Professional Documents
Culture Documents
v. JOSEPH BASSO
G.R. Nos. 178382-83, September 23, 2015
FACTS:
Mr. Braden, the Managing Director of Asia of Continental Airlines, Inc. (Continental),
offered Basso the position of General Manager in Continental Philippine Branch. Basso signed
an employment contract dated February 1, 1991. On November 7, 1992, CMI took over the
Philippine operations of Continental, with Basso retaining his position as General Manager.
On December 20, 1995, Basso received a letter from Mr. Schulz, CMI's Vice President of
Marketing and Sales, informing Basso that he will be relieved from his position as General
Manager, instead, was offered the position of consultant on an “as needed basis” wherein: (1) he
will not receive any monetary compensation but will continue being covered by the insurance
provided by CMI; (2) he will enjoy travel privileges; and (3) CMI will advance Php1,140,000.00
for the payment of housing lease for 12 months.
Basso sent a letter addressed to Ms. Woodward of CMI's Human Resources Department
inquiring about the status of his employment. Ms. Woodward responded that pursuant to the
employment contract he signed, Basso could be terminated-at-will upon a thirty-day notice.
This notice was allegedly the letter Basso received from Mr. Schulz. Ms. Woodward also
informed Basso that his termination from employment will take effect on January 31, 1996.
Basso was offered the position of consultant to CMI, and a severance pay, in consideration of the
Php1,140,000.00 housing advance that CMI promised him.
Basso filed a Complaint for Illegal Dismissal with Moral and Exemplary Damages
against CMI. CMI filed a Motion to Dismiss on the ground of lack of jurisdiction over the person
of CMI and the subject matter of the controversy alleging the presence of foreign elements.
Labor Arbiter dismissed the case for lack of merit and jurisdiction.
NLRC set aside the decision of the LA. The NLRC did not agree with the
pronouncement of the Labor Arbiter that his office has no jurisdiction over the controversy
Court of Appeals ruled that the Labor Arbiter and the NLRC had jurisdiction over the
subject matter of the case and over the parties.
1. "Under the law, do I have jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties to this
case?
2. "If the answer is yes, is this a convenient forum to the parties, in light of the facts?
3. "If the answer is yes, what is the conflicts rule for this particular problem?
4. "If the conflicts rule points to a foreign law, has said law been properly pleaded and
proved by the one invoking it?
5. "If so, is the application or enforcement of the foreign law in the forum one of the
basic exceptions to the application of foreign law? In short, is there any strong policy or
vital interest of the forum that is at stake in this case and which should preclude the
application of foreign law?
- Yes, the local forum or Philippine Court is the convenient forum. Under the doctrine
of forum non conveniens, a Philippine court in a conflict-of-laws case may assume jurisdiction
if it chooses to do so, provided, that the following requisites are met:
(1) that the Philippine Court is one to which the parties may conveniently resort to;
(2) that the Philippine Court is in a position to make an intelligent decision as to the law
and the facts; and
(3) that the Philippine Court has or is likely to have power to enforce its decision.
- All the requisites are present in this case. First, Basso may conveniently resort to our
labor tribunals as he and CMI lad physical presence in the Philippines during the duration of the
trial. CMI has a Philippine branch, while Basso, before his death, was residing here. Thus, it
could be reasonably expected that no extraordinary measures were needed for the parties to make
arrangements in advocating their respective cases. Second, The labor tribunals can make an
intelligent decision as to the law and facts. The incident subject of this case (i.e. dismissal of
Basso) happened in the Philippines, the surrounding circumstances of which can be ascertained
without having to leave the Philippines. The acts that allegedly led to loss of trust and confidence
and Basso's eventual dismissal were committed in the Philippines. As to the law, we hold that
Philippine law is the proper law of he forum. Third, the labor tribunals have the power to enforce
their judgments because they acquired jurisdiction over the persons of both parties.
e) Will the lack of knowledge that the work is copyrighted be successful defense against an
allegation of copyright infringement?
- N/A