Case Digest (G.R. No. 219491)
Facts:
In Heirs of Eugenia V. Roxas, Inc. v. Boyer‐Roxas, G.R. No. 100866, decided on July 14, 1992, petitioners Rebecca Boyer‐Roxas and Guillermo Roxas, heirs and shareholders of Heirs of Eugenia V. Roxas, Inc. (the private respondent corporation), were sued in two consolidated ejectment actions before the Regional Trial Court of Laguna, Branch 37, Calamba, captioned RTC Civil Case Nos. 802-84-C and 803-84-C. The corporation alleged that petitioners occupied, without any lease, two residential houses—one near a swimming pool and another near a tennis court—along with an unfinished building, all constructed with corporate funds inside the Hidden Valley Springs Resort property in Limao, Calauan, Laguna, and that petitioners ignored demands to vacate and pay rental. Petitioners countered that as co‐owners of the resort property by blood and by virtue of their corporate shares, they had the right to remain. Despite numerous notices, petitioners and their counsel repeatedly failed to appeaCase Digest (G.R. No. 219491)
Facts:
- Parties and Causes of Action
- Heirs of Eugenia V. Roxas, Inc. (plaintiff) filed two ejectment suits:
- RTC Civil Case No. 802-84-C against Rebecca Boyer-Roxas
- RTC Civil Case No. 803-84-C against Guillermo Roxas
- Petitioners claimed co-ownership of Hidden Valley Springs Resort as heirs of Eugenia V. Roxas; respondent corporation alleged petitioners occupied corporate-owned houses by mere tolerance without paying rent.
- Background of Property Use and Improvements
- Hidden Valley Springs Resort, located in Limao, Calauan, Laguna, developed by respondent corporation on land covered by TCT No. 32639.
- Three buildings involved:
- Staff house near Balugbugan Pool occupied by Rebecca B. Roxas, built with corporate funds.
- Unfinished house erected by Rebecca and husband Eriberto Roxas, funded by the couple.
- Recreation hall converted into Guillermo Roxas’s residence, built with corporate funds and materials from a film producer.
- Procedural History
- RTC rendered judgment ordering:
- Ejectment of petitioners from respective houses
- Payment of P300/month occupancy rent from September 10, 1983
- Removal of unfinished building and P100/month rent for it
- Costs
- Court of Appeals affirmed. Petitioners filed petition for review with the Supreme Court.
Issues:
- Whether petitioners were denied due process by the gross negligence of their counsel.
- Whether the corporate veil should be pierced to recognize petitioners’ co-ownership rights over the resort properties.
- Whether the trial court erred in ordering petitioner Rebecca Boyer-Roxas to remove the unfinished building, notwithstanding her expenditure of personal funds.
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)