Calalas vs.

CA (GR 122039, 31 May 2000)

Doctrine:
Common carriers presumed at fault unless they observed extraordinary
diligence; Burden of proof
In case of eat! or in"#ries to $assen%ers, Article 1&'( of t!e Civil Coe $rovies
t!at co))on carriers are $res#)e to !ave *een at fa#lt or to !ave acte
ne%li%ently #nless t!ey $rove t!at t!ey o*serve e+traorinary ili%ence as
e,ne in Articles 1&33 an 1&'' of t!e Coe. -!e $rovision necessarily s!ifts to
t!e co))on carrier t!e *#ren of $roof.
.acts:
1. At 10 a.). of 23 A#%#st 19/9, 0li1a 2#"e#rc!e G. 3#n%a, t!en a colle%e
fres!)an )a"orin% in 4!ysical 0#cation at t!e 3ili)an 5niversity, too6 a
$assen%er "ee$ney o7ne an o$erate *y 8icente Calalas.
2. As t!e "ee$ney 7as ,lle to ca$acity of a*o#t 29 $assen%ers, 3#n%a 7as %iven
*y t!e con#ctor an :e+tension seat,; a 7ooen stool at t!e *ac6 of t!e oor at
t!e rear en of t!e ve!icle. <!ile on t!e 7ay, t!e "ee$ney sto$$e to let a
$assen%er o=. As s!e 7as seate at t!e rear of t!e ve!icle, 3#n%a %ave7ay to
t!e o#t%oin% $assen%er. 2#st as s!e 7as oin% so, an Is#1# tr#c6 riven *y
I%lecerio 8erena an o7ne *y .rancisco 3alva *#)$e t!e left rear $ortion of
t!e "ee$ney.
3. As a res#lt, 3#n%a 7as in"#re. 3!e s#staine a fract#re of t!e :istal t!ir of
t!e left ti*ia>,*#la 7it! severe necrosis of t!e #nerlyin% s6in.; Close re#ction
of t!e fract#re, lon% le% circ#lar castin%, an case 7e%in% 7ere one #ner
seation. ?er con,ne)ent in t!e !os$ital laste fro) A#%#st 23 to 3e$te)*er &,
19/9. ?er attenin% $!ysician, Dr. Danilo 8. @li%ario, an ort!o$aeic s#r%eon,
certi,e s!e 7o#l re)ain on a cast for a $erio of 3 )ont!s an 7o#l !ave to
a)*#late in cr#tc!es #rin% sai $erio.
9. @n 9 @cto*er 19/9, 3#n%a ,le a co)$laint for a)a%es a%ainst Calalas
*efore t!e R-C of D#)a%#ete City(Aranc! 3(), alle%in% violation of t!e contract
of carria%e *y t!e for)er in failin% to e+ercise t!e ili%ence reB#ire of !i) as a
co))on carrier. Calalas, on t!e ot!er !an, ,le a t!ir>$arty co)$laint a%ainst
.rancisco 3alva, t!e o7ner of t!e Is#1# tr#c6. -!e lo7er co#rt renere
"#%)ent, a%ainst 3alva as t!ir>$arty efenant an a*solve Calalas of
lia*ility, !olin% t!at it 7as t!e river of t!e Is#1# tr#c6 7!o 7as res$onsi*le for
t!e accient.
'. It too6 co%ni1ance of anot!er case (Civil Case 3990), ,le *y Calalas a%ainst
3alva an 8erena, for B#asi>elict, in 7!ic! Aranc! 3& of t!e sa)e co#rt !el
3alva an !is river 8erena "ointly lia*le to Calalas for t!e a)a%e to !is "ee$ney.
@n a$$eal to t!e Co#rt of A$$eals, an on 31 Marc! 1991, t!e r#lin% of t!e lo7er
co#rt 7as reverse on t!e %ro#n t!at 3#n%aCs ca#se of action 7as *ase on a
contract of carria%e, not B#asi>elict, an t!at t!e co))on carrier faile to
e+ercise t!e ili%ence reB#ire #ner t!e Civil Coe. -!e a$$ellate co#rt
is)isse t!e t!ir>$arty co)$laint a%ainst 3alva an a"#%e Calalas lia*le for
a)a%es to 3#n%a.
