Automated Summary
Key Facts
Smart Appliances of PR, Inc. (Recurrente) contracted to install kitchen cabinets for Manuel Álvarez Torres (Recurrido) in March 2025. The cabinets were installed with defects including the sink window being covered and improper door closures. The DACo ruled in favor of Recurrido, ordering $9,477.50 plus $500 in legal fees. Smart Appliances appealed, arguing the DACo violated due process by failing to address their motion to reschedule the hearing. The appellate court revoked the DACo's decision, citing the due process violation and remanding the case for administrative proceedings.
Issues
- The DACo concluded the Recurrente failed to build cabinets to agreed specifications, particularly the window placement in the sink cabinet. The court did not rule on the merits due to the due process violation.
- The DACo imposed attorney's fees as part of the administrative decision. The court did not address the merits of this issue because the due process violation was sufficient to vacate the entire decision.
- The court determined the DACo violated due process by failing to resolve the motion to reschedule the hearing and then declaring the Recurrente in default, denying the opportunity to present evidence. This procedural error required the entire administrative decision to be vacated and the case returned to the administrative forum.
Holdings
The court determined that the DACo violated the Recurrente's due process rights by failing to rule on the motion for continuance of the administrative hearing, which was filed in a timely manner and for a valid reason (the representative being out of Puerto Rico). This denial prevented the Recurrente from presenting evidence to defend against the claims. Consequently, the court revoked the DACo's resolution dated September 25, 2025, and remanded the case to the administrative forum for further proceedings without addressing the underlying merits of the dispute.
Monetary Damages
9977.50
Legal Principles
- The court found that the DACo violated the Recurrente's due process rights by not resolving the motion to reschedule the hearing, leaving the Recurrente without an opportunity to present evidence in defense of the allegations.
- The court applied judicial review to administrative determinations, finding that the DACo violated due process by not resolving the Recurrente's motion to reschedule the hearing, and thus the administrative decision was nullified.
Precedent Name
- Vázquez et al v. DACo
- Katiria's Café v. Mun. de San Juan
- Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo
- Indulac v. Unión
- López Vives v. Policía de P.R.
- Almonte et al. v. Brito
- Transporte Sonnell, LLC v. Junta de Subastas ACT et al.
- Otero Rivera v. USAA Fed. Savs. Bank
- PVH Motor v. ASG
- Com. Elect PPD v. CEE et al.
- Pérez Ríos v. Hull Dobbs
- Katiría's Café, Inc. v. Municipio Autónomo de San Juan
Cited Statute
- Ley de Procedimiento Administrativo Uniforme (LPAU)
- Constitution of Puerto Rico
Judge Name
- Pagán Ocasio
- Álvarez Esnard
- Lebrón Nieves
Passage Text
- Ante este cuadro, somos del criterio de que el DACo violentó el debido proceso de ley de la Recurrente al no resolver la solicitud de reseñalamiento de vista administrativa radicada por esta parte y, por consiguiente, dejarla desprovista de su día en corte, impidiéndole presentar evidencia para defenderse de las alegaciones que pesaban en su contra.
- Por los fundamentos expuestos, revocamos el dictamen recurrido, y se devuelve el caso para la continuación de los procedimientos de conformidad con lo aquí resuelto.