failed to demonstrate that the lower court's actions would result in a failure of justice.
The court's decision underscores the importance of adhering to procedural rules in legal cases, especially concerning evidence disclosure. The ruling indicates that the court will not intervene in matters of evidence handling unless there is a clear demonstration of injustice. This ruling may serve as a precedent for future cases involving similar issues of evidence suppression and attorney conduct.
Moving forward, the implications of this ruling affect not only MCG Therapy Group LLC but also other entities involved in legal disputes where evidence handling is critical. The court's decision reinforces the need for attorneys to comply with discovery rules and to ensure that all relevant evidence is disclosed to avoid sanctions.
As for what’s next, it is unclear whether MCG will seek further appeal options. The possibility remains for MCG to pursue additional legal avenues, but details on any related cases or further actions were not available in the court filing.