Case Digest (G.R. No. 58028)
Facts:
Chiang Kai Shek School v. Court of Appeals and Faustina Franco Oh, G.R. No. 58028. April 18, 1989. Supreme Court First Division; Cruz, J., writing for the Court.In the first week of July 1968 Fausta F. Oh (private respondent) reported for work at the Chiang Kai Shek School in Sorsogon and was told she had no assignment for the next semester after nearly 33 continuous years of teaching (since 1932). Shocked, she filed suit claiming separation pay, social security benefits, salary differentials, maternity benefits, and moral and exemplary damages against the school. The school moved to dismiss asserting it could not be sued; the complaint was amended to implead certain school officials as solidary defendants.
The Court of First Instance (CFI) of Sorsogon (presided by Judge Ubaldo Y. Arcangel) dismissed the complaint. On appeal the Court of Appeals (ponente Zosa, J., with Escolin and Paras, E., JJ., concurring) set aside the CFI decision, held the school suable and liable, and absolved the individually impleaded defendants. The CA denied the school's motion for reconsideration.
The petitioner brought this petition for review on certiorari to the Supreme Court under Rule 45, assailing the Court of Ap...(Pro-only)
Issues:
- May an unincorporated private school that has long been recognized and has continuously existed be sued in its corporate name?
- Does a complaint against persons associated under a common name justify a judgment against the association itself rather than only against individual members?
- Does the collection of tuition fees and book rentals render a school profit-making and therefore bar charitable-status defenses?
- Was the private respondent, employed on year-to-year contracts, entitled to protection under the Termination Pay Law (security of tenure)?
- Were the awards of separation pay, moral damages and exemplary dam...(Pro-only)
Ruling:
- (Pro-only)
Ratio:
- (Pro-only)
Doctrine:
- (Pro-only)