Oscar Ventanilla v.

Gregorio Centeno (nominal damages)

G.R. No. L-14333, January 28, 1961
FACTS:
Ventan!!a "!e# a $%! $a&e an# retane# t'e &er%$e& o" Atty. Centeno. An un"a%ora(!e
#e$&on )a& ren#ere# &o Centeno an# Ventan!!a a*ree# to "!e an a++ea!. Atty. Centeno )rote a
!etter to Ventan!!a en$!o&n* "or,& "or an a++ea! (on#.
Ventan!!a, 'o)e%er, n&tea# o" e-e$utn* an a++ea! (on#, an# (e$au&e u&e o" '&
re!u$tan$e to +ay t'e +re,u, on t'e a++ea! (on#, #e$#e# to "!e a $a&' a++ea! (on# o" .6/.//.
Ventan!!a )ent to t'e o""$e o" Atty. Centeno (ut )a& n"or,e# (y t'e $!er0 t'at Centeno )a& n
La*una $a,+a*nn* "or '& $an##a$y a& ,e,(er o" .ro%n$a! 1oar#. 2e &&ue# a .6/.//
$'e$0 an# 'an#e# t to t'e $!er0 )t' an n&tru$ton to *%e t to Atty. Centeno.
Centeno "!e# a ,oton "or e-ten&on o" t,e to "!e t'e re$or# on a++ea!. T)o #ay& !ater,
'e $a&'e# t'e $'e$0 an# )ent to t'e o""$e o" t'e C!er0 o" Court to "!e t'e a++ea! (on#.
A$$or#n* to Atty. Centeno t )a& not a$$e+te# (e$au&e t'e +ero# o" a++ea! 'a# a!rea#y e-+re#.
Ventan!!a $!a,& t'at t'e tra! $ourt erre# n n or#ern* Centeno to +ay ', on!y t'e &u,
o" .2//, an# not .2,/// a& no,na! #a,a*e&3 an# n not or#ern* t'e a++e!!ee to +ay t'e
a++e!!ant t'e &u, o" .4// a& attorney5& "ee&.
6SS78:
9'et'er or not Ventan!!a & entt!e# to a$tua! or $o,+en&atory, ,ora!, te,+erate or
,o#erate, an# e-e,+!ary or $orre$t%e #a,a*e&.
R7L6NG:
He who claims actual or compensatory damages must establish and prove by
competent evidence actual pecuniary loss. T'e a++e!!ant5& (are a!!e*aton t'at (y rea&on o" t'e
a++e!!ee5& n#""eren$e, ne*!*en$e an# "a!ure to +er"e$t )t'n t'e re*!e,entary +ero# '&
a++ea! "ro, an a#%er&e :u#*,ent (y not +ayn* t'e a++ea! (on# o" .6/, 'e !o&t '& $'an$e to
re$o%er "ro, t'e #e"en#ant& t'eren t'e &u, o" .4,/// an# ,ora! an# a$tua! #a,a*e&, )'$' 'e
$ou!# 'a%e re$o%ere# " t'e a++ea! 'a# #u!y (een +er"e$te#, n#$ate& t'at '& claim for actual or
compensatory damages is highly speculative. 2en$e 'e & not entt!e# to &u$' #a,a*e&.
;ora! #a,a*e& are re$o%era(!e on!y )'en +'y&$a! &u""ern*, ,enta! an*u&', "r*'t,
&erou& an-ety, (e&,r$'e# re+utaton, )oun#e# "ee!n*&, ,ora! &'o$0&, &o$a! 'u,!aton, an#
&,!ar n:ury are t'e +ro-,ate re&u!t o" a $r,na! o""en&e re&u!tn* n +'y&$a! n:ure&, <ua&-
#e!$t& $au&n* +'y&$a! n:ure&, &e#u$ton, a(#u$ton, ra+e or ot'er !a&$%ou& a$t&, a#u!tery or
$on$u(na*e, !!e*a! or ar(trary #etenton or arre&t, !!e*a! &ear$', !(e!, &!an#er or any ot'er
"or, o" #e"a,aton, ,a!$ou& +ro&e$uton, #&re&+e$t "or t'e #ea# or )ron*"u! nter"eren$e )t'
"unera!&, %o!aton o" &+e$"$ +ro%&on& o" t'e C%! Co#e on 'u,an re!aton&, an# )!!"u! n:ury
to +ro+erty. Sn$e t'e appellant's cause of action for recovery of moral damages is not
predicated upon any of those specifically enumerated, t'e tra! $ourt ## not err n #e$!nn* to
a)ar# ,ora! #a,a*e& to ',.
Con$ernn* temperate or moderate damages $!a,e# (y t'e a++e!!ant, $on&#ern* t'at
'e & not entt!e# to a$tua! or $o,+en&atory #a,a*e& (ut 'a& (een awarded nominal damages (y
t'e tra! $ourt, &u$' a)ar# precludes the recovery of temperate or moderate damages, an# &o t'e
tra! $ourt ## not err n re"u&n* to a)ar# te,+erate or ,o#erate #a,a*e& to t'e a++e!!ant.
