Case Digest (A.M. No. MTJ-00-1318)
Facts:
- Nelia A. Ziga filed an administrative complaint against Judge Ramon A. Arejola on May 30, 1997.
- The complaint stemmed from Judge Arejola's alleged failure to protect Ziga's interests in a land registration case (LRC No. 95-142) in the RTC of Naga City, Branch 23.
- Ziga, a co-heir of Fabiana Arejola, claimed that Judge Arejola neglected to correct the misspelling of her name in the court's decision, where it was incorrectly recorded as "Lilia" instead of "Nelia."
- The error was perpetuated in a Deed of Absolute Sale prepared by Judge Arejola, which also used the incorrect name.
- Despite being aware of the mistake and receiving a request from the City Attorney of Naga City to correct it, Judge Arejola failed to act.
- Ziga was forced to file an Urgent Ex-Parte Motion for Correction, which the RTC granted on March 12, 1997.
- Judge Arejola denied any attorney-client relationship with Ziga, claiming he acted only on behalf of himself and his co-heirs.
- He argued that the misspelling was inconsequential and that the heirs were recognized in the decision.
- The case was referred to the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), which initially recommended clearing Judge Arejola of liability, but the Supreme Court decided to investigate further.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- Yes, Judge Ramon A. Arejola breached his duty as a lawyer by failing to correct the misspelling of Nelia A. Ziga's name.
- Yes, there was an attorney-client relationship between Nelia A. Ziga and Judge Ramon A. Arejola.
- Judge Arejola w...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court highlighted that lawyers must adhere to the highest standards of fidelity to their clients and act with diligence and care.
- The Court established that Judge Arejola had an attorney-client relationship with Ziga, supported by his actions in the land registration case and the Notice of Attorney's Lien he filed.
- The Court dismissed Judge Arejola's claim of acting solely on behalf of himself and his co-heirs, noting his active representation of...continue reading
Case Digest (A.M. No. MTJ-00-1318)
Facts:
This case involves an administrative complaint filed by Nelia A. Ziga against Judge Ramon A. Arejola, who was then an attorney, on May 30, 1997. The complaint arose from Judge Arejola's alleged failure to protect the interests of his client, Ziga, in a land registration case (LRC No. 95-142) before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Naga City, Branch 23. Ziga, a co-heir of Fabiana Arejola, claimed that after the RTC confirmed the title to the property and ordered its registration, Judge Arejola neglected to correct the misspelling of her name in the court's decision, where it was erroneously recorded as "Lilia" instead of "Nelia." This mistake was further perpetuated when Judge Arejola prepared a Deed of Absolute Sale for the property, using the incorrect name. Ziga contended that despite being aware of the error and receiving a request from the City Attorney of Naga City to correct it, Judge Arejola failed to act, which constituted a disregard of his duty as her counsel. Consequently, Ziga was compelled to file an Urgent Ex-Parte Motion for Correction, which the RTC granted on March 12, 1997. In his defense, Judge Arejola denied any attorney-client relationship with Ziga, asserting that he acted solely on behalf of himself and his co-heirs in the land registration case. He claimed that the misspelling was inconsequential and that the heirs were officially recognized in the decision. The case was later referred to the Office of the ...