1997 Rules on Civil Procedure 2001 Edition <draft copy. pls.

check for errors>

APPEALS Rule 40 APPEAL FROM MU !"!PAL #R!AL "OUR#S #O #$E RE%!O AL #R!AL "OUR#S

Rule 40 Appeal from the MTC to the RTC

APPEAL. The law on appeal starts from Rule 40 to Rule 56. Usually the appeal is from the trial court to the next hi her court. Un!er the "u!iciary law# appeals from the $T% shoul! &e to the RT% which is o'erne! &y Rule 40. An! when the case is trie! &y the RT% an! you want to appeal# normally# the appeal shoul! &e to the %A un!er Rule 4(. )e will stic* to the &asic rule on appeal foun! in the "u!iciary law# +ection ,-# .P (/-0 Sec &'. Appeals. ( #he per)od for appeal fro* f)+al orders, resolut)o+s, a-ards, .ud/*e+ts or dec)s)o+s of a+y court )+ all cases shall 0e f)ftee+ 1234 days cou+ted fro* the +ot)ce of the f)+al order, resolut)o+, a-ard, .ud/*e+t, or dec)s)o+ appealed fro*5 Pro6)ded, ho-e6er, #hat )+ ha0eas corpus cases, the per)od for appeal shall 0e forty(e)/ht 1474 hours fro* the +ot)ce of the .ud/*e+t appealed fro*. o record o+ appeal shall 0e re8u)red to take a+ appeal. !+ l)eu thereof, the e+t)re or)/)+al record shall 0e tra+s*)tted -)th all the pa/es pro*)+e+tly +u*0ered co+secut)6ely, to/ether -)th a+ )+de9 of the co+te+ts thereof. #h)s sect)o+ shall +ot apply )+ appeals )+ spec)al proceed)+/s a+d )+ other cases -here)+ *ult)ple appeals are allo-ed u+der appl)ca0le pro6)s)o+s of the Rules of "ourt. There are three 1,2 instances un!er +ection ,-0 #ype of "ase A. %i'il Actions in eneral .. +pecial Procee!in s an! %i'il Actions where multiple appeal is allowe! %. 4a&eas %orpus Per)od to appeal (5 !ays ,0 !ays 45 hours Re8u)s)tes for appeal 3otice of appeal (. 3otice of Appeal /. Recor! on Appeal 3otice of Appeal

+o this is the eneral outline of the law on appeals un!er +ection ,-# .P (/-. 6EDITORS NOTE: The 457hour perio! to appeal in ha&eas corpus cases un!er +ection ,- of .P (/- is now incorporate! in Rule 4(# +ection , as amen!e!# which too* effect last 8uly (5# /000 1A.$. 3o. 0(7(70,7+%29 Rule 40 refers to appeal from the $T% to the RT%. The appellate "uris!iction of the RT% is foun! in +ection //# .P (/-. That is why Rule 40 is re'ol'in aroun! that pro'ision0 :P 2;', Sec. ;;. Appellate jurisdiction. ( Re/)o+al #r)al "ourts shall e9erc)se appellate .ur)sd)ct)o+ o6er all cases dec)ded 0y Met#"s, M#"s a+d M"#"s )+ the)r respect)6e terr)tor)al .ur)sd)ct)o+s. Such cases shall 0e dec)ded o+ the 0as)s of the e+t)re record of the proceed)+/s had )+ the court of or)/)+ a+d such *e*ora+da a+d<or 0r)efs as *ay 0e su0*)tted 0y the part)es or re8u)red 0y the R#"s. #he dec)s)o+ of the R#"s )+ such cases shall 0e appeala0le 0y pet)t)o+ for re6)e- to the "A -h)ch *ay /)6e )t due course o+ly -he+ the pet)t)o+ sho- pr)*a fac)e that the lo-er court has co**)tted a+ error of fact or la- that -)ll -arra+t a re6ersal or *od)f)cat)o+ of the dec)s)o+ or .ud/*e+t sou/ht to 0e re6)e-ed. Let us now o to +ection ( of Rule 400 Sect)o+ 2. Where to appeal. A+ appeal fro* a .ud/*e+t or f)+al order of a Mu+)c)pal #r)al "ourt *ay 0e take+ to the Re/)o+al #r)al "ourt e9erc)s)+/ .ur)sd)ct)o+ o6er the area to

