Case Digest (G.R. No. 119092) Core Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
The case Sanitary Steam Laundry, Inc. v. Court of Appeals et al. (G.R. No. 119092, December 10, 1998) arises from a vehicular accident on August 31, 1980, at Aguinaldo Highway in Imus, Cavite. Petitioner Sanitary Steam Laundry, Inc. owned a Mercedes Benz panel truck driven by Herman Hernandez, and respondent parties included Nicanor Bernabe III, Josefina Bernabe, and other heirs and injured passengers of a Cimarron vehicle involved in the accident. The Cimarron, driven by Rolando Hernandez, was carrying employees and family members of Project Management Consultants, Inc. (PMCI) returning from an excursion. While traveling in opposite directions, petitioner’s panel truck allegedly swerved to the left after its driver braked suddenly to avoid a jeepney in front. This maneuver caused the panel truck to encroach upon the Cimarron's lane, resulting in a collision that killed the Cimarron's driver and two passengers and injured several others. The heirs of the deceased and in
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Case Digest (G.R. No. 119092) Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
- Parties and Background
- Petitioner: Sanitary Steam Laundry, Inc.
- Respondents: The heirs and individual capacities of Jason Bernabe, John Joseph Bernabe, Victor Ignacio, Julieta Enriquez, Ramon Enriquez, Rene Tablante, Leomar Macaspac Jr., Charito Estolano, Nenita Salunoy, and others.
- Incident: A collision involving petitioner’s Mercedes Benz panel truck and a Cimarron vehicle. The accident occurred on August 31, 1980, at Aguinaldo Highway, Imus, Cavite.
- Details of the Accident and Victims
- All victims were passengers of the Cimarron vehicle, including the driver, Rolando Hernandez, who died.
- Three persons died: Driver Rolando Hernandez, Jason Bernabe, and Dalmacio Salunoy. Several others were injured.
- The Cimarron was traveling back to Manila from Lian, Batangas, carrying mostly employees of Project Management Consultants, Inc. (PMCI) and their families/friends.
- The panel truck was headed to petitioner’s plant in Dasmariñas, Cavite, after a delivery to Makati Medical Center.
- Circumstances of the Collision
- The panel truck driver, Herman Hernandez, claimed he braked suddenly due to a jeepney ahead stopping, causing his vehicle to swerve left and encroach partially into the opposite lane.
- Petitioner’s vehicle collided with the Cimarron while on the Cimarron’s lane.
- Legal Proceedings
- A civil case was filed on December 4, 1980, by the respondents in Court of First Instance of Rizal, Pasig Branch, later transferred to RTC Makati.
- On November 23, 1990, RTC Makati found petitioner liable for damages amounting to P472,262.30 and attorney’s fees of P50,000.00.
- The Court of Appeals affirmed the decision in 1995.
- Petitioner sought review with the Supreme Court contesting liability and damages awarded.
Issues:
- Whether petitioner’s panel truck driver was negligent and liable for the accident.
- Whether the driver of the Cimarron was contributorily negligent and whether such negligence mitigates or removes petitioner’s liability.
- Whether petitioner exercised due diligence in the selection and supervision of its driver, and if it is liable as employer.
- Whether the awards for actual, moral, death, and attorney’s fees damages were proper and supported by evidence.
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)