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54
MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
TRANSPORTATION LAWS
CONTRACT OF TRANSPORTATION/ CARRIAGE
A contract whereby a person, natural or juridical,
obligates to transport persons, goods, or both, from
one place to another, by land, air or water, for a
price or compensation.
Classifications:
1. Common or Private
2. Goods or Passengers
3. For a fee (for hire) or Gratuitous
4. Land, Water/maritime, or Air
5. Domestic/inter-island/coastwise or
International/foreign
It is a relationship which is imbued with the
public interest.
COMMON CARRIER
Persons, corporations, firms or associations
engaged in the business of carrying or transporting
passengers or goods or both, by land, water, or air,
for compensation, offering their services to the
public (Art. 1732, Civil Code).
Art. 1732 of the New Civil Code avoids any
distinction between one whose principal business
activity is the carrying of persons or goods or both
and one who does such carrying only as an ancillary
activity (sideline).
It also avoids a distinction
between a person or enterprise offering
transportation service on a regular or scheduled
basis and one offering such service on an
occasional, episodic or unscheduled basis.
Neither does the law distinguish between a
carrier offering its services to the general public that
is the general community or population and one
who offers services or solicits business only from a
narrow segment of the general population.
A person or entity is a common carrier even if
he did not secure a Certificate of Public Convenience
(De Guzman vs. CA, 168 SCRA 612).
It makes no distinction as to the means of
transporting, as long as it is by land, water or air. It
does not provide that the transportation should be
by motor vehicle.
(First Philippine Industrial
Corporation vs. CA)
One is a common carrier even if he has no fixed
and publicly known route, maintains no terminals,
and issues no tickets (Asia Lighterage Shipping, Inc.
vs. CA).
Characteristics:
1. Undertakes to carry for all people indifferently
and thus is liable for refusal without
sufficient reason (Lastimoso vs. Doliente,
October 20, 1961);
2. Cannot lawfully decline to accept a particular
class of goods for carriage to the prejudice
of the traffic in these goods;
3. No monopoly is favored (Batangas Trans.
vs. Orlanes, 52 PHIL 455);
4. Provides public convenience.
PRIVATE CARRIER
One which, without being engaged in the
business of carrying as a public employment,
undertakes to deliver goods or passengers for
compensation. (Home Insurance Co. vs. American
PRIVATE
CARRIER
1. As to availability
Holds himself out for all Contracts with particular
people indiscriminately
individuals or groups
only
2. As to required diligence
Extraordinary diligence is Ordinary diligence is
required
required
3. As to regulation
Subject
to
State Not subject to State
regulation
regulation
4. Stipulation limiting liability
Parties may not agree on Parties may limit the
limiting
the
carriers carriers
liability,
liability except when provided it is not
provided by law
contrary to law, morals
or good customs
5. Exempting circumstance
Prove
extraordinary caso fortuito, Art. 1174
diligence and Art. 1733, NCC
NCC
6.Presumption of negligence
There is a presumption
of fault or negligence
No presumption of fault
or negligence
7.Governing law
Law on common carriers
Law on obligations and
contracts
GOVERNING LAWS
A. Domestic/inter-island/coastwise
Applicable to Land, Water, and Air transportation
1. Civil Code - primary
2. Code of Commerce (Arts. 349, 379, 573734, 580, 806-845) - suppletory
B.
International/foreign/overseas (Foreign
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
country to Philippines)
Applicable to Water/maritime and Air
transportation
The law of the country of destination generally
applies.
1. Civil Code - primary
2. Code of Commerce - suppletory
3. Others - suppletory
a. Water/maritime: Carriage of Goods by
Sea Act (COGSA)
b. Air: Warsaw Convention
I. NEW CIVIL CODE
(Arts. 1732-1766)
REQUIREMENT
OF
EXTRAORDINARY
DILIGENCE
Rendition of service with the greatest skill and
utmost foresight. (Davao Stevedore Co. v.
