FACTS:

This is a suit filed by the heirs of Juan Bataclan, to recover from Mariano Medina, the owner and
operator of Medina Transportation under a certificate of public convenience, compensatory, moral, and
exemplary damages and attorney's fees in the total amount of P87,150. On September 13, 1952, Juan
Bataclan was among the 18 passengers of Bus No. 30 of Medina Transportation, who was traveling from
Amadeo, Cavite to Pasay City. The bus was driven by its regular chauffeur, Conrado Saylon. Along the
way, one of the front tires of the bus burst and the vehicle began to zigzag until it fell into a canal or ditch
on the right side of the road and turned turtle. Some of the passengers managed to leave the bus, others
had to be helped or pulled out, while Bataclan, who was seated near the driver along with 3 others,
could not get out of the overturned bus. Heeding the shouts of help by Bataclan and the rest, 10 men, 1
of whom was carrying a lighted torch fueled by petroleum, approached the overturned bus.
Immediately, a fierce fire started, burning and consuming the bus, including the 4 passengers trapped
inside it. Bataclan and the 4 passengers died.

Hence, this case filed by Salud Villanueva, Bataclan’s widow, in her name and in

behalf of her 5 minor children. The CFI of Cavite awarded P1,000 to the plaintiffs, plus P600 as attorney's
fee, plus P100, the value of the merchandise carried by Bataclan to Pasay City for sale and which was lost
in the fire. Upon appeal by the plaintiffs and the defendants, the CA endorsed the appeal to the SC
because of the value of the claim in the complaint.

ISSUE:

WON Mariano Medina can be held civilly liable for damages. WON the proximate cause of the death of
Bataclan was the overturning of the bus or the fire that burned the bus, including the 4 passengers left
inside.

RULING:The Court affirms the ruling of the trial court that:

1.the defendant carrier is liable because of a breach of a contract of transportation for hire, the Medina
Transportation having undertaken to carry Bataclan safely to his destination, Pasay City;

2.there was negligence on the part of the defendant, through his agent, the driver Saylon