La Razon Social de Hijos de I. de La Rama v. Rosendo Lacson

Summary

This 1904 Supreme Court case involved a collection suit by La Razon Social de Hijos de I. de la Rama against Rosendo Lacson for 2,950 pesos based on a promissory note. The defendant successfully defended by proving the note was given for a gambling debt from a monte game. The Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's dismissal, citing Article 1798 of the Civil Code which prohibits actions based on gambling debts. The case established precedent that promissory notes given as consideration for gambling debts are unenforceable, regardless of their form or subsequent transfer. This decision reinforced the Civil Code's policy against enforcing gambling obligations and protected parties from collection suits on gaming debts.