Alonso Rodriguez, Edwin v. Mayaguez Resort & Casino, Inc.
KLCE202401393
Tribunal De Apelaciones De Pue...Feb 27, 2025Background
- Edwin Alonso Rodríguez, as executor of the estate of Santos Alonso Maldonado, and S.A. Properties, Inc. (collectively, petitioners), filed lawsuits against Mayagüez Resort & Casino (MRC) for breach of lease agreements and collection of unpaid rent.
- The cases were consolidated before the Court of First Instance, Mayagüez.
- During discovery, MRC subpoenaed the petitioners' accounting firm for documents related to audits since 2007.
- Petitioners sought a protective order, arguing that the requested information was irrelevant and protected by the accountant-client privilege under Puerto Rico law.
- The trial court denied the protective order, finding the information pertinent to the case.
- Petitioners appealed by certiorari, arguing abuse of discretion and violation of the accountant-client privilege.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery scope re: audit documents | Information irrelevant and privileged under CPA-client rules | Information is pertinent; privilege doesn't apply | Denied; trial court did not abuse discretion |
| Invocation of accountant-client privilege | Privilege shields communications from disclosure | Privilege is inapplicable to the facts here | Privilege did not warrant protective order here |
| Abuse of discretion by trial court | Court ignored clear privilege and precedent | Court properly applied relevance and rules | No abuse; threshold for intervention not met |
| Certiorari standard for interlocutory review | Situation merits immediate appellate intervention | No urgent injustice justifying appellate review | Certiorari denied; wait for appeal after judgment |
Key Cases Cited
- Rivera y otros v. Bco. Popular, 152 DPR 140 (P.R. 2000) (describes appellate standards for reviewing discretion of trial courts in discovery issues)
- Torres González v. Zaragoza Meléndez, 211 DPR 821 (P.R. 2023) (explains broad and liberal scope of discovery in Puerto Rico civil litigation)
- Mcneil Healthcare v. Mun. Las Piedras II, 206 DPR 659 (P.R. 2021) (expounds on the purposes and utility of discovery mechanisms)
- Coop. de Seguros Múltiples de P.R. v. Lugo, 136 DPR 203 (P.R. 1994) (outlines when appellate courts may intervene in discretionary rulings)