(. -!e Co#rt orere Calalastro $ay 3#n%a (1) 4'0,000.00 as act#al an
co)$ensatory a)a%esD (2) 4'0,000.00 as )oral a)a%esD (3)410,000.00 as
attorneyCs feesD an (9) 41,000.00 as e+$enses of liti%ationD an (') to $ay t!e
costs. CalalasC )otion for reconsieration 7as enie 11 3e$te)*er 199'.
?ence, t!e $etition for revie7 on certiorari. -!e 3#$re)e Co#rt aEr)e t!e 31
Marc! 1991 ecision an t!e 11 3e$te)*er 199' resol#tion of t!e Co#rt of
A$$eals, 7it! t!e )oi,cation t!at t!e a7ar of )oral a)a%es is elete.
Iss#es:
(1) <!et!er t!e ecision in t!e case for B#asi elict *et7een Calalas on one
!an an 3alva an 8erena on t!e ot!er !an, is res "#icata to t!e iss#e in t!is
caseF G@
(2) <!et!er Calalas e+ercise t!e e+traorinary ili%ence reB#ire in t!e
contract of carria%e
(3) <!et!er )oral a)a%es s!o#l *e a7are
?el:
1.Res 2#icata oes not a$$ly
3#n%a is not *o#n *y t!e r#lin% in Civil Case 3990, 7!ic! fo#n t!e river an
t!e o7ner of t!e tr#c6 lia*le for B#asi>elict, as s!e 7as never a $arty to t!at
case. .#rt!er, t!e iss#es in Civil Case 3990 an int!e $resent case are not t!e
sa)e. -!e iss#e in Civil Case 3990 7as 7!et!er 3alva an !is river 8erena 7ere
lia*le for B#asi>elict for t!e a)a%e ca#se to CalalasC "ee$ney. @n t!e ot!er
!an, t!e iss#e in t!e $resent case is 7!et!er Calalas is lia*le on !is contract of
carria%e. -!e $rinci$le of res "#icata, t!erefore, oes not a$$ly.
Distinction *et7een c#l$a aB#iliana or c#l$a e+tra>contract#al, an c#l$a
contract#al
H#asi>elict, also 6no7n as c#l$a aB#iliana or c#l$a e+tra contract#al, !as as its
so#rce t!e ne%li%ence of t!e tortfeasor. @n t!e ot!er !an, *reac! of contract or
c#l$a contract#al is $re)ise #$on t!e ne%li%ence in t!e $erfor)ance of a
contract#al o*li%ation. In B#asi>elict, t!e ne%li%ence or fa#lt s!o#l *e clearly
esta*lis!e *eca#se it is t!e *asis of t!e action, 7!ereas in *reac! of contract,
t!e action can *e $rosec#te )erely *y $rovin% t!e e+istence of t!e contract
an t!e fact t!at t!e o*li%or, in t!is case t!e co))on carrier, faile to trans$ort
!is $assen%er safely to !is estination.
Common carriers presumed at fault unless they observed extraordinary
diligence; Burden of proof
In case of eat! or in"#ries to $assen%ers, Article 1&'( of t!e Civil Coe $rovies
t!at co))on carriers are $res#)e to !ave *een at fa#lt or to !ave acte
ne%li%ently #nless t!ey $rove t!at t!ey o*serve e+traorinary ili%ence as
e,ne in Articles 1&33 an 1&'' of t!e Coe. -!e $rovision necessarily s!ifts to
t!e co))on carrier t!e *#ren of $roof.
Doctrine of $ro+i)ate ca#se a$$lica*le only in B#asi>elict, not in *reac! of
contract
-!e octrine of $ro+i)ate ca#se is a$$lica*le only in actions for B#asi>elict, not
in actions involvin% *reac! of contract. -!e octrine is a evice for i)$#tin%
lia*ility to a $erson 7!ere t!ere is no relation *et7een !i) an anot!er $arty. In
s#c! a case, t!e o*li%ation is create *y la7 itself. A#t, 7!ere t!ere is a $re>
e+istin% contract#al relation *et7een t!e $arties, it is t!e $arties t!e)selves
7!o create t!e o*li%ation, an t!e f#nction of t!e la7 is )erely to re%#late t!e
relation t!#s create. ?erein, it is i))aterial t!at t!e $ro+i)ate ca#se of t!e
collision *et7een t!e "ee$ney an t!e tr#c6 7as t!e ne%li%ence of t!e tr#c6
river.
