Juan Bahia v. Fausta Litonjua · G.R. 9734

Petitioner: Juan Bahia
Respondent: Fausta Litonjua
Citation: G.R. No. 9734
Court: Supreme Court En Banc
Division: En Banc
Ponente: Moreland, J.
Decided: March 31, 1915

Summary

This 1915 Supreme Court case involved a wrongful death claim arising from an automobile accident. Plaintiff Juan Bahia sued Fausta Litonjua (automobile owner) and Mariano Leynes (renter) for damages after his daughter was killed when their vehicle crashed due to defective steering gear. The Court affirmed dismissal against Litonjua, finding no liability despite ownership since she had donated the automobile to her son's garage business. The Court reversed the judgment against Leynes, applying Article 1903 of the Civil Code which creates presumptive negligence by employers for servants' acts but allows rebuttal by proving diligence of a good father of a family. Leynes successfully demonstrated he exercised proper care in selecting the automobile from a reputable garage and competent licensed drivers, with insufficient time elapsed to require inspection of the defective steering gear.

Statutes applied

Civil Code, Art. 1903

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By the Intellegal Editorial Board · March 31, 1915

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