WHERE DEPOSITARY INCAPACITATED AND THE

DEPOSITOR CAPACITATED
     The incapacitated depositary doesn’t incur the obligation of the depositary
     However, he is liable to return 
o     To  return  the  thing  deposited  while  still  in  his possession
o     To the  pay the depositor the  amount by  which  he may  have  benefited  himself  with  the 
thing  or  its price  subject  to  the  right  of  a  third  person  who acquired the thing in good faith
 
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT CONTEMPLATED BY LAW? 

Reasonable and judicious use

 

OBLIGATIONS OF THE DEPOSITARY

 
Art. 1972. The depositary is obliged to keep the thing safely and to return it, when  required, to
the depositor,  or to his heirs and successors, or to the person who may have been designated in
the contract. His responsibility, with regard to the safekeeping and the loss of the thing, shall be
governed by the provisions of Title I of this Book.
 
If  the  deposit  is  gratuitous,  this  fact  shall  be  taken  into account   in   determining   the  
degree   of   care   that   the depositary must observe. (1766a)
 

OBLIGATION TO KEEP THE THING DEPOSITED AND

RETURN IT 
1.   Degree  of  care—ordinarily,  the  depositor  must  exercise over  the  thing  deposited  the 
same  diligence  as  he  would exercise over his property
a.    Because  it  is  an  essential  requisite  of  the  judicial relation  which  involves  the 
depositor’s  confidence in good faith and trustworthiness
b.   Presumption  that  the  depositor  in  choosing  the depositary  took  into  account  the 
diligence  which the  depositary  is  accustomed  with  respect  to  his own property 

2.   Rules applicable 

a.    Art. 1163. Every person obliged to give something is  also  obliged  to  take  care  of  it 
with  the  proper diligence  of  a  good  father  of  a  family,  unless  the law  or  the  stipulation 
of  the  parties  requires another standard of care. (1094a) 
b.   Art.  1170.  Those  who  in  the  performance  of  their obligations  are  guilty  of  fraud, 
negligence,  or delay,  and  those  who  in  any  manner  contravene the tenor thereof, are liable
for damages. (1101) 
c.    Art.  1265.  Whenever  the  thing  is  lost  in  the possession of the debtor, it shall be
presumed that
the loss was due to his fault, unless there is proof to  the  contrary,  and  without  prejudice  to 
the
provisions  of  article  1165.  This  presumption  does not  apply  in  case  of  earthquake,  flood, 
storm,  or
other natural calamity. (1183a) 
d.   The  required  degree  of  care  is  greater  if  the deposit  is  made  for  compensation  than 
when  it  is gratuitous.  

3.   Return before specified term—the thing deposited must be returned