Articles 1&33, 1&'', an 1&'( GCC
Insofar as contracts of carria%e are concerne, so)e as$ects re%#late *y t!e
Civil Coe are t!ose res$ectin% t!e ili%ence reB#ire of co))on carriers 7it!
re%ar to t!e safety of $assen%ers as 7ell as t!e $res#)$tion of ne%li%ence in
cases of eat! or in"#ry to $assen%ers. Article 1&33 of t!e Civil Coe $rovies
t!at :Co))on carriers, fro) t!e nat#re of t!eir *#siness an for reasons of
$#*lic $olicy, are *o#n to o*serve e+traorinary ili%ence in t!e vi%ilance over
t!e %oos an for t!e safety of t!e $assen%ers trans$orte *y t!e), accorin%
to all t!e circ#)stances of eac! case. 3#c! e+traorinary ili%ence in t!e
vi%ilance over t!e %oos is f#rt!er e+$resse in articles 1&39, 1&3', an 1&9(,
Gos. ',(, an &, 7!ile t!e e+traorinary ili%ence for t!e safety of t!e
$assen%ers is f#rt!er set fort! in articles 1&'' an 1&'(. : @n t!e ot!er !an,
Article 1&'' of t!e Civil Coe $rovies t!at : A co))on carrier is *o#n to carry
t!e $assen%ers safely as far as !#)an care an foresi%!t can $rovie, #sin% t!e
#t)ost ili%ence of very ca#tio#s $ersons, 7it! #e re%ar for all t!e
circ#)stances.; Article 1&'( $rovies t!at :In case of eat! of or in"#ries to
$assen%ers, co))on carriers are $res#)e to !ave *een at fa#lt or to !ave
acte ne%li%ently, #nless t!ey $rove t!at t!ey o*serve e+traorinary ili%ence
as $rescri*e *y articles 1&33 an 1&''.;
In violation of traEc r#lesD 3ection '9 (@*str#ction of -raEc)
?erein, t!e "ee$ney 7as not $ro$erly $ar6e, its rear $ortion *ein% e+$ose
a*o#t 2 )eters fro) t!e *roa s!o#lers of t!e !i%!7ay, an facin% t!e )ile
of t!e !i%!7ay in a ia%onal an%le. -!is is a violation of t!e RA 913(, as
a)ene, or t!e Ian -rans$ortation an -raEc Coe, 7!ic! $rovies in 3ection
'9(@*str#ction of -raEc) t!at :Go $erson s!all rive !is )otor ve!icle in s#c! a
)anner as to o*str#ct or i)$ee t!e $assa%e of any ve!icle, nor, 7!ile
isc!ar%in% or ta6in% on $assen%ers or loain% or #nloain% frei%!t, o*str#ct t!e
free $assa%e of ot!er ve!icles on t!e !i%!7ay. :
In violation of traEc r#lesD 3ection 32(a) (0+ceein% re%istere ca$acity)
?erein, t!e river too6 in )ore $assen%ers t!an t!e allo7e seatin% ca$acity of
t!e "ee$ney, a violation of 3ection 32(a) of t!e sa)e la7. 3ection 32 JaK
(0+ceein% re%istere ca$acity) $rovies t!at :Go $erson o$eratin% any )otor
ve!icle s!all allo7 )ore $assen%ers or )ore frei%!t or car%o in !is ve!icle t!an
its re%istere ca$acity.; -!e fact t!at 3#n%a 7as seate in an :e+tension seat;
$lace !er in a $eril %reater t!ant!at to 7!ic! t!e ot!er $assen%ers 7ere
e+$ose
2.Driver of "ee$ney i not e+ercise #t)ost ili%ence of very ca#tio#s $ersons
5$on t!e !a$$enin% of t!e accient, t!e $res#)$tion of ne%li%ence at once
arose, an it *eca)e t!e #ty of Calalas to $rove t!at !e !a to o*serve
e+traorinary ili%ence in t!e care of !is $assen%ers. -!e river of "ee$ney i
not carry 3#n%a :safely as far as !#)an care an foresi%!t co#l $rovie, #sin%
t!e #t)ost ili%ence of very ca#tio#s $ersons, 7it! #e re%ar for all t!e
circ#)stances; as reB#ire *y Article1&''. Got only 7as Calalas #na*le to
overco)e t!e $res#)$tion of ne%li%ence i)$ose on !i) for t!e in"#ry s#staine
*y 3#n%a, *#t also, t!e evience s!o7s !e 7as act#ally ne%li%ent in trans$ortin%
$assen%ers.