Fernandez)
Rationale:
1. From the nature of the business and for
reasons of public policy (Art. 1733)
2. Relationship of trust
3. Business is impressed with a special
public duty
4. Possession of the goods
5. Preciousness of human life
A common carrier is not an absolute insurer of all
risks of travel.
COVERAGE
1. Vigilance over goods (Arts. 1734-1754); and
2. Safety of passengers (Arts. 1755-1763).
PASSENGER
A person who has entered into a contract of
carriage, express or implied, with the carrier. They
are entitled to extraordinary diligence from the
common carrier.
The following are not considered passengers, and
are entitled to ordinary diligence only:
a. One who has not yet boarded any part of
a vehicle regardless of whether or not he
has purchased a ticket;
b. One who remains on a carrier for an
unreasonable length of time after he has
been afforded every safe opportunity to
alight;
c. One who has boarded by fraud, stealth,
or deceit;
d. One who attempts to board a moving
vehicle, although he has a ticket, unless
the attempt be with the knowledge and
consent of the carrier;
e. One who has boarded a wrong vehicle,
has been properly informed of such fact,
and on alighting, is injured by the carrier;
f.
Invited guests and accommodation
passengers. (Lara vs. Valencia)
g. One who rides any part of the vehicle
which is unsuitable or dangerous or which
he knows is not designed or intended for
passengers.
DEFENSES OF A COMMON CARRIER IN THE
CARRIAGE OF GOODS
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
CARRIAGE OF GOODS
CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS
Parties
1.
2.
3.
Common carrier
Shipper
Consignee
1.
2.
Common carrier
Passenger
Cause of liability
Delay in delivery, loss, destruction, or deterioration of
Death or injury to the passengers
the goods
Duration of liability
From the time the goods are unconditionally placed in
the possession of, and received by the carrier for
transportation until the same are delivered actually or
constructively by the carrier to the consignee or to the
person who has the right to receive them. (Art. 1736)
It remains in full force and effect even when they
are temporarily unloaded or stored in transit unless the
shipper or owner has made use of the right of
stoppage in transitu. (Art. 1737)
It continues to be operative even during the time
the goods are stored in a warehouse of the carrier at
the place of destination until the consignee has bee
advised of the arrival of the goods and has had
reasonable opportunity thereafter to remove them or
otherwise dispose of them. (Art. 1738)
Delivery of goods to the custom authorities is not
delivery to the consignee. (Lu Do v. Binamira, 101 Phil
120)
Ordinary
circumstance:
Exercise
of
extraordinary diligence (Art. 1735)
Special circumstances:
a. Flood, storm, earthquake, lighting, or
other natural disaster or calamity (plus
force majeure)
b. Act of the public enemy in war,
whether international or civil
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
Void stipulations
1. That the goods are transported at the risk of the
owner or shipper;
2. That carrier will not be liable for any loss,
destruction or deterioration of the goods;
3. That the carrier need not observe any diligence
in the custody of the goods;
4. That the carrier shall exercise a degree of
diligence less than that of a good father of a family
over the movable transported;
5. That the carrier shall not be responsible for the
acts or omissions of his or its employees;
6. That the carriers liability for acts committed by
thieves or robbers who do not act with grave or
irresistible threat, violence or force is dispensed with
or diminished;
7. That the carrier is not responsible for the loss,
destruction or deterioration of the goods on account
of the defective condition of the car, vehicle, ship or
other equipment used in the contract of carriage.
(Art. 1745)
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
A.
