UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO 

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In re 

THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND 

MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR PUERTO RICO, 

as representative of 

THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO et al., 

Debtors.1

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PROMESA 

Title III 

Case No. 17-BK-3283 (LTS) 

(Jointly Administered) 

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RESPONSE OF THE COFINA AGENT TO 

MOTION BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY 

AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) TO COMPEL 

COMPLIANCE WITH THE AUGUST 10, 2017 STIPULATION AND ORDER 

Bettina M. Whyte (the “COFINA Agent”), in her capacity as the Court-appointed 

representative for the Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation (“COFINA”), respectfully 

submits this response (the “Response”) to the Motion by the American Federation of State, 

County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) to Compel Compliance With the August 

10, 2017 Stipulation and Order [Docket No. 3092] (the “Motion”).2

 

1. The COFINA Agent submits this Response to refute the assertion by 

AFSCME that the COFINA Agent has acted improperly or in violation of the Stipulation. 

AFSCME recognizes that the COFINA Agent issued a press release on May 14, 2018 correcting 

 

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 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); and (v) Puerto Rico Electric Power 

Authority (“PREPA”) (Bankruptcy Case No. 17 BK 4780-LTS) (Last Four Digits of Federal Tax ID: 

3747). 2

 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Motion. 

Case:17-03283-LTS Doc#:3097 Filed:05/18/18 Entered:05/18/18 12:37:55 Desc: Main

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the inaccurate and unauthorized statement by the Ad Hoc Group of General Obligation 

Bondholders regarding the COFINA Agent’s position on the proposed settlement. Motion ¶ 12. 

But the Motion nevertheless suggests that the COFINA Agent has acted improperly and violated 

the Stipulation because she has not “denied or stated any objection to having been approached by 

the Supporting Parties.” Motion ¶ 14. 

2. The COFINA Agent cannot and will not provide any detailed responses to 

the assertions of the Motion because of the confidentiality requirements of the mediation process. 

However, throughout the mediation process, the COFINA Agent has acted appropriately, in good 

faith, and in a manner consistent with the Stipulation.3

 The Motion’s assertion to the contrary is 

baseless.4 The COFINA Agent has not violated (and will not violate) the Stipulation. 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank] 

 

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 Accordingly, the COFINA Agent is protected by the immunity granted by the Court for all actions of the 

COFINA Agent in connection with the litigation or mediation of the Commonwealth-COFINA Dispute. 

Case No. 17-3283, Docket No. 1612; Adv. Pro. No. 17-257, Docket No. 284. 4

 On the date hereof, counsel to the COFINA Agent wrote a letter to counsel for AFCSME formally 

requesting the amendment of the Motion to remove any suggestion that the COFINA Agent has violated 

the Stipulation or acted inappropriately. 

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Dated: May 18, 2018 

 New York, New York 

Respectfully submitted, 

By: /s/ Nilda M. Navarro-Cabrer 

Respectfully submitted, 

By: /s/ Matthew A. Feldman 

Nilda M. Navarro-Cabrer 

(USDC – PR No. 201212) 

NAVARRO-CABRER LAW 

OFFICES 

El Centro I, Suite 206 

500 Muñoz Rivera Avenue 

San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918 

Telephone: (787) 764-9595 

Facsimile: (787) 765-7575 

Email: navarro@navarrolawpr.com 

Local Counsel to the COFINA Agent 

Matthew A. Feldman (pro hac vice) 

Joseph G. Minias (pro hac vice) 

Antonio Yanez, Jr. (pro hac vice) 

Martin L. Seidel (pro hac vice) 

James C. Dugan (pro hac vice) 

Jeffrey B. Korn (pro hac vice) 

Paul V. Shalhoub (pro hac vice) 

Alexander Cheney (pro hac vice) 

WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP 

787 Seventh Avenue 

New York, New York 10019 

Telephone: (212) 728-8000 

Facsimile: (212) 728-8111 

Email: mfeldman@willkie.com 

jminias@willkie.com 

ayanez@willkie.com 

mseidel@willkie.com 

jdugan@willkie.com 

jkorn@willkie.com 

pshalhoub@willkie.com 

acheney@willkie.com 

Counsel to the COFINA Agent 

Kenneth N. Klee (pro hac vice) 

Daniel J. Bussel (pro hac vice) 

Jonathan M. Weiss (pro hac vice) 

KLEE, TUCHIN, BOGDANOFF & 

STERN LLP 

1999 Avenue of the Stars, 39th Floor 

Los Angeles, California 90067 

Telephone: (310) 407-4000 

Facsimile: (310) 407-9090 

Email: kklee@ktbslaw.com 

dbussel@ktbslaw.com 

jweiss@ktbslaw.com 

Special Municipal Bankruptcy 

Counsel to the COFINA Agent

Case:17-03283-LTS Doc#:3097 Filed:05/18/18 Entered:05/18/18 12:37:55 Desc: Main

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