Biography
Jan E. Ortiz Dechoudens is an Associate in the Litigation Department at O’Neill & Borges LLC. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, including disputes arising under Puerto Rico’s Sales Representatives Act (Act 21), insurance claims, commercial sales, and contract disputes. Jan has successfully represented clients in complex business and insurance matters, obtaining favorable results through cost-effective litigation strategies, including complaint dismissals and summary judgments.
Before joining O’Neill & Borges in 2022, Jan clerked for Hon. Jay A. García Gregory at the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and Hon. Mildred Cabán at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico. He also served as a Teacher’s Assistant to Dean Vivian I. Neptune Rivera at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law, with whom he co-authored Derecho Probatorio, 91 Rev. Jur. U.P.R. 489 (2022). Jan earned his Juris Doctor degree summa cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law and then achieved the highest score in the Puerto Rico Bar Exam of September 2022. These academic and professional experiences deepened his understanding of judicial reasoning, evidentiary standards, and procedural issues, insights he now applies to advance his clients’ interests in high-stakes commercial disputes.
Jan has participated in multiple trials, including Consejo de Titulares del Condominio de Diego 444 v. MAPFRE PRAICO Insurance Company, Case No. SJ2019CV09012, in which he helped secure a landmark $3.8 million judgment for the client, a condominium association, after the insurer significantly underestimated Hurricane María damages. The court’s 110-page opinion addressed issues of first impression under Puerto Rico law, including the admissibility of extrapolation of damages as circumstantial evidence and coverage under an Ordinance or Law endorsement. The decision has had a significant impact on insurance litigation in Puerto Rico, providing important precedent for similar claims.
Drawing on his strong analytical background, trial experience, and strategic approach to litigation, Jan is committed to achieving effective and efficient results for his clients. His work reflects a careful balance between vigorous advocacy and practical problem-solving, ensuring that each case is handled with precision and aligned with his clients’ business objectives.