- Citation
- G.R. No. 49155
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Second Division
- Ponente
- Briones, J.
- Decided
- Diciembre 14, 1948
Summary
This landmark case involves Juan Castro, a passenger injured when his taxicab collided with another taxi owned by the same company, Acro Taxicab Co. Inc. Castro suffered five fractured ribs and sought P6,000 in damages. The Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals' award of P4,000, establishing crucial doctrine distinguishing contractual negligence from extra-contractual fault. In contractual negligence cases arising from transportation contracts, companies cannot escape liability by proving due diligence in employee selection and supervision, unlike extra-contractual cases. The Court also recognized moral damages including pain and suffering, citing evolution in Spanish jurisprudence. The decision reaffirmed the Cangco doctrine and represents important precedent for transportation liability and damage calculations in Philippine civil law.