Sps. Conrado Labao, Jr. v. Sps. Cipriano I. Balagtas, Jr.

Summary

The Supreme Court partially granted the petition involving damages for allegedly defamatory publication. The Labao couple published notices warning the public against transacting with sales representative Teresita Balagtas during company liquidation. The trial court awarded moral damages and attorney's fees to the Balagtas couple. The Court of Appeals added exemplary damages, but the Supreme Court deleted this award, ruling that non-appealing parties cannot obtain additional affirmative relief beyond what the trial court granted. The case establishes important precedent on the limits of appellate relief for non-appealing parties and reinforces Civil Code provisions on quasi-delict liability for damaging publications that impugn character without due process.