Case Digest (G.R. No. L-22569)
Facts:
- Plaintiff, Felicisimo Enorme, filed a complaint for the refund of his contributions amounting to P237.60, damages, and attorney's fees totaling P4,500.00.
- The municipal court of Gubat, Sorsogon dismissed the complaint due to lack of jurisdiction, as the matter fell under the exclusive power and jurisdiction of the Social Security Commission.
- Enorme appealed the dismissal to the Court of First Instance of Sorsogon, but the court also affirmed the lack of jurisdiction and dismissed the case.
Issue:
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Ruling:
- The Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of Enor...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Social Security Commission has the exclusive power to adjudicate and settle all disputed claims under the Social Security Act.
- The aggrieved party must exhaust administrative remedies before seeking judicial review.
- The decision of the Social Security Commission is appealable directly to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court.
- The procedure on appeal set forth in the Social Security Act must be followed.
- Judicial tribunals below the Court of Appeals lack jurisdiction in Social Security cases.
- The statutory purpose of the Social Security System includes settling claims in an expeditious manner.
- Requiring the party alleging grievance to go through the judicial ladder starting from the lowest rung may frustrate the objec...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. L-22569)
Facts:
The case of Enorme v. Social Security System involves the plaintiff, Felicisimo Enorme, who filed a complaint in the municipal court of Gubat, Sorsogon, seeking a refund of his contributions amounting to P237.60. He also claimed damages and attorney's fees totaling P4,500.00. However, the municipal court declined to act on the case due to a jurisdictional question. As a result, the case was elevated to the court of first instance, where it was eventually dismissed. Unsatisfied with the dismissal, the plaintiff appealed the case to the Supreme Court.
Issue:
The main issue raised in the case is whether the lower courts have jurisdiction over Social Security cases and if the plaintiff should have exhausted administrative remedies before filing a judicial action.
Ruling:
The Supreme Court ruled that the lower court's dismissal of the case was proper. The court explained that the Social Security Act specifies that the decision of the Social Security System on any disputed matter may be reviewed by the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court. Therefore, the court emphasized that the procedu...