Jose P. Singh v. Perfecto S · G.R. 267487

Petitioner: Jose P. Singh
Respondent: Perfecto S. Corpus, Jr.
Citation: G.R. No. 267487
Court: Supreme Court
Division: Second Division
Ponente: Lazaro-Javier, J.
Decided: August 30, 2023

Summary

Jose P. Singh engaged Atty. Perfecto S. Corpus, Jr. for legal services in a property case, paying PHP30,000.00 as acceptance fee. After terminating the retainer agreement, Singh demanded return of the fee, which Atty. Corpus refused as he had already commenced legal work. Singh then filed a baseless disbarment complaint (A.C. No. 10529) alleging negligence and unethical conduct. The Supreme Court dismissed the disbarment case for lack of merit, noting it was meant to protect lawyers from frivolous charges. Atty. Corpus subsequently sued for malicious prosecution. The Supreme Court affirmed liability but reduced damages to PHP30,000.00 moral damages, PHP20,000.00 exemplary damages, PHP10,000.00 attorney's fees, and PHP17,360.00 costs, with 6% annual interest. The case establishes that filing baseless administrative complaints to coerce compliance constitutes malicious prosecution entitling the victim to damages under Article 2219(8) of the Civil Code.

Statutes applied

Civil Code, Art. 2219

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By Intellegal Editorial Board · August 30, 2023

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