-a6in% of :0+tension seat; cannot *e consiere an i)$lie ass#)$tion of ris6
3#n%aCs ta6in% an :e+tension seat; i not a)o#nt to an i)$lie ass#)$tion of
ris6. @t!er7ise, it is a6in to ar%#in% t!at t!e in"#ries to t!e )any victi)s of t!e
tra%eies in o#r seas s!o#l not *e co)$ensate )erely *eca#se t!ose
$assen%ers ass#)e a %reater ris6 of ro7nin% *y *oarin% an overloae ferry.
Caso fort#ito e,neD ReB#ire)ents
A caso fort#ito is an event 7!ic! co#l not *e foreseen, or 7!ic!, t!o#%!
foreseen, 7as inevita*le. -!is reB#ires t!at t!e follo7in% reB#ire)ents *e
$resent: (a) t!e ca#se of t!e *reac! is ine$enent of t!e e*torCs 7illD (*) t!e
event is #nforeseea*le or #navoia*leD (c) t!e event is s#c! as to rener it
i)$ossi*le for t!e e*tor to f#l,ll !is o*li%ation in a nor)al )anner, an () t!e
e*tor i not ta6e $art in ca#sin% t!e in"#ry to t!e creitor. 9 4etitioner s!o#l
!ave foreseen t!e an%er of $ar6in% !is "ee$ney 7it! its *oy $rotr#in% t7o
)eters into t!e !i%!7ay.
3. Moral a)a%es not recovera*le in actions for a)a%es *ase on *reac! of
contractD 0+ce$tions
As a %eneral r#le, )oral a)a%es are not recovera*le in actions for a)a%es
$reicate on a *reac! of contract for it is not one of t!e ite)s en#)erate
#ner Article 2219 of t!e Civil Coe. As an e+ce$tion, s#c! a)a%es are
recovera*le: (1) in cases in 7!ic! t!e )is!a$ res#lts in t!e eat! of a $assen%er,
as $rovie in Article 1&(9, in relation to Article 220((3) of t!e Civil CoeD an
(2) in t!e cases in 7!ic! t!e carrier is %#ilty of fra# or *a fait!, as $rovie in
Article 2220.
Go le%al *asis for a7ar of )oral a)a%esD Constr#ction as to t!e $erson an
act of ta6in% t!evicti) to !os$ital
?erein, t!ere is no le%al *asis for a7arin% )oral a)a%es since t!ere 7as no
fact#al ,nin% *y t!e a$$ellate co#rt t!at Calalas acte in *a fait! in t!e
$erfor)ance of t!e contract of carria%e. 3#n%aCs contention t!at CalalasC
a)ission in o$en co#rt t!at t!e river of t!e "ee$ney faile to assist !er in
%oin% to a near*y !os$ital cannot *e constr#e as an a)ission of *a fait!. -!e
fact t!at it 7as t!e river of t!e Is#1# tr#c6 (8erena) 7!o too6 !er to t!e !os$ital
oes not i)$ly t!at Calalas 7as #tterly ini=erent to t!e $li%!t of !is in"#re
$assen%er. If at all, it is )erely i)$lie reco%nition *y 8erena t!at !e 7as t!e
one at fa#lt for t!e accient