230224 ORD RE PROCEDURES MARCH OMNI VERSION FEBRUARY 24, 2023 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO

------------------------------------------------------------x

In re: PROMESA

Title III

THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND

MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR PUERTO RICO,

as representative of No. 17 BK 3283-LTS

THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO (Jointly Administered)

et al.,

Debtors.1

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ORDER REGARDING PROCEDURES FOR MARCH 15-16, 2023, OMNIBUS HEARING

The Court will conduct an omnibus hearing on certain motions in the abovecaptioned cases and related adversary proceedings (the “Hearing”) on March 15, 2023, from 

9:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time), resume if necessary from 2:10 p.m. to 5:00 

p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time), and continue if necessary on March 16, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. 

(Atlantic Standard Time). The Court will conduct the Hearing virtually using 

1 The Debtors in these Title III Cases, along with each Debtor’s respective Title III case 

number and the last four (4) digits of each Debtor’s federal tax identification number, as 

applicable, are the (i) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (the “Commonwealth”) 

(Bankruptcy Case No. 17-BK-3283-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3481); 

(ii) Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation (“COFINA”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17-

BK-3284-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 8474); (iii) Puerto Rico Highways 

and Transportation Authority (“HTA”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17-BK-3567-LTS) (Last 

Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3808); (iv) Employees Retirement System of the 

Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (“ERS”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17-

BK-3566-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 9686); (v) Puerto Rico Electric 

Power Authority (“PREPA”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17-BK-4780-LTS) (Last Four Digits 

of Federal Tax ID: 3747); and (vi) Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority (“PBA”) 

(Bankruptcy Case No. 19-BK-5523-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 3801) 

(Title III case numbers are listed as Bankruptcy Case numbers due to software 

limitations).

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230224 ORD RE PROCEDURES MARCH OMNI VERSION FEBRUARY 24, 2023 2

videoconferencing and telephonic platforms as set forth herein. The Hearing shall be governed 

by the following procedures. 

Registration for Videoconference, and Listen-In Facilities for Attorneys, Members of the 

Public and Press

1. Videoconferencing via Zoom. The Court will conduct the Hearing using 

the audio and video features of the Zoom platform as a virtual courtroom. An invitation to 

register will be sent by the Court to Hearing participants who have registered their appearance by 

filing an Informative Motion in accordance with paragraph 3 below. Parties must respond to the 

invitation to register for Zoom access and will automatically receive the link and relevant login 

information to join the virtual proceeding. To optimize performance of the Zoom platform and 

in the interest of avoiding excessive billing of fees, the Financial Oversight and Management 

Board for Puerto Rico (the “Oversight Board”) and the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial 

Advisory Authority (“AAFAF”) shall each be limited to four attorneys appearing in the Zoom 

session at any given time, and each other Party (as defined in paragraph 3(a) below) will be 

limited to two attorneys appearing in the Zoom session at any given time. Only persons who 

are identified in properly submitted Zoom registration documents, including a Party 

Appearance Sheet, will be permitted to appear at the Hearing. Counsel who have already 

filed a pretrial informative motion, including a Party Appearance Sheet are not required to refile 

a new informative motion. Recording and retransmission of the proceedings by any means are 

prohibited. All proceedings will be conducted in the English language as required by law. 48 

U.S.C. § 864. No interpretation services will be provided by the Court for the Hearing. 

2. Listen-Only Public Access to the Hearing. Members of the public, 

press, and attorneys may listen to but not participate in the Hearing by dialing (888) 363-4749, 

and, when prompted, entering the access code (7214978) and security code (7533) for listen-only 

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230224 ORD RE PROCEDURES MARCH OMNI VERSION FEBRUARY 24, 2023 3

access. This telephonic access line for the press and the general public will be in listen-only 

mode at all times. Recording and retransmission of the proceedings by any means 

are prohibited. 

