Torres-Maldonado v. Ruiz-Quijano, 3:08-cv-01878

Plaintiffs Torres-Maldonado, Sanchez, and their conjugal partnership filed a diversity tort claim under Puerto Rico law (Art. 1802/1803) for alleged negligent medical treatment causing penile amputation.
Co-defendant Bellver was alleged to have provided care and allegedly failed to accurately diagnose and treat Torres's condition.
Bellver counterclaimed for damages arising from the plaintiffs' allegedly meritless claim, including potential insurance premium increases.
Plaintiffs moved to dismiss Bellver's counterclaim for lack of a cognizable remedy for frivolous claims under Puerto Rico law.
The court granted the motion to dismiss Bellver's counterclaim with prejudice after applying Puerto Rico law on frivolous suits and the standards for tort claims.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether frivolous civil suits give a cognizable damages remedy under Puerto Rico law	Bellver argues Article 1802 damages apply	Bellver seeks damages for frivolous suit under Article 1802	Counterclaim are dismissed; no per se frivolous-suit damages under PR law.

Gimenez Alvarez v. Silen Maldonado, 131 D.P.R. 91 (1992) (per se civil damages for frivolous suits does not exist in Puerto Rico)
Pereira v. Hernández, 83 P.R.R. 156 (1961) (general rule; damages for improper use of proceedings limited to costs/fees)
Silen v. Commonwealth Loan Corp., 131 D.P.R. 96 (1992) (no per se civil damages remedy for frivolous civil suit)
Vazquez-Filippetti v. Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, 504 F.3d 43 (1st Cir. 2007) (tolling standard: plausible entitlement to relief and necessity of factual support)
Beves-Cardona v. J.C. Penney Co., Inc., 694 F.2d 894 (1st Cir. 1982) (recklessness/bad faith required for tort claim based on filing of prior suit)
Reyes-Cardona v. JC Penney & Co., Inc., 694 F.2d 894 (1st Cir. 1982) (necessity of showing intent or malice to sustain related tort)