MARITIME COMMERCE
(Arts. 573-869)
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
1. Merchant vessel
2. Maritime lien and Preference of Credit
3. Doctrine of limited liability
4. Causes of revocation of voyage
5. Participants in maritime commerce
6. Charter party
7. Loans on bottomry and respondentia
8. Accidents in maritime commerce
MARITIME/ADMIRALTY LAW
It is the system of laws which particularly relates
to the affairs and business of the sea, to ships, their
crews and navigation, and to maritime conveyance
of persons and property. (Notes and Cases on the
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
Order of Preference
A preferred mortgage The
preferred
shall have priority over mortgage lien shall
all claims against the have priority over all
vessel,
except
the claims
against
the
following preferences in vessel,
except
the
following preferences
the order stated:
1. Judicial costs of the in the order stated:
proceedings;
1. Expenses and fees
2. Taxes due the allowed
and
costs
Philippine Government;
taxed by the court and
3. Salaries and wages taxes due to the
of the Captain and Government;
Crew of the vessel 2. Crews wages;
3. General average;
during its last voyage;
4. General average or 4. Salvage, including
salvage
including contract salvage;
contract
salvage, 5.
Maritime
liens
bottomry loans, and arising prior in time to
indemnity due shippers the recording of the
for the value of goods preferred mortgage;
transported but which 6. Damages arising out
were not delivered to of tort; and
the consignee;
7. Preferred mortgage
5. Costs of repair and registered prior in time.
equipment
of
the
vessel, and provisioning
of food, supplies and
fuel during its last
voyage; and
6. Preferred mortgages
registered prior in time.
Effect of sale: All pre-existing claims in the vessel
are terminated. They will then be satisfied from the
proceeds of the sale subject to the order of
preference.
DOCTRINE OF LIMITED LIABILITY
(HYPOTHECARY RULE)
Cases where applicable:
1. Art. 587 civil liability for indemnities to
third persons
2. Art. 590 indemnities from negligent acts
of the captain (not the shipowner or ship
agent)
3. Art. 837 collision
4. Art. 643 liability for wages of the
captain and the crew and for advances
made by the ship agent if the vessel is
lost by shipwreck or capture
EXCEPTIONS:
1.
2.
3.
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
4.
5.
6.
LEASE
If for a definite period,
lessee cannot give up
the lease by paying a
portion of the amount
agreed upon.
If the leased property is
sold to one who knows
of the existence of the
lease, the new owner
must respect the lease.
Civil law concept
CHARTER PARTY
An entire or complete
contract.
Consensual contract
BAREBOAT OR
DEMISE CHARTER
Charterer
becomes
liable to others caused
by its negligence
Charterer regarded as
owner pro hac vice for
the voyage
Owner
of
vessel
relinquishes possession,
command
and
navigation to charterer
Common
converted
carrier.
carrier
is
to private
CHARTER PARTY
Charterer may rescind
charter party by paying
half of the freightage
agreed upon.
The new owner is not
compelled to respect the
charter party so long as
he can load the vessel
with his own cargo. (Art.
689)
Commercial law concept
BILL OF LADING
More like a private
receipt
which
the
captain gives to accredit
goods received from
persons
Real contract
CONTRACT OF
AFFREIGHTMENT
(TIME OR VOYAGE
CHARTER)
Owner remains liable as
carrier and must answer
for any breach of duty
Charterer
is
not
regarded as owner.
The
vessel
owner
retains
possession,
command
and
navigation of the ship
Common carrier is not
converted to a private
carrier.
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
3.
4.
Freight
Compliance with Art. 652 of the Code of
Commerce
Clause paramount or
paramount clause
A clause in a charter
party providing that the
COGSA shall apply, even
though
the
transportation
is
domestic, subject to the
extent that any term of
the bill of lading is
repugnant to the COGSA
or applicable law, then
to the extent thereof the
provision of the bill of
lading is void. (Pandect
of Commercial Law and
Jurisprudence,
Justice
Jose Vitug, 1997 ed.)
CHARTERER
1. To pay the agreed
charter price;
2. To pay freightage
on unboarded cargo;
3. To pay losses to
others
for
loading
uncontracted cargo and
illicit cargo;
4. To wait if the
vessel needs repair;
5. To pay expenses
for deviation. (Arts.
679-687)
Fortuitous
causes
(Art 688)
1.
By
abandoning
the charter and
paying half of
the freightage;
2.