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1997 Rules on Civil Procedure 2001 Edition <draft copy. pls. check for errors>

Rule 40 Appeal from the MTC to the RTC

-h)ch the for*er perta)+s. #he t)tle of the case shall re*a)+ as )t -as )+ the court of or)/)+, 0ut the party appeal)+/ the case shall 0e further referred to as the appella+t a+d the ad6erse party as the appellee. 1+4 +o from the $T%# the appeal is to the RT% exercisin "uris!iction o'er the area to which the former pertains. That is why un!er the "u!iciary law# e'ery RT% has a !esi nate! territorial area. +o# if you want to appeal from the !ecision of the $T% of :a'ao %ity# you appeal to the RT% of :a'ao. ;ou !o not ma*e your appeal to the RT% of Ta um &ecause it !oes not exercise "uris!iction o'er :a'ao %ity. An! ta*e note un!er +ection (# it is now re<uire! that when you appeal from the $T% to the RT%# you shoul! in!icate in the caption of the case who is the APPELLANT an! the APPELLEE. This is also the proce!ure when you are appealin to the +%. The appellant is the party appealin the case while the appellee is the a!'erse party. +o for example# the ori inal title of the case in the $T% is0 = O!O"# plainti$$ %s. !ROSIA# de$endant.& >f 8o&oy will appeal the case# the title of the case now in the RT% will &e0 = O!O"# plainti$$'appellant %s. !ROSIA# de$endant'appellee.& ?r# if .rosia will &e the one appealin the case# the title now will &e0 = O!O"# plainti$$'appellee %s. !ROSIA# de$endant' appellant.& The perio! to appeal is in +ection /0 Sec. ;. When to appeal. A+ appeal *ay 0e take+ -)th)+ f)ftee+ 1234 days after +ot)ce to the appella+t of the .ud/*e+t or f)+al order appealed fro*. =here a record o+ appeal )s re8u)red, the appella+t shall f)le a +ot)ce of appeal a+d a record o+ appeal -)th)+ th)rty 1&04 days after +ot)ce of the .ud/*e+t or f)+al order. #he per)od of appeal shall 0e )+terrupted 0y a t)*ely *ot)o+ for +e- tr)al or reco+s)derat)o+. o *ot)o+ for e9te+s)o+ of t)*e to f)le a *ot)o+ for +e- tr)al or reco+s)derat)o+ shall 0e allo-ed. 1+4 >n relation to certain "urispru!ence# the (57!ay perio! cannot &e exten!e!. 1Lacsamana 's. >A%# (4, +%RA 64,2 >t cannot &e exten!e! &ut it can &e interrupte! &y a timely motion for new trial or reconsi!eration. An! no motion for extension of time to file a motion for new trial or reconsi!eration shall &e allowe!. 1+ection /2 @0 4ow a&out the ,07!ay perio!A >s the ,07!ay perio! exten!i&leA A. ;E+. >t is exten!i&le for recor! on appeal# on the con!ition that the $otion to Exten! must &e file! within the ori inal ,0 !ays an! pro'i!e! further that the mo'ant has no ri ht to expect that his motion will &e rante!. +o the (57!ay perio! can ne'er &e exten!e! &ut the ,07!ay perio! is exten!i&le &ase! on "urispru!ence. This is &ecause a notice of appeal is normally a one7para raph !ocument. ;ou can !o that in "ust 5 minutes. .ut a recor! on appeal is ma*apal. That is why it is ,0 !ays. +ometimes *ulan in pa yun ,07!ay perio!. +o you can exten! it pro'i!e! you file the motion for extension !urin the ori inal ,07!ay perio!. Sec. &. (o) to appeal. #he appeal )s take+ 0y f)l)+/ a +ot)ce of appeal -)th the court that re+dered the .ud/*e+t or f)+al order appealed fro*. #he +ot)ce of appeal shall )+d)cate the part)es to the appeal, the .ud/*e+t or f)+al order or part thereof appealed fro*, a+d state the *ater)al dates sho-)+/ the t)*el)+ess of the appeal. A record o+ appeal shall 0e re8u)red o+ly )+ spec)al proceed)+/s a+d )+ other cases of *ult)ple or separate appeals. #he for* a+d co+te+ts of the record o+ appeal shall 0e as pro6)ded )+ sect)o+ >, Rule 42. "op)es of the +ot)ce of appeal, a+d the record o+ appeal -here re8u)red, shall 0e ser6ed o+ the ad6erse party. 1+4

