Professional Documents
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Ang Plaintiff
Ang Plaintiff
Sa November 29, 1968, Ang plaintiff (PBA) ay isinagawa ang action for the recovery of
damages arising from the partial collapse of the building against United Construction, Inc.
and its President and General Manager Juan J. Carlos as defendants.
Dito malalaman natin ang Builders at Planners ay magkaiba ng obligasyon, kung saan ang
obligasyon ng Planners or mga Architect ay gumawa ng plano, at ang builders, o yung United
Construction ay ang tagagawa at tagabuo ng mga plinano ng mga architect.
Isinama ang president dati ng PBA as third party defendants, na si Roman Ozaeta, sa
kadahilanan na isinama si Juan J. Carlos, President of the United Construction Co., Inc. as
party defendant.
Ang naging Problema sa kaso ay tukuyin kung sino talaga ang to be held liable in grounds of liability for
negligence in doing his part of the contract, kung ito ay magiging solidarily or jointly liable for the
damages, wherein sa case na ito ang plaintiff ay nag eexpect ng reparations for damages at, naayon sa
Article 1103 “responsibility arising from negligence in the performance of every kind of obligation is
demandable but such liability may be regulated by the courts according to the circumstances”.
(b) Ang mga paglihis kung meron man na ginawa ng defendants sa orhinal na
plano at spesipikasyon at kung paano ito umambag sa resulta ng damages.
3. Kung ang building ay wala ng halaga o nasa level ng total loss at dapat na
ba to na ganap na gibain at kung kaya pa ba itong irepair at irestore sa
tenantable condition. At sa huli, ang pag detremina ng cost of repair or
restoration, ang value ng building na pwede pa gamitin tulad ng foundation na
pwede pang gamitin at iavail.
Nakakita rin ang Komisyoner ng merito sa mga paratang ng mga nasasakdal tungkol sa
pisikal na ebidensiya bago at pagkatapos ng lindol na nagpapakita ng kakulangan ng
disenyo, na:
a.Ang pagdagdag ng Inertia forces na nagpapadiin sa building na tumungo ang weight nito
papunta sa Manila Fire Department.
3. Ang naka-embed na 4" diameter na cast iron down spout sa lahat ng panlabas na column
ay binabawasan ang cross-sectional area na lakas ng bawat isa sa mga column nito.
4. Mayroong dalawang front corners, A7 and D7 columns na hindi maayos ang pagreinforced.
Pisikal na ebidensya pagkatapos magkaroon ng lindol na nagpapatunay ng kakulangan sa
desinyo;
2. Mas maraming pinsala sa harap na bahagi ng building kaysa sa likuran, hindi lamang sa
mga haligi kundi pati na rin sa mga slab.
4. Ang mga sahig ay nagpakita ng pinakamataas na sagging sa mga gilid at patungo sa harap
na sulok na bahagi ng building.
5. Ang maximum sagging ay nangyayari sa column A7 kung saan ang sahig ay mas mababa
ng 80 cm. kaysa sa pinakamataas na slab level.
(a)Una, Ang pag utos sa defendant na United Construction Co., Inc. at third-
party defendants (except Roman Ozaeta) na magbayad sa plaintiff, jointly and
severally, the sum of P989,335.68 na may kasmang interest sa legal rate simula
November 29, 1968, kung saan ang date of filing ng complaint hanggang full
payment;
Again, the Court concurs in the findings of the Commissioner on these issues and fails to
find any sufficient cause to disregard or modify the same. As found by the Commissioner,
the "deviations made by the defendants from the plans and specifications caused indirectly
the damage sustained and that those deviations not only added but also aggravated the
damage caused by the defects in the plans and specifications prepared by third-party
defendants. (Rollo, Vol. I, pp. 128-142)
The afore-mentioned facts clearly indicate the wanton negligence of both the defendant and
the third-party defendants in effecting the plans, designs, specifications, and construction of
the PBA building and We hold such negligence as equivalent to bad faith in the performance
of their respective tasks.
Relative thereto, the ruling of the Supreme Court in Tucker v. Milan (49 O.G. 4379, 4380)
which may be in point in this case reads:
One who negligently creates a dangerous condition cannot escape liability for the natural
and probable consequences thereof, although the act of a third person, or an act of God for
which he is not responsible, intervenes to precipitate the loss.
As already discussed, the destruction was not purely an act of God. Truth to tell hundreds of
ancient buildings in the vicinity were hardly affected by the earthquake. Only one thing spells
out the fatal difference; gross negligence and evident bad faith, without which the damage
would not have occurred.
WHEREFORE, the decision appealed from is hereby MODIFIED and considering the special
and environmental circumstances of this case, We deem it reasonable to render a decision
imposing, as We do hereby impose, upon the defendant and the third-party defendants (with
the exception of Roman Ozaeta) a solidary (Art. 1723, Civil Code, Supra, p. 10) indemnity in
favor of the Philippine Bar Association of FIVE MILLION (P5,000,000.00) Pesos to cover all
damages (with the exception of attorney's fees) occasioned by the loss of the building
(including interest charges and lost rentals) and an additional ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
(P100,000.00) Pesos as and for attorney's fees, the total sum being payable upon the finality
of this decision. Upon failure to pay on such finality, twelve (12%) per cent interest per
annum shall be imposed upon afore-mentioned amounts from finality until paid. Solidary
costs against the defendant and third-party defendants (except Roman Ozaeta).
Ang debtor sa Kontrata ng PBA at United Construction Inc. ay ang PBA sa kadahilanan na
sila ay nag avail o kumuha ng service sa United Construction kung saan sa pagkuha nila ng
service ay nagkaroon sila ng pagkautang na pera na kailangang bayaran in exchange sa
pinapagawang building na kung saan ang gumagawa ay ang creditor na United Construction
Inc. Naging Creditor ang United Construction sa kadahilanan na sila ang nagbigay ng
serbisyo, at dahil nagbigay sila ng serbisyo, nagkaroon ng pagkautang ang PBA na dapat
bayaran sa building na ginagawa nila.