The Puerto Rico Court of Appeals recently ruled on a case involving Learn and Grow Therapy Group, LLC (LGTG) and Amanda M. Cabán García, who alleged wrongful termination. The court dismissed LGTG's appeal regarding a sanction imposed for failing to comply with administrative orders. This decision affects LGTG and highlights the importance of adhering to procedural requirements in administrative hearings.

The case, identified as TA2026AP00403, began when Cabán García filed a complaint against LGTG on February 3, 2025. She claimed she was wrongfully terminated from her position. The complaint was filed with the Office of Mediation and Adjudication (OMA) of the Department of Labor and Human Resources in Puerto Rico. Following the filing, OMA scheduled a hearing for September 17, 2025, and required LGTG to respond to the complaint within ten days.

Initially, LGTG responded to the complaint on June 9, 2025. However, they failed to provide the necessary documentation to support their defense, prompting OMA to issue a resolution on June 11, 2025. This resolution required LGTG to submit the required documents within five days. LGTG later claimed that technical issues with their email provider resulted in delays in submitting the required information. Despite these claims, OMA imposed a $200 sanction on LGTG for non-compliance on October 23, 2025.

After multiple attempts to comply with OMA's orders, LGTG requested an extension to pay the imposed sanction on April 14, 2026. However, OMA denied this request and marked LGTG's non-compliance as 'rebellion,' scheduling a hearing for May 21, 2026, to address the issue. LGTG then appealed this decision to the Court of Appeals, arguing that OMA had acted improperly by imposing severe sanctions without proper notification and due process.

The court, led by Judge Trigo Ferraiuoli and joined by Judges Candelaria Rosa, Adames Soto, and Campos Pérez, examined the appeal. The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal because LGTG was not contesting a final administrative decision. The court stated, "In consideration of the above and to the extent that we were asked to review a resolution that is not final, this Court lacks jurisdiction to address the resource in the heading." This ruling means that the case will return to OMA for further proceedings.

This ruling emphasizes the importance of following procedural rules in administrative cases. LGTG's failure to comply with OMA's orders led to significant consequences, including the imposition of sanctions and the potential for their defense to be disregarded. The court's decision serves as a reminder for businesses and individuals involved in administrative proceedings to adhere to deadlines and requirements set forth by regulatory bodies.

Moving forward, this ruling impacts LGTG directly, as they must continue to engage with OMA to resolve the underlying wrongful termination complaint. The court's dismissal of the appeal does not resolve the original dispute between Cabán García and LGTG, meaning that the administrative process will continue. This case also highlights the need for clarity in administrative procedures and the potential repercussions of failing to comply with them.

As for what’s next, LGTG may still have the option to pursue further legal action, but they must first comply with the administrative processes set forth by OMA. The court's ruling does not prevent them from continuing to contest the wrongful termination claim; however, they must do so within the framework established by the OMA. Details were not available in the court filing regarding any related cases or potential appeals.