@0 4ow !o you appealA

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1997 Rules on Civil Procedure 2001 Edition <draft copy. pls. check for errors>

Rule 40 Appeal from the MTC to the RTC

A0 Un!er +ection ,# you file a 3otice of Appeal to the court that ren!ere! "u! ment# so $T%. An! it *shall indicate the parties to the appeal# the jud+,ent or $inal order or part thereo$ appealed $ro,# and state the ,aterial dates sho)in+ the ti,eliness o$ the appeal.& Bor example0 Notice of Appeal De$endant here-. ser%es notice that he is appealin+ to the RT/ $ro, the jud+,ent rendered -. the 0T/ dated 0arch 1# 2334 cop. o$ )hich )as recei%ed -. hi, on 0arch 21# 2334. +o it is 'ery simple to ma*e. An! you must in!icate exactly not only the !ate of the !ecision &ut also the !ate when you recei'e! it &ecause the runnin of the perio! to appeal !oes not run from the !ate of the !ecision &ut from the time you recei'e! it. That is why the rule says# you =must state the material !ates showin the timeliness of the appeal.C 1Recor! on appeal is !iscusse! in Rule 4(# +ection 6.2 ?f course# the a!'erse party shoul! &e furnishe! with a copy of the notice of appeal. Sec. 4. Per$ection o$ appeal5 e$$ect thereo$. #he perfect)o+ of the appeal a+d the effect thereof shall 0e /o6er+ed 0y the pro6)s)o+s of sect)o+ ', Rule 42. @0 )hen is the appeal !eeme! perfecte!A A0 +ee !iscussion un!er +ection -# Rule 4(. Brom the moment the appeal is !eeme! perfecte!# the $T% loses "uris!iction o'er the case. An! &y fiction of law# "uris!iction is automatically transferre! to the RT%. Sec. 3. Appellate court doc6et and other la)$ul $ees. =)th)+ the per)od for tak)+/ a+ appeal, the appella+t shall pay to the clerk of the court -h)ch re+dered the .ud/*e+t or f)+al order appealed fro* the full a*ou+t of the appellate court docket a+d other la-ful fees. Proof of pay*e+t thereof shall 0e tra+s*)tted to the appellate court to/ether -)th the or)/)+al record or the record o+ appeal, as the case *ay 0e. 1+4 )ithin the perio! to appeal 1normally within (5 !ays2# the appellant must pay the !oc*et fee. +o that when the recor!s are transmitte!# &aya! na. E'en &efore this rule came out# the payment of appellate !oc*et fee is really re<uire!. The rule is the same. @0 +uppose > will file my 3otice of Appeal within (5 !ays &ut > will not pay the !oc*et fee# shoul! my appeal &e !ismisse!A >s it an a!!itional re<uirement for appealA A0 >n the case of SA #OS %s. "OUR# OF APPEALS ;3& S"RA >&; ?2''>@ !SSUE0 )ill the failure to pay appellate fee automatically cause the !ismissal of the appeal in the $T% to the RT% A $ELA0 The payment of appellate fee is foun! in +ection 5 of Rule (4(. .ut the +% o&ser'e! that the only re<uirement is 3otice of Appeal. There is no mention of appellate fee. The payment of appellate fee is not a re<uisite to the perfection of an appeal althou h Rule (4( !oes not specify when sai! payment shall &e ma!e. >t !oes not automatically result in the !ismissal of the appeal unless it affects the "uris!iction. The !ismissal &ein !iscretionary on the part of the appellate court# such !ismissal shoul! &e exercise! wisely. This rulin is still applica&le. Althou h +ection 5 prescri&es that within the perio! to ta*e appeal you must pay the !oc*et fee. >f you !o not pay it# it may not cause ipso $acto the !ismissal of your appeal. .ut the cler* of court may refuse to transmit the recor! to the RT% until you pay. +o !oc*et fee is not a re<uirement to perfect an appeal althou h it is an o&li ation also.

