LRTA vs CA

Topic: Art. 1763. A common carrier is responsible for injuries suffered by a passenger on
account of the wilful acts or negligence of other passengers or of strangers, if the common
carrier’s employees through the exercise of the diligence of a good father of a family could have
prevented or stopped the act or omission.

G.R. No. 145804; February 6, 2003

LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT AUTHORITY & RODOLFO ROMAN, petitioners, vs.

MARJORIE NAVIDAD, Heirs of the late Nicanor Navidad & Prudent Security Agency,
respondents.

FACTS:

October 14, 1993, 7:30 p.m. : Drunk Nicanor Navidad (Nicanor) entered the EDSA LRT station
after purchasing a “token”. This token represents payment of the fare.  While Nicanor was
standing at the platform near the LRT tracks, the guard Junelito Escartin approached him. Due
to misunderstanding, they had a fist fight.  Nicanor fell on the tracks and killed instantaneously
upon being hit by a moving train operated by Rodolfo Roman

December 8, 1994: The widow of Nicanor, along with her children, filed a complaint for
damages against Escartin, Roman, LRTA, Metro Transit Org. Inc. and Prudent (agency of
security guards) for the death of her husband. 

LRTA and Roman filed a counter-claim against Nicanor and a cross-claim against Escartin and
Prudent. 

Prudent: denied liability – averred that it had exercised due diligence in the selection and
supervision of its security guards. 

LRTA and Roman: presented evidence

Prudent and Escartin: demurrer contending that Navidad had failed to prove that Escartin was
negligent in his assigned task.

RTC: In favour of widow and against Prudent and Escartin, complaint against LRT and Roman
were dismissed for lack of merit. 

CA: reversed by exonerating Prudent and held LRTA and Roman liable. 

ISSUE: W/N LRTA and Roman should be liable according to the contract of carriage.

HELD: YES.  Affirmed with Modification: (a) nominal damages is DELETED (CANNOT co-exist
w/ compensatory damages) (b) Roman is absolved.

Law and jurisprudence dictate that a common carrier, both from the nature of its business and
for reasons of public policy, is burdened with the duty off exercising utmost diligence in ensuring
the safety of passengers.
Civil Code:

Art. 1755.  A common carrier is bound to carry the passengers safely as far as human care and
foresight can provide, using the utmost diligence of very cautious persons, with a due regard for
all the circumstances

Art. 1756.  In case of death or injuries to passengers, common carriers are presumed to have
been at fault or to have acted negligently, unless they prove that they observed extraordinary
diligence as prescribed in articles 1733 and 1755

Art. 1759.  Common carriers are liable for the death of or injuries to passengers through the
negligence or wilful acts of the former’s employees, although such employees may have acted
beyond the scope of their authority or in violation of the orders of the common carriers

This liability of the common carriers does NOT cease upon proof that they Exercised all the
diligence of a good father of a family in the selection and supervision of their employees

Art. 1763. A common carrier is responsible for injuries suffered by a passenger on account of
the wilful acts or negligence of other passengers or of strangers, if the common carrier’s
employees through the exercise of the diligence of a good father of a family could have
prevented or stopped the act or omission.

Carriers presumed to be at fault or been negligent and by simple proof of injury, the passenger
is relieved of the duty to still establish the fault or negligence of the carrier or of its employees
and the burden shifts upon the carrier to prove that the injury is due to an unforeseen event or to
force majeure

Where it hires its own employees or avail itself of the services of an outsider or an independent
firm to undertake the task, the common carrier is NOT relieved of its responsibilities under the
contract of carriage

GR: Prudent can be liable only for tort under Art. 2176 and related provisions in conjunction with
Art. 2180 of the Civil Code. (Tort may arise even under a contract, where tort [quasi-delict
liability] is that which breaches the contract)

EXN: if employer’s liability is negligence or fault on the part of the employee, employer  can be
made liable on the basis of the presumption juris tantum that the employer failed to exercise
diligentissimi patris families in the selection and supervision of its employees. 

EX to the EX: Upon showing due diligence in the selection and supervision of the employee 

Factual finding of the CA: NO link bet. Prudent and the death of Nicanor for the reason that the
negligence of Escartin was NOT proven

NO showing that Roman himself is guilty of any culpable act or omission, he must also be
absolved from liability
Contractual tie between LRT and Nicanor is NOT itself a juridical relation between Nicanor and
Roman, hence, Roman can be liable only for his own fault or negligence.

Therefore, liability is solely upon LRTA.