Error
in
tonnage
or
flag;
3. Failure to
place
the
vessel at the
charterers
disposal;
4. Return of
the vessel due
to
pirates,
enemies or bad
weather;
5. Arrival at a
port
for
repairs.
request
(Art. 689)
1. If the extra
lay
days
terminate
without
the
cargo
being
placed
alongside the
vessel;
2. Sale by the
owner of the
vessel before
loading by the
charterer;
(Art. 690)
1. War or
interdiction of
commerce;
2. Blockade;
3. Prohibition
to receive
cargo;
4. Embargo;
and
5. Inability of
the vessel to
navigate.
Terms:
1. Primage - bonus to be paid to the captain after
the successful voyage.
2. Demurrage the sum fixed in the charter party
as a remuneration to the owner of the ship for
the detention of his vessel beyond the number
of days allowed by the charter party for loading
or unloading or for sailing.
3. Deadfreight the amount paid by or
recoverable from a charterer of a ship for the
portion of the ships capacity the latter
contracted for but failed to occupy.
4. Lay Days - days allowed to charter parties for
loading and unloading the cargo.
5. Extra Lay Days days which follow after the
lay days have elapsed.
USUAL
FORMS
OF
CONSUMMATING
CONTRACTS
1. C.I.F. cost, insurance and freight;
2. F.O.B. - free on board;
3. F.A.S. - free alongside ship; and
4. C. & F. - cost and freight.
TRANSSHIPMENT OF GOODS
The act of taking cargo out of one ship and
loading it in another, or the transfer of goods from
the vessel stipulated in the contract of affreightment
to another vessel before the place of destination
named in the contract has been reached, or the
transfer for further transportation from one ship or
conveyance to another.
It is not dependent on the ownership of the
transporting ships or in the change of carriers, but
rather on the fact of actual physical transfer of
cargo from one vessel to another.
If done without legal excuse, however competent
and safe the vessel into which the transfer is made,
is a violation of contract and infringement of right of
shipper and subjects carrier to liability if freight is
lost event by cause otherwise excepted. (Magellan
Manufacturing vs. CA, 201 SCRA 102)
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
LOAN ON
RESPONDENTIA
Definition
Loan
made
by Loan taken on security
shipowner
or
ship of the cargo laden on a
agent guaranteed by vessel, and repayable
vessel
itself
and upon safe arrival of
repayable upon arrival cargo at destination.
of
vessel
at (Art. 719)
destination. (Art. 719)
1.
2.
3.
LOAN ON
BOTTOMRY
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Common elements:
Exposure of security to marine peril;
Obligation of the debtor conditioned only
upon safe arrival of the security at the point
of destination.
Forms:
Public instrument
Policy signed by the contracting parties and
the broker taking part therein
Private instrument (Art. 720)
Contents:
Kind, name and registry of the vessel;
Name, surname and domicile of the captain;
Names, surnames and domiciles of the
borrower and the lender;
Amount of the loan and the premium
stipulated;
Time for repayment;
Goods pledged to secure repayment;
Voyage during which the risk is run (Art.721)
BOTTOMRY/
RESPONDENTIA
ORDINARY LOAN
(MUTUUM)
Liability
of
the
borrower is contingent
on the safe arrival of
the vessel or cargo at
destination
WHEN
LOAN
ON
BOTTOMRY
OR
RESPONDENTIA REGARDED AS SIMPLE LOAN
Nature
LOAN ON
BOTTOMRY OR
RESPONDENTIA
Indemnity is paid in
advance by way of
a loan
In case of loss of
the vessel due to a
marine peril, the
obligation of the
borrower to pay is
extinguished
Real contract
of
Bottomry/
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
PARTICULAR OR
GROSS OR GENERAL
SIMPLE
Definition
Damages or expenses Damages or expenses
caused to the vessel or deliberately caused in
cargo that did not inure order to save the
to the common benefit, vessel, its cargo or
and borne by respective both from real and
owners. (Art. 809)
known risk. (Art. 811)
Requisites
1. common danger;
2. deliberate
sacrifice;
3. success;
4. proper formalities
and legal steps.