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Rule 40 Appeal from the MTC to the RTC

Sec. >. Dut. o$ the cler6 o$ court. =)th)+ f)ftee+ 1234 days fro* the perfect)o+ of the appeal, the clerk of court or the 0ra+ch clerk of court of the lo-er court shall tra+s*)t the or)/)+al record or the record o+ appeal, to/ether -)th the tra+scr)pts a+d e9h)0)ts, -h)ch he shall cert)fy as co*plete, to the proper Re/)o+al #r)al "ourt. A copy of h)s letter of tra+s*)ttal of the records to the appellate court shall 0e fur+)shed the part)es. 1+4 )hat is the re<uirement to perfect an appealA >t is notice of appeal only or recor! on appeal also for special procee!in s. +ection 5 of this rule now states that when the party ta*es an appeal# it is the o&li ation of the appellant to pay the appellate !oc*et fee which is impose! &y Rule (4( so that the cler* of the $T% will ele'ate the appeal to the $T%. Sec. B. Procedure in the Re+ional Trial /ourt. 1a4 upo+ rece)pt of the co*plete record or the record o+ appeal, the clerk of court of the Re/)o+al #r)al "ourt shall +ot)fy the part)es of such fact. 104 =)th)+ f)ftee+ 1234 days fro* such +ot)ce, )t shall 0e the duty of the appella+t to su0*)t a *e*ora+du* -h)ch shall 0r)efly d)scuss the errors )*puted to the lo-er court, a copy of -h)ch shall 0e fur+)shed 0y h)* to the ad6erse party. =)th)+ f)ftee+ 1234 days fro* rece)pt of the appella+tCs *e*ora+du*, the appellee *ay f)le h)s *e*ora+du*. Fa)lure of the appella+t to f)le a *e*ora+du* shall 0e a /rou+d for d)s*)ssal of the appeal. 1c4 Upo+ the f)l)+/ of the *e*ora+du* of the appellee, or the e9p)rat)o+ of the per)od to do so, the case shall 0e co+s)dered su0*)tted for dec)s)o+. #he Re/)o+al #r)al "ourt shall dec)de the case o+ the 0as)s of the e+t)re record of the proceed)+/s had )+ the court of or)/)+ a+d such *e*ora+da as are f)led. 1+4 )hat happens if the case reaches the RT%A +ection D answers it. The cler* court shall notify the parties. )hat is important here is para raph 6&9# a ra!ical pro'ision0 104 =)th)+ f)ftee+ 1234 days fro* such +ot)ce, )t shall 0e the duty of the appella+t to su0*)t a *e*ora+du* -h)ch shall 0r)efly d)scuss the errors )*puted to the lo-er court, a copy of -h)ch shall 0e fur+)shed 0y h)* to the ad6erse party. =)th)+ f)ftee+ 1234 days fro* rece)pt of the appella+tCs *e*ora+du*, the appellee *ay f)le h)s *e*ora+du*. Fa)lure of the appella+t to f)le a *e*ora+du* shall 0e a /rou+d for d)s*)ssal of the appeal. The proce!ure un!er the ?L: RULE+ is foun! on +ection // of the >nterim Rules. )hen the case is appeale! to the RT%# the case will &e !eci!e! &y the RT% &ase! on the recor! on appeal to ether with a memoran!um as the court may re<uire the parties. >n other wor!s# the court may or may not re<uire the parties to file a memoran!um. 3?)# the present rule says# within (5 !ays from notice# it is your o&li ation to file a memoran!um. >f the appellant fails to file a memoran!um in the RT%# his appeal will &e !ismisse!. The filin of an appeal memoran!um in the RT% is man!atory &ecause you must point out to the RT% *un saan na *amali. ;ou help the RT% "u! e loo* for the error. @0 +uppose the appellant has file! his memoran!um an! it is the appellee who faile! to file his memoran!um. )hat is the effect of such failureA A0 Un!er para raph 6c9# the case shall &e su&mitte! for !ecision without appelleeEs memoran!um. An! it !oes not necessarily mean that the appellee will lose the case &y not filin his memoran!um &ecause for all you *now the !ecision of the lower court is 'ery clear# whether he files a memoran!um or not# he will still wins. Another ra!ical chan e is +ection 50 Sec. 7. Appeal $ro, orders dis,issin+ case )ithout trial5 lac6 o$ jurisdiction. !f a+ appeal )s take+ fro* a+ order of the lo-er court d)s*)ss)+/ the case -)thout a tr)al o+ the *er)ts, the Re/)o+al #r)al "ourt *ay aff)r* or re6erse )t, as the case *ay 0e. !+ case of aff)r*a+ce

