Dario v. The Manila Lawn Tennis Club

Summary

This case involved a land lease dispute between individual landlords and the Manila Lawn Tennis Club over termination rights. The landlords attempted to terminate a lease by giving notice, claiming the lease was monthly and terminable at will. The lease contract, however, contained specific provisions making the duration dependent on the lessee's will. The lower court sided with the landlords, but the Supreme Court reversed, holding that when a lease term is left to the debtor's will, courts must fix the duration under Civil Code article 1128, rather than allowing either perpetual lease or lessor termination. The decision clarifies the distinction between leases with no specified term (subject to article 1581) and those with conventional terms left to one party's discretion (subject to judicial determination under article 1128).