Party Informative Motion and Exhibit List Procedures

3. Party Informative Motion and Party Appearance Cover Sheet. In 

accordance with paragraph 1, a Party must file an informative motion by March 9, 2023, at 1:00 

p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time). Each Informative Motion must be accompanied by a Party 

Appearance Cover Sheet. Counsel may select one method of appearance for each attorney 

appearing at the Hearing. Thereafter, counsel must file an Amended Party Appearance Cover 

Sheet to change the method of appearance. 

a. Party Appearance Sheet. Counsel for any Party that wishes to participate at 

the Hearing must register an appearance by completing the Party Appearance Sheet (Exhibit A to 

this Order). Counsel must identify: (i) the Party for which they intend to appear; and (ii) the 

name(s), email address(es) for those attorney(s) who wish to participate in the Hearing. 

b. Exhibit List Procedures and Exhibit Cover Sheet. Exhibit lists are due by 

March 9, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time). Each Party must follow the below 

instructions for filing the Exhibit List.

i. Each Party is directed to file an Exhibit List using the CM/ECF event 

“Motion Submitting.” 

ii. Each Party must upload each exhibit as a separate attachment to the 

Exhibit List. Hyperlinks may not be used in lieu of uploading an exhibit.

iii. The Exhibit List is intended to be a single filing (with multiple exhibits). 

If your Exhibit List and attachments exceed the upload capacity of 

CM/ECF,2 you may divide your submission into multiple filings. 

2 The maximum capacity of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico 

CM/ECF System is 20 MB for a single filing. 

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230224 ORD RE PROCEDURES MARCH OMNI VERSION FEBRUARY 24, 2023 4

A. Large Exhibits. If a single exhibit is too large to file, Parties shall 

divide the exhibit into separate attachments. In this scenario, the 

Party assigns each part of the exhibit the same exhibit letter or 

number, and types in the text field “Part 1 of [Total Number].” 

Parties must select the same exhibit letter or number to indicate to 

the Court that an uploaded exhibit is continued in the next 

attachment. For example, if “Party ABC” needs to divide 

Exhibit C into 3 attachments due to its size, “Party ABC” will 

upload and designate the exhibit as follows: Exhibit C: “Part 1 of 

3,” the next attachment as Exhibit C “Part 2 of 3,” and the final 

attachment as Exhibit C “Part 3 of 3.” The next attachment will 

then proceed to Exhibit D.

B. Multiple Filings. If a group of exhibits reaches the 20MB 

capacity for a single CM/ECF filing, parties must continue to file 

their exhibits by starting a new filing. Parties will again select the 

“Motion Submitting” CM/ECF Activity when filing the next set of 

exhibits. The main document for a continued filing should be 

titled “Continued Exhibits of [Party Name]” and may include a list 

of the exhibits attached to that single filing.

iv. Requests to Seal Certain Exhibits. A Party who has included an exhibit 

on their Exhibit List that is subject to a sealing application must file a 

placeholder for the exhibit, clearly marked as such. The placeholder 

document can simply state “Exhibit Name, Exhibit Brief Description, 

Party [Name] will file a Motion to Seal regarding Exhibit [Letter].” The 

Party must still select the exhibit letter corresponding to the exhibit and 

type in the text field “SEALED Exhibit [Letter].” 

A. When a Party files a motion to seal, the Party must select the 

CM/ECF designation “MOTION TO SEAL” or “URGENT 

MOTION TO SEAL.” This is the only CM/ECF Designation that 

allows the Clerk’s Office to unseal the document at a later date. 

Failure to select the appropriate designation will result in a 

deficient filing notification and/or termination of the motion. 

The Exhibit Cover Sheet must include all docket entry numbers for each exhibit 

that was previously filed in connection with the Exhibit List. Thus, a Party is only able to 

complete the Exhibit Cover Sheet after the Party has filed their Exhibit List. 