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Rule 40 Appeal from the MTC to the RTC

a+d the /rou+d of d)s*)ssal )s lack of .ur)sd)ct)o+ o6er the su0.ect *atter, the Re/)o+al #r)al "ourt, )f )t has .ur)sd)ct)o+ thereo6er, shall try the case o+ the *er)ts as )f the case -as or)/)+ally f)led -)th )t. !+ case of re6ersal, the case shall 0e re*a+ded for further proceed)+/s. !f the case -as tr)ed o+ the *er)ts 0y the lo-er court -)thout .ur)sd)ct)o+ o6er the su0.ect *atter, the Re/)o+al #r)al "ourt o+ appeal shall +ot d)s*)ss the case )f )t has or)/)+al .ur)sd)ct)o+ thereof, 0ut shall dec)de the case )+ accorda+ce -)th the preced)+/ sect)o+, -)thout pre.ud)ce to the ad*)ss)o+ of a*e+ded plead)+/s a+d add)t)o+al e6)de+ce )+ the )+terest of .ust)ce. 1+4 The case was !ismisse! &y the $T% without trial on the merits. PR?.LE$0 Tomas file! a case a ainst Fa 3oli to collect a loan of P50#000 &efore the $T%. .ut upon motion to !ismiss alle in that $T% has no "uris!iction# the court !ismisse! the complaint without trial. That is !isposin of the case without trial. 3ow# RT% sai!# *0T/ has jurisdiction.& @0 >n that case# what will the RT% !oA A0 The RT% will or!er the $T% to con!uct trial. PR?.LE$0 +uppose the complaint file! &y Tomas a ainst Fa 3oli is for P500#000 &efore the $T%. >t is clear that the $T% has no "uris!iction. Fa 3oli mo'e! to !ismiss the case an! it was !ismisse!. .ut Tomas appeale! to the RT% &elie'in that the !ismissal was wron . ?f course the or!er of the $T% is correct. >t shoul! ha'e &een file! with the RT%. @0 )hat will happen now to the caseA A0 The RT% will not !ismiss the case &ut instea! assumes "uris!iction. The RT% which has "uris!iction# shall try the case on the merits as if the case was ori inally file! in the RT%. The secon! para raph has sli ht mo!ification0 PR?.LE$0 Tomas files a case a ainst Fa 3oli for P500#000 &efore the $T%. Fa 3oli file a motion to !ismiss on the roun! of lac* of "uris!iction. .ut the motion to !ismiss of Fa 3oli was !enie! an! the court trie! the case. +o# the trial is 'oi!. The "u! ment ren!ere! is also 'oi!. +o Fa 3oli appeale!. @0 )hat will happen on appeal from the !ecision of the $T% which trie! a case e'en thou h it has no "uris!iction o'er itA A0 +ince the !ecision 1on the merits2 was appeale! to the RT%# the RT% will assumes "uris!iction o'er the case. The RT% will con'ert the appellate "uris!iction into an ori inal "uris!iction instea! of !ismissin an appeal. >t will treat it as if it has &een file! for the first time in the RT% an! not as an appeale! case. The purpose here is to a'oi! !ou&le payment of !oc*et fees. Sec. '. Applica-ilit. o$ Rule 72. #he other pro6)s)o+s of Rule 42 shall apply to appeals pro6)ded for here)+ )+sofar as they are +ot )+co+s)ste+t -)th or *ay ser6e to supple*e+t the pro6)s)o+s of th)s Rule. 1+4 Rule 4( pro'isions may also &e use! in appeals from $T% to RT%. >t is more comprehensi'e. >t refers to appeal from RT% to %A on cases !eci!e! &y the RT% pursuant to its ori inal "uris!iction. This is also applica&le to Rule 40 insofar as they are not inconsistent.

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