Lordito Arrogante v. Beethoven Deliarte

Summary

Family property dispute over Lot No. 472-A originally owned by spouses Bernabe and Gregoria Deliarte. After family tragedies and expenses shouldered by son Beethoven, siblings executed 1978 deed selling their rights for P15,000. Petitioners later claimed invalidity and posted defamatory placards. Supreme Court held the 1978 sale void as contract on future inheritance regarding father's living share, but found valid innominate contract based on family arrangement involving equal responsibility for expenses. Title was quieted in favor of respondents Beethoven and wife. Only petitioner Lordito held liable for P150,000 moral damages for defamatory placards, not all petitioners jointly. Case demonstrates application of Civil Code provisions on contracts, future inheritance prohibitions, donations, and moral damages in family property disputes.