González-Pérez v. Hospital Interamericano De Medicina Avanzada (HIMA)

**What Happened** Hospital employee González-Pérez sued his employer, Hospital Interamericano de Medicina Avanzada (HIMA), and Dr. López for medical malpractice. The worker claimed he was injured due to medical negligence, but he waited too long to file his lawsuit after discovering the injury and identifying who caused it. **What the Court Decided** The court ruled against González-Pérez and dismissed his case entirely. The judge found that the worker had missed Puerto Rico's strict one-year deadline for filing medical malpractice lawsuits. Since González-Pérez knew about his injury and who was responsible well before he actually filed his complaint in court, his case was "time-barred" - meaning he had run out of time to sue. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights a crucial lesson: workers who believe they've been harmed by medical malpractice have very limited time to take legal action. In Puerto Rico, you only have one year from when you discover an injury and its cause to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline means losing your right to seek compensation, regardless of how strong your case might be. Workers should act quickly and consult with legal professionals immediately after discovering potential malpractice.