Bloomberg Law
Nov. 8, 2021, 4:29 PM

Puerto Rico Hearings Start With $1 Billion Bankruptcy Fees (1)

Michelle Kaske
Michelle Kaske
Bloomberg News
Steven Church
Steven Church
Bloomberg News

Puerto Rico is making its case in bankruptcy court for a plan to slash billions of dollars in debt, an expensive process that has so far racked up nearly $1 billion in legal and professional fees that island residents will pay.

Hurricanes, earthquakes, ousting a governor from office and the coronavirus pandemic have prolonged the commonwealth’s bankruptcy to more than four years, adding to its costs and keeping the island under a cloud of default.

Now that may finally change as U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain began confirmation hearings Monday on Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring plan that eases ...