Liability
The owner of the goods All the persons having
which gave rise to the an interest in the
expense or suffered the vessel and the cargo
damage shall bear this therein at the time of
average. (Art. 810)
the occurrence of the
average
shall
contribute to satisfy
this average. (Art. 812)
The
insurers
(Art.859) and lenders
on
bottomry
and
respondentia
shall
likewise
contribute.
(Art.732).
Number of interests involved
Only
one
interest Several
interests
involved
involved
Share in the damage or expense
100% share
In proportion to the
value of the owners
property saved
Right to recover
No reimbursement
There
may
be
reimbursement
Kinds (not exclusive)
Art. 809
Art. 811
Procedure for recovery
1. Assembly
and
deliberation
2. Resolution of the
captain
3. Entry
of
the
resolution
in
the
logbook
4. Detailed minutes
5. Delivery
of
the
minutes
to
the
maritime
judicial
authority of the first
port, within 24 hours
from arrival,
6. Ratification
by
captain under oath.
(Arts. 813-814)
GOODS NOT COVERED BY GENERAL AVERAGE
EVEN IF SACRIFICED
1. Goods carried on deck. (ART.855)
2. Goods not recorded in the books or
records of the vessel. (ART.855 (2))
3. Fuel for the vessel if there is more than
sufficient fuel for the voyage. (Rule IX,
York-Antwerp Rule)
Jettison
Act of throwing cargo overboard in order to
lighten the vessel.
Order of goods to be cast overboard:
1. Those which are on the deck, preferring
the heaviest one with the least utility and
value;
2. Those which are below the upper deck,
beginning with the one with greatest
weight and smallest value. (Art. 815)
Jettisoned goods are not res nullius nor deemed
abandoned within the meaning of civil law so as to
be the object of occupation by salvage. (Pandect of
65
MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
INTERNATIONAL
Deck cargo is not
allowed
With shippers consent
General average
Particular average
Without shippers consent
Captain is liable
Captain is liable
When
unlawful
Who
bears
expenses:
The inability to
continue
voyage is due
to
lack
of
provisions,
well-founded
fear of seizure,
privateers,
pirates,
or
accidents
of
the
sea
disabling it to
navigate. (Art.
819)
1. Lack
of
provisions due
to negligence to
carry according
to usage and
customs;
2. Risk
of
enemy not well
known
or
manifest
3. Defect of
vessel due to
improper
repair; and
4. Malice,
negligence, lack
of foresight or
skill of captain.
(Art. 820)
The shipowner
or ship agent
is liable in case
of
unlawful
arrival under
stress.
But
they shall not
be liable for
the damages
caused
by
reason of a
lawful arrival.
(Art. 821)
3.
4.
5.
COLLISION
Impact of two vessels both of which are moving.
Allision
Impact between a moving vessel and a stationary
one.
Nautical Rules to Determine Negligence
1. When two vessels are about to enter a port,
the farther one must allow the nearer to enter
first; if they collide, the fault is presumed to be
imputable to the one who arrived later, unless
it can be proved that there was no fault on its
part.
2. When two vessels meet, the smaller should
give the right of way to the larger one.
3. A vessel leaving port should leave the way
clear for another which may be entering the
same port.
4. The vessel which leaves later is presumed to
have collided against one which has left earlier.
5. There is a presumption against the vessel
which sets sail in the night.
6. There is a presumption against the vessel with
spread sails which collides with another which
is at anchor and cannot move, even when the
crew of the latter has received word to lift
anchor, when there was not sufficient time to
do so or there was fear of a greater damage or
other legitimate reason.
7. There is a presumption against an improperly
moored vessel.
8. There is a presumption against a vessel which
has no buoys to indicate the location of its
anchors to prevent damage to vessels which
may approach it.
