Case Digest (G.R. No. 175057)
Facts:
In Santos Ventura Hocorma Foundation, Inc. (SVHFI) v. Mabalacat Institute, Inc. (MII), SVHFI owned Lot No. 530 (11,451 sq.m.), covered by TCT No. T-195826-R, in Mabalacat, Pampanga. From 1983 until March 14, 2002, MII occupied the lot by tolerance without paying rent. By letter dated March 14, 2002, SVHFI demanded payment of P50.00 per sq.m. monthly beginning April 1, 2002. MII refused in its June 7, 2002 reply. A July 11, 2002 notice demanded P2,519,220.00 for April–July 2002 rent or else vacate. MII again failed to comply. SVHFI then filed a Collection Case (Civil Case No. 02-1326) in the RTC, Makati City, to recover unpaid rent. MII moved to dismiss for lack of valid service; the RTC denied the motion and upheld it on reconsideration. MII elevated the orders via certiorari to the CA (SP No. 80547) and then to this Court (G.R. No. 167876), all of which were denied. SVHFI’s collection complaint proceeded to pre‐trial. On September 28, 2007, MII moved to dismiss for forum shoppi...
Case Digest (G.R. No. 175057)
Facts:
- Parties and Subject Property
- Santos Ventura Hocorma Foundation, Inc. (SVHFI) is registered owner of Lot No. 530 (11,451 sq.m.) in Mabalacat, Pampanga (TCT No. T-195826-R).
- Mabalacat Institute, Inc. (MII) (now Don Teodoro V. Santos Institute) occupied the lot from 1983 until March 14, 2002 by tolerance without rent.
- Demand Letters and Refusal
- March 14, 2002: SVHFI notified MII that, effective April 1, 2002, occupancy rent P50.00/sq.m. monthly was due; June 7, 2002: MII refused.
- July 11, 2002: SVHFI demanded P2,519,220.00 for April–July 2002 or vacancy; MII still did not pay or vacate.
- Collection Case Proceedings
- SVHFI filed Civil Case No. 02-1326 for collection before RTC Makati Branch 150. MII moved to dismiss for lack of valid service; motions and reconsiderations denied by RTC (Orders of March 12 and September 25, 2003).
- MII sought certiorari at CA (denied July 13, 2005; recon. denied September 16, 2005) and at the Supreme Court (dismissed July 4, 2005).
- March 29, 2006: MII filed answer with compulsory counterclaim; admitted June 27, 2007. September 28, 2007: MII moved to dismiss for forum shopping and splitting of cause of action.
- Ejectment Case Proceedings
- June 20, 2006: SVHFI filed unlawful detainer (Civil Case No. 06-2568) in MCTC Mabalacat & Magalang.
- March 31, 2008: RTC granted MII’s motion, dismissed Collection Case for forum shopping; October 6, 2008: Reconsideration denied.
- CA affirmed on August 30, 2013; recon. denied February 26, 2014.
- Both parties filed Rule 45 petitions; MII’s concern on counterclaim disposition denied April 21, 2014 and recon. denied July 9, 2014 (became final September 9, 2014).
Issues:
- Whether SVHFI committed forum shopping by filing a collection case and an ejectment case in two different courts involving the same property.
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)