A& re*ar#& exemplary or corrective damages a!&o $!a,e# (y t'e a++e!!ant, &n$e t
cannot be recovered as a matter of right an# t'e court will decide whether or not they should
be adjudicated, " t'e #e"en#ant a$te# n a )anton, "rau#u!ent, re$0!e&&, o++re&&%e or ,a!e%o!ent
,anner, t'e tra! $ourt 'a& :u#$ou&!y, )&e!y an# $orre$t!y e-er$&e# t& #&$reton n not
a)ar#n* t'e, to t'e a++e!!ant.
Con&#ern* t'e $r$u,&tan$e&, a& "oun# (y t'e tra! $ourt, an# t'e #e*ree o" ne*!*en$e
$o,,tte# Centena, t'e a,ount o" .2// a)ar#e# (y t'e tra! $ourt to t'e a++e!!ant a& no,na!
#a,a*e& ,ay &ee, e-*uou&. Ne%ert'e!e&&, $on&#ern* t'at no,na! #a,a*e& are not "or
n#e,n"$aton o" !o&& &u""ere# (ut "or t'e %n#$aton or re$o*nton o" a r*'t %o!ate# or
n%a#e#3 an# t'at e%en " t'e a++ea! 'a# (een #u!y +er"e$te#, t )a& not an a&&uran$e t'at t'e
a++e!!ant )ou!# &u$$ee# n re$o%ern* t'e a,ount 'e 'a# $!a,e# n '& $o,+!ant, t'e a,ount
o" .2,/// t'e a++e!!ant &ee0& to re$o%er a& no,na! #a,a*e& & e-$e&&%e. T'e a,ount a)ar#e#
to t'e a++e!!ant "or no,na! #a,a*e& &'ou!# not (e #&tur(e#.
A& re*ar#& attorney5& "ee&, &n$e t'e a++e!!ant5& $!a, #oe& not "a!! un#er any o" t'o&e
enu,erate# n art$!e 22/8, ne) C%! Co#e, t'e a++e!!ee ,ay not (e $o,+e!!e# to &at&"y t.
GSIS v. Spouses Labung-Deang (temperate damages)
G.R. No. 13 4644, Se+te,(er 1=, 2//1
FACTS:
S+ou&e& >ean* o(tane# a 'ou&n* !oan "ro, t'e GS6S n t'e a,ount o" e*'t t'ou&an#
"%e 'un#re# +e&o&. T'e !oan )a& &e$ure# (y a rea! e&tate ,ort*a*e $on&ttute# o%er t'e &+ou&e&5
+ro+erty &&ue# (y t'e Re*&ter o" >ee#& o" .a,+an*a. A& a re<ure,ent, t'e &+ou&e& >ean*
#e+o&te# t'e o)ner5& #u+!$ate $o+y o" t'e tt!e )t' t'e GS6S.
8!e%en ?11@ ,ont'& (e"ore t'e ,aturty o" t'e !oan, t'e &+ou&e& >ean* &ett!e# t'er #e(t
)t' t'e GS6S an# re<ue&te# "or t'e re!ea&e o" t'e o)ner5& #u+!$ate $o+y o" t'e tt!e. 2o)e%er,
+er&onne! o" t'e GS6S )ere not a(!e to re!ea&e t'e o)ner5& #u+!$ate o" t'e tt!e a& t $ou!# not (e
"oun# #e&+te #!*ent &ear$'. T'u&, GS6S $o,,en$e# t'e re$on&ttuton +ro$ee#n*&.
A& a $on&e<uen$e o" t'e #e!ay, t'e &+ou&e& >ean* "!e# a $o,+!ant a*an&t GS6S "or
#a,a*e&, (e$au&e t'ey )ere una(!e to &e$ure a !oan, t'e +ro$ee#& o" )'$' $ou!# 'a%e (een u&e#
n #e"rayn* t'e e&t,ate# $o&t o" t'e reno%aton o" t'er re&#enta! 'ou&e an# )'$' $ou!# 'a%e
(een n%e&te# n &o,e +ro"ta(!e (u&ne&& un#erta0n*.
6SS78:
9'et'er or not t'e &+ou&e& La(un*->ean* are entt!e# to te,+erate #a,a*e&, attorneyA&
"ee&, !e*a! ntere&t& an# $o&t& o" &ut.
R7L6NG:
6n a breach of contract, moral damages are not awarded if the defendant is not shown
to have acted fraudulently or with malice or bad faith. T'e "a$t t'at t'e $o,+!anant &u""ere#
e$ono,$ 'ar#&'+ or )orre& an# ,enta! an-ety & not enou*'.
T'ere & !0e)&e no factual basis for an award of actual damages. A$tua! #a,a*e& to
(e $o,+en&a(!e must be proven by clear evidence. A $ourt $annot re!y on B&+e$u!aton,
$on:e$ture or *ue&& )or0C a& to t'e "a$t an# a,ount o" #a,a*e&, (ut ,u&t #e+en# on a$tua!
