Fortich-Celdran v. Celdran

Summary

This Supreme Court case involved a complex family dispute over an extrajudicial partition of properties. The central issue was whether criminal proceedings for falsification should be suspended due to a prejudicial question arising from a pending civil case. Ignacio Celdran claimed his signature on a motion to withdraw from the civil case was forged, while others argued he validly ratified the partition by signing after receiving consideration. The Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals' decision to suspend the criminal case, establishing that when the same document's authenticity is contested in both civil and criminal proceedings, and the civil case resolution would determine guilt or innocence in the criminal case, a prejudicial question exists requiring suspension of criminal proceedings until the civil case is resolved.