4. Agenda. In anticipation of the Hearing, the Debtors shall file an agenda 

outlining the matters to be addressed and the projected timetable for the Hearing by March 13, 

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230224 ORD RE PROCEDURES MARCH OMNI VERSION FEBRUARY 24, 2023 5

2023, in accordance with the Sixteenth Amended Case Management Procedures and Order 

Granting Motion for Entry of an Order Approving Procedures and Establishing Schedule for 

Approval of Qualifying Modification for the Puerto Rico Public Finance Corporation. (See

Docket Entry No. 20190-1 § III.M.) Debtors’ counsel shall file a revised agenda on March 14, 

2023, if circumstances have changed or if requested to do so by the Court. Debtors’ counsel 

shall email a proposed agenda, including preliminary time allocations, to the Court by March 

10, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time). 

a. Omnibus Hearing Agenda. The agenda shall include: (a) the names of the 

individuals who intend to appear and speak on behalf of each relevant Party in connection with 

each motion or report; (b) the order in which the parties to the relevant motion shall present 

argument; and (c) time allocations for each Party. 

b. Status Reports. The Oversight Board and AAFAF shall file written status 

reports by 5:00 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time) on March 14, 2023. The Oversight Board’s 

report shall address: (a) the general status and activities of the Oversight Board, including 

measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; (b) the general status of relations among 

the Oversight Board and the Commonwealth and federal governments; (c) the general status of 

the ADR and ACR processes, including the anticipated number of matters to be directed into the 

ADR process and anticipated timetable for initiation of ADR procedures with respect to such 

matters; and (d) the anticipated timing and volume of objections to claims. AAFAF shall 

provide a general status report on its status and activities, including an overview of the 

Commonwealth’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Omni Hearing, the 

Court will ask counsel to the Oversight Board and AAFAF to respond to questions and 

comments, if any, related to their respective status reports.

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5. Exhibits or Demonstratives. To the extent that a Party intends to rely on 

exhibits and/or demonstratives at the Hearing, the party shall file a separate informative motion 

using the Exhibit Cover Sheet (the form of which is attached as Exhibit B to this Order) by 3:00 

p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time) on March 9, 2023. The informative motion must include (i) the 

Exhibit Cover Sheet and (ii) each exhibit and/or demonstrative as a separate, text searchable 

attachment. The naming convention of each exhibit must adhere to the specifications indicated 

on the Exhibit Cover Sheet. 

6. Courtroom Procedures. All persons granted remote access to the Hearing

are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of 

court proceedings. Violation of this prohibition may result in sanctions, including removal of 

court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future 

hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. The formalities of a courtroom 

must be observed. When appearing by Zoom, counsel must be situated in such a manner as to be 

able to view the video screen and be seen by the Court. Each Party is strongly encouraged to 

utilize a headset to optimize audio quality and reduce background noise. Each Party’s camera 

must be turned on when addressing the Court or examining a Remote Witness. No Party is 

permitted to join the Zoom proceeding by phone. Those appearing by Zoom may be removed 

from the virtual courtroom if they do not comply with this Order. During the Hearing, 

individuals who are registered to participate via Zoom are directed to observe the following 

rules:

a. The following naming conventions must be used by Zoom participants for 

admission to the Zoom virtual courtroom.3

 For example: 

3 Parties must change their Zoom name before entering the waiting room.

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230224 ORD RE PROCEDURES MARCH OMNI VERSION FEBRUARY 24, 2023 7

i. Attorney participants: [Party Represented (abbreviations may be 

used)] / [Last Name of Attorney, First Name of Attorney] / [Law 

Firm/Government Office].

a. PARTY A / Doe, John / ABC Law Firm, or

b. XYZ Agency/ Doe, Jane / Office of the ABC Government

ii. Remote Witnesses: Witness / [Last Name, First Name].

a. For example, Witness / Doe, John (PhD)

b. Identify yourself if asked to do so.

c. Identify yourself by name each time you speak.

d. Mute yourself when you are not speaking to eliminate background noise. 

e. Turn off your video unless you are speaking or otherwise directly involved 

in the argument or examination, unless the Court directs otherwise.

SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 24, 2023

 /s/ Laura Taylor Swain

LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN

United States District Judge

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