The Puerto Rico Court of Appeals recently ruled against MCG Therapy Group LLC in a case concerning the disqualification of a judge overseeing their ongoing litigation. This decision, made on June 25, 2026, affects MCG Therapy Group and its legal representatives, who had sought to remove Judge Jorge Raíces Román from the case due to alleged bias. The ruling emphasizes the importance of judicial impartiality and the standards for disqualifying judges in Puerto Rico.

The dispute began when MCG Therapy Group filed a lawsuit against Arlene Maestre Rivera, a therapist who provides services to special education students, on April 3, 2023. The lawsuit included claims of breach of contract, damages, and tortious interference. The case took a complicated turn as MCG amended its complaint to include AM Therapeutic Service for Children, Inc., on July 12, 2023. Following various procedural incidents, the First Instance Court in Arecibo issued a partial judgment on August 10, 2023, dismissing one of the claims against Maestre Rivera. MCG was unhappy with this decision and appealed it on October 27, 2023.

After a series of legal proceedings, including a denial of a certiorari request by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, the case continued to be contentious. On March 11, 2025, the First Instance Court sanctioned MCG's legal representatives for allegedly concealing evidence. The court subsequently disqualified two of MCG's attorneys, leading to MCG's request for the disqualification of Judge Raíces Román on April 21, 2025. MCG claimed that the judge exhibited a pattern of biased expressions against them, which resulted in sanctions and disqualification of their lawyers. The First Instance Court denied this request on April 28, 2025, and the Administrative Judge of the Arecibo Judicial Region upheld this decision on May 13, 2025.

In the recent ruling, the Court of Appeals, led by Judge Pérez Ocasio, examined MCG's claims and ultimately decided not to grant the request for disqualification. The court stated, "We have not perceived prejudice, error, or partiality in the determination of the Recurring Forum." This ruling indicates that the court found no substantial basis to question the judge's impartiality based on the evidence presented by MCG.

The court's decision underscores the legal standards for disqualifying a judge in Puerto Rico. It highlighted that a judge must be disqualified if there is evidence of bias or prejudice that could undermine the fairness of the proceedings. However, the court also noted that disqualification requests must demonstrate a significant risk of an irreparable failure of justice for them to be granted.

This ruling may have significant implications for MCG Therapy Group as it continues its legal battle against Maestre Rivera and AM Therapeutic Service. The denial of the disqualification request means that Judge Raíces Román will remain on the case, which could affect MCG's strategy moving forward. The ruling also reinforces the standards for judicial conduct and the importance of maintaining public confidence in the judicial system.

Looking ahead, MCG Therapy Group may still pursue further legal options, including appealing the ruling to a higher court if they believe there are grounds to do so. However, the court's decision to deny the disqualification request suggests that MCG will need to present compelling evidence of bias or prejudice if they wish to challenge the ruling further. Meanwhile, the ongoing litigation between MCG and Maestre Rivera will continue, with the current judge presiding over the case.