230608 ORD RE PRO SE ENTITY OBJS VERSION JUNE 8, 2023 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO

In re:

THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND 

MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR PUERTO RICO,

as representative of

THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO et al.,

Debtors.1

PROMESA

Title III

Case No. 17 BK 3283-LTS

(Jointly Administered)

In re:

THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND 

MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR PUERTO RICO,

as representative of

PUERTO RICO ELECTRIC POWER AUTHORITY,

Debtor.

PROMESA

Title III

Case No. 17 BK 4780-LTS

ORDER CONCERNING CERTAIN PRO SE OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSED PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT 

The Court notes that it has received objections to the proposed plan of adjustment 

in the Title III case of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority that purport to be filed by 

corporate entities not represented by a lawyer. (See, e.g., Docket Entry No. 3593 in Case No. 

17-4780 (filed by Rubén Francisco Irizarry Alcaraz on behalf of Tintillo Franchise and 

Associates, Inc.); Docket Entry No. 3594 in Case No. 17-4780 (filed by Rubén Francisco Irizarry 

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 (Bankruptcy Case No. 17-BK3283-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).

Case:17-03283-LTS Doc#:24451 Filed:06/08/23 Entered:06/08/23 10:17:48 Desc: Main

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230608 ORD RE PRO SE ENTITY OBJS VERSION JUNE 8, 2023 2

Alcaraz on behalf of Isla Verde Mall, S.E.); Docket Entry No. 3608 in Case No. 17-4780 (filed 

by Marly D. Díaz on behalf of Studio Urban View LLC). 

Applicable law precludes business entities from appearing in this proceeding 

without counsel, as they are not natural persons. Rowland v. California Men’s Colony, 506 U.S. 

194, 202-03 (1993) (explaining that corporations and other artificial entities can only appear in 

federal court through licensed counsel). The Court therefore will not consider pleadings filed on 

behalf of corporations or other business entities by individuals who are not lawyers.

SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 8, 2023

 /s/ Laura Taylor Swain 

LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN 

United States District Judge

Case:17-03283-LTS Doc#:24451 Filed:06/08/23 Entered:06/08/23 10:17:48 Desc: Main

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