Case Summary (G.R. No. 47848)
Case Background and Proceedings
Dangalán filed a complaint demanding payment of PHP 584.20 for the value of salted fish that he claimed was lost during transportation on a vehicle operated by the defendants. He also sought PHP 116 in damages for lost profit. Dangalán alleged that the defendants had agreed to transport his goods from Putiao, Sorsogon, to Tabaco, Albay, for a rental fee of PHP 7. The incident occurred on December 1, 1936, when the vehicle broke down and was subsequently abandoned during a storm, leading to the loss of the cargo due to theft.
Judgment and Initial Rulings
On February 6, 1939, the Court ruled in favor of Dangalán after he presented evidence without opposition from the defendants. The court ordered the defendants to pay the claimed amounts along with legal costs. Shortly thereafter, on February 9, a motion for reconsideration was filed by the defendants’ attorney, who claimed that he could not attend due to commitments in a different case and alleged prior agreement on postponement with the plaintiff’s counsel.
Motion for Reconsideration and Court Orders
The initial motion for reconsideration was granted, and the trial was reopened to allow the defendants to present their evidence. Dangalán contested this ruling, arguing that the reconsideration did not meet the legal requirements such as being duly sworn or supported by affidavits establishing the merit of the motion. On September 19, 1939, the Court reviewed the motion and, finding it unsupported by required affidavits and verifying that no agreement for postponement existed, reinstated the original decision.
Legal Reasoning and Conclusions
The Court upheld the initial judgment, asserting that the defendants failed to demonstrate that significant new evidence would alter the case's outcome. Fu
...continue readingCase Syllabus (G.R. No. 47848)
Case Overview
- This case involves an appeal filed by the defendants against an order from the Court of First Instance of Albay.
- The order in question was issued on September 19, 1939, which denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the defendants and upheld the previous judgment.
- The plaintiff, Bonifacio Dangalán, initiated the action to recover ₱584.20 for salted fish and an additional ₱116 for damages.
Parties Involved
- Plaintiff: Bonifacio Dangalán
- Defendants: Domingo Marticio (owner), Teodoro Bonafe (driver), Juan Babasa (loader) of truck No. 1015.
Transaction Details
- The plaintiff contracted with Marticio to transport salted fish from Putiao, Sorsogon to Tabaco, Albay for a fee of ₱7.
- On December 1, 1936, the truck broke down at kilometer 9 in Libog, Albay, and was subsequently abandoned by the driver and loader during a storm.
Claims by the Plaintiff
- Following the abandonment, the cargo was largely stolen, resulting in a claim for:
- ₱584.20, the value of the lost salted fish.
- ₱116, representing lost profits due to the theft.
- The plaintiff alleged that the defendants refused to pay despite demands for payment.
Proceedings in the Lower Court
- The case was set for hearing, and the plaintiff pr