9. Vessels must have proper look-outs or
persons trained as such and who have no
other duty aside therefrom. (Smith Bell v. CA)
Nautical Rules as to Sailing Vessel and
Steamship
1. Where a steamship and a sailing vessel are
approaching each other from opposite
directions, or on intersecting lines, the
steamship from the moment the sailing vessel
is seen, shall watch with the highest diligence
her course and movements so as to be able to
adopt such timely means of precaution as will
necessarily prevent the two boats from coming
in contact.
2. The sailing vessel is required to keep her
course unless the circumstances require
otherwise.
Zones of Time in the Collision of Vessels
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
BAGGAGE
CHECK
Checked-in
baggage
AIR
WAYBILL
Goods to be
shipped
2. Checked-in baggage
GENERAL RULE: $20 per kilogram
EXCEPTION: In case of special declaration of
value and payment of a supplementary sum by
consignor, carrier is liable to not more than the
declared sum unless it proves the sum is greater
than actual value.
3. Hand-carried baggage
$1000/passenger
4. Goods to be shipped
GENERAL RULE: $20 per kilogram
EXCEPTION: In case of special declaration of
value and payment of a supplementary sum by
consignor, carrier is liable to not more than the
declared sum unless it proves the sum is greater
than actual value.
An agreement relieving the carrier from liability
or fixing a lower limit is null and void. (Art. 23)
Carrier is not entitled to the foregoing limit if the
damage is caused by willful misconduct or default
on its part. (Art. 25)
Thus, the WC does not operate as an exclusive
enumeration of the instances of an absolute limit of
the extent of liability. It does not preclude the
application of the Civil Code and other pertinent
local laws. It does not regulate or exclude liability
for other breaches of contract by the carrier, or
misconduct of its employees, or for some particular
or exceptional type of damage. (Alitalia vs. CA)
In PanAm v. IAC, the WC was applied as regards
the limitation on the carriers liability, there being a
simple loss of baggage without any improper
conduct on the part of the officials or employees of
the airline or other special injury sustained by the
passenger.
In KLM Royal v. Tuller, the WC has invariably
been held inapplicable, or as not restrictive of the
carriers liability, where there was satisfactory
evidence of malice or bad faith attributable to its
officers and employees. (Alitalia vs. IAC)
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MEMORY AID IN COMMERCIAL LAW
b.
c.
2. Prescriptive period
Action must be filed within 2 years from:
a. date of arrival at the destination
b. date of expected arrival
c. date on which the transportation stopped.
(Art. 29)
In United Airlines vs. Uy the two-year prescriptive
period was not applied where the airline employed
delaying tactics.
RULE IN CASE OF VARIOUS SUCCESSIVE
CARRIERS
1. Carriage of passengers
GENERAL RULE: Action is filed only against the
carrier in which the accident or delay occurred.
EXCEPTION: Agreement or contract whereby the
first carrier assumed liability for the whole journey.
2. Carriage of baggage or goods
a. Passenger or consignor can file an action
against the first carrier and the carrier in
which the damage occurred
b. Passenger or consignee can file an action
against the last carrier and the carrier in
which the damage occurred.
These carriers are jointly and severally
liable. (Art. 30)
A contract of international carriage by air,
although performed by different carriers under a
series of airline tickets constitutes a single
operation. Members of the International Air
Transportation Association (IATA) are under a
general pool partnership agreement wherein they
act as agent of each other in the issuance of tickets
to contracted passengers to boost ticket sales
worldwide and at the same time provide passengers
easy access to airlines which are otherwise
inaccessible in some parts of the world. (American
Airlines vs. CA)
Under a general pool partnership agreement, the
ticket-issuing airline is the principal in a contract of
carriage while the endorsee-airline is the agent.
The obligation of the former remained and did not
cease even when the breach occurred not on its
own flight but on that of another airline which had
undertaken to carry the passengers to one of their
destinations. (China Airlines vs. Chiok)
JURISDICTION
At the option of the plaintiff, the action for
damages may be filed in the:
a. Court of domicile of the carrier;