Raul H. Sesbreño v. Court of Appeals

Summary

Sesbreño sued VECO lawyers for incriminating innocent person after they filed theft charges based on tampered electric meter discovery. Lawyers were acquitted criminally but RTC awarded civil damages. Supreme Court ultimately ruled no civil liability exists after criminal acquittal when trial court declared non-existence of facts giving rise to civil liability. Case clarifies that Article 29 Civil Code allowing civil action after acquittal on reasonable doubt still requires preponderance of evidence to establish civil liability, and acquittal with declaration of non-existence of factual basis extinguishes both criminal and civil liability.