Title
Amecos Innovations, Inc. vs. Lopez
Case
G.R. No. 178055
Decision Date
Jul 2, 2014
Amecos sued Lopez for SSS contribution reimbursement; court ruled labor tribunals have jurisdiction, dismissing claims due to lack of valid cause.
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Case Digest (G.R. No. 178055)

Facts:

Background of the Case:

  • Petitioner Amecos Innovations, Inc. (Amecos) is a corporation engaged in selling products created by its President, Antonio F. Mateo (Mateo). Respondent Eliza R. Lopez (Lopez) was hired as a Marketing Assistant by Amecos on January 15, 2001.

SSS Contribution Issue:

  • Upon hiring, Lopez refused to provide her SSS number and declined to have her SSS contributions deducted from her salary. Consequently, Amecos did not enroll her with the SSS or deduct her contributions during her employment, which lasted until her termination in February 2002.

SSS Complaint and Settlement:

  • On May 30, 2003, Amecos received a subpoena from the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office regarding a complaint filed by the Social Security System (SSS) for non-remittance of SSS contributions and penalties. Amecos attributed this failure to Lopez’s refusal to provide her SSS number.
  • Amecos eventually settled its obligations with the SSS, and the SSS withdrew its complaint.

Demand for Reimbursement:

  • Petitioners sent a demand letter to Lopez for P27,791.65, representing her share of the SSS contributions and processing expenses. Lopez did not comply, prompting petitioners to file a Complaint for sum of money and damages before the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) of Caloocan City.

Lopez’s Defense:

  • Lopez filed an Answer with Motion to Dismiss, claiming that Amecos deliberately failed to deduct and remit her SSS contributions. She also argued that the case arose from an employer-employee relationship, placing it under the jurisdiction of labor tribunals, not regular courts.

Issue:

  1. Jurisdiction Over Claims for Reimbursement:

    • Whether the regular civil court, rather than the Labor Arbiter or the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), has jurisdiction over claims for reimbursement arising from employer-employee relations.
  2. Jurisdiction Over Claims for Damages for Misrepresentation:

    • Whether the regular civil court, rather than the Labor Arbiter or the NLRC, has jurisdiction over claims for damages for misrepresentation arising from employer-employee relations.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Conclusion:

The Court upheld the dismissal of the Complaint, ruling that jurisdiction lies with the Labor Arbiter and that petitioners had no valid cause of action against Lopez. The assailed Resolutions of the Court of Appeals were affirmed.


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