Case Digest (G.R. No. L-24664)
Facts:
- The case involves Corazon Alegre and thirteen other plaintiffs (plaintiffs-appellants) against Victorina G. de Laperal (defendant-appellee).
- The dispute centers on a landlord-tenant relationship regarding several apartment units owned by the defendant in Manila.
- The plaintiffs had been tenants for approximately three years before the dispute.
- On October 27, 1964, the defendant notified the plaintiffs of an increase in rental rates effective January 1, 1965.
- The plaintiffs refused to accept the increase or vacate the premises and judicially consigned the old rental amounts on January 5, 1965.
- They filed a complaint in the Court of First Instance of Manila, seeking to compel the defendant to accept the old rates, fix lease duration, and award damages.
- The defendant argued that the lease agreements were month-to-month, allowing her to increase rent monthly.
- The lower court dismissed the plaintiffs' complaint on April 30, 1965, ordering them to vacate and pay back rentals at the old rates for thirty days.
- The plaintiffs appealed on May 7, 1965, and amended their notice on May 24, 1965.
- The defendant moved for execution of the judgment on May 29, 1965, citing the plaintiffs' failure to deposit required rentals.
- The court allowed execution on June 26, 1965, despite the pending appeal, and the plaintiffs sought a writ of preliminary injunction from the Supreme Court, which was denied.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's ruling that the lease contract was for a definite period.
- The Court ruled that the lower court did not err in failing to take judicial notice of the ordinance due to lack of competent evidence regarding the property's assessed value.
- The dismissal of the plaintiffs...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court reasoned that the lease agreements were for a definite period, allowing the defendant to increase rent monthly.
- The plaintiffs' claim that the lease was not fixed was unfounded; Article 1687 of the Civil Code grants discretion to fix a longer term, which the plaintiffs did not demonstrate was abused.
- The case was initiat...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. L-24664)
Facts:
The case involves Corazon Alegre and thirteen other plaintiffs (hereinafter referred to as "plaintiffs-appellants") against Victorina G. de Laperal (hereinafter referred to as "defendant-appellee"). The dispute arose from a landlord-tenant relationship concerning several apartment units owned by the defendant located at the corner of Vision Street and Dimasalang Street, Aurora Boulevard, Manila. The plaintiffs had been tenants of the defendant for approximately three years prior to the events leading to the case. On October 27, 1964, the defendant notified the plaintiffs that starting January 1, 1965, they would be required to pay increased rental rates. The plaintiffs, however, refused to accept the increase or vacate the premises. Instead, on January 5, 1965, they judicially consigned the old rental amounts and filed a complaint in the Court of First Instance of Manila. They sought a court order for the defendant to accept the old rental rates, to fix the duration of their lease contracts, and to award damages.
In her answer, the defendant contended that the lease agreements were for a fixed term on a month-to-month basis, allowing her to increase the rent at the end of each month. The lower court, after due proceedings, dismissed the plaintiffs' complaint on April 30, 1965, ordering them to vacate the premises and to pay back rentals at the old rates for thirty days following the judgment, after which they would be liable for the increased rates. The plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal on May 7, 1965, which was amended on May 24, 1965. On May 29, 1965, the defendant moved for the execution of the judgment, citing the plaintiffs' failure to deposit the required monthly rentals. The court allowed the ex...