A. Maluenda & Co. v. Gertrudis Enriquez y Villanueva

Summary

A. Maluenda & Co. leased commercial premises on Escolta Street from Rafael Enriquez as estate administrator, but was prevented from taking possession when Enriquez simultaneously leased the same property to Lorenzo Atienza. Although the trial court awarded P4,800 damages, the Supreme Court applied Civil Code provisions on contractual obligations and damages, holding that the proper measure was the difference between contracted rent and actual rental value obtained. The Court calculated total damages of P18,000 based on excess rents collected after the property sale to Vicente Madrigal, establishing important precedent for measuring damages in lease breach cases under Philippine civil law.