+roo".
2o)e%er, t & a!&o apparent that the spouses Deang suffered financial damage because
of the loss of the owners duplicate copy of the title. 6n !ne )t' t'&, temperate damages may
be granted.
T'ere & no need for proof of pecuniary loss in temperate damages. T'e ratona!e (e'n#
te,+erate #a,a*e& & +re$&e!y t'at "ro, t'e nature o" t'e $a&e, definite proof of pecuniary loss
cannot be offered. 9'en t'e $ourt & $on%n$e# t'at t'ere 'a& (een &u$' !o&&, t'e :u#*e &
e,+o)ere# to $a!$u!ate ,o#erate #a,a*e&, rat'er t'an !et t'e $o,+!anant &u""er )t'out re#re&&
"ro, t'e #e"en#antA& )ron*"u! a$t
AttorneyA& "ee& )'$' are *rante# a& an te, o" #a,a*e& are *enera!!y not re$o%era(!e.
T'e a)ar# o" attorneyA& "ee& & t'e e-$e+ton rat'er t'an t'e ru!e an# $oun&e!A& "ee& are not to (e
a)ar#e# e%ery t,e a +arty )n& a &ut. The award of attorneys fees demands factual, legal
and euitable justification! its basis cannot be left to speculation or conjecture.
Moral damages
!il. Veterans "an# v. $L%C
FACTS:
6n 1983 .V1 )a& +!a$e# un#er re$e%er&'+ (y $entra! (an0 t& e,+!oyee&, n$!u#n* >r.
Teo#or$o ;o!na )ere ter,nate# "ro, )or0 an# *%en &e+araton +ay an# (ene"t&. 6n 1984
&o,e "or,er e,+!oyee& )ere re're# to a&&&t n t'e !<u#aton +ro$e&&, n$!u#n* ;o!na. 6n
1991, ;o!na "!e# a $o,+!ant re*ar#n* )a*e or#er& +ro%#n* "or n$rea&e& n '& &a!ary )'$'
)ere not ,+!e,ente# n '& $a&e. 2e a!&o "!e# "or ,ora! #a,a*e& an# attorneyA& "ee&.
T'e !a(or ar(ter ru!e# n "a%or o" ;o!na an# or#ere# t'at 'e &'ou!# (e +a# '& )a*e
#""erenta!& )t' 1//,/// ,ora! "or #a,a*e& an# attorneyA& "ee&. T'e NLRC &u&tane# t'e
#e$&on o" t'e La(or Ar(ter. .V1 "!e# an ;R (ut t )a& #ene#. 2en$e, t'& +etton.
.V1 $!a,& t'at t'e 1//,/// "or ,ora! #a,a*e& an# attorneyA& "ee& & na++ro+rate &n$e t )a&
not &+e$"e# n t'e $o,+!ant, ;o!na "a!e# to +ro%e '& $!a, an# t & $!ear!y e-$e&&%e.
6SS78:
9'et'er or not t'e #a,a*e& )ere +ro+er!y a)ar#e# to ;o!na.
R7L6NG:
Moral damages and attorneys fees cannot be consolidated. T'e t)o are #""erent n nature &o
ea$' ,u&t (e &e+arate!y #eter,ne#. T'e !a(or $o#e +ro%#e& t'at attorneyA& "ee& &'ou!# (e 1/D
o" t'e )a*e& a)ar#e#.
;ora! #a,a*e& ,ay on!y (e re$o%ere# )'en #&,&&a! & atten#e# (y (a# "at' or "rau# an# t'e
a$t & o++re&&%e to !a(or, $ontrary to *oo# ,ora!&, $u&to,& or +u(!$ +o!$y. 6n t'e $a&e at (ar,
#&,&&a! & ,a#e n t'e or#nary $our&e o" (u&ne&&.
T'e re$or#& &'o) t'at ;EL6NA (a&e# '& $!a, on t'e a!!e*e# "a!ure o" t'e !<u#aton tea, to
,+!e,ent t'e (ene"t& o" t'e )a*e or#er&, )t'out &u(,ttn* any +roo" n &u++ort t'ereo". 6t &
(a&$, 'o)e%er, t'at for moral damages to be awarded, t'e $!a,ant ,u&t &at&"a$tor!y +ro%e t&
factual basis an# causal connection )t' t'e re&+on#entA& a$t&. 6n t'&, ;EL6NA "a!e#, "or
)'$' rea&on t'e a)ar# o" ,ora! #a,a*e& ,u&t (e #e!ete#.
eople v. Senen aredes
FACTS:
Senen .are#e& )a& "oun# *u!ty o" ra+e (y t'e !o)er $ourt. 2e )a& &enten$e# to #eat' an# )a&
or#ere# to +ay ,ora! #a,a*e& n t'e &u, o" 4/,///. 1e$au&e o" t'e #eat' &enten$e, t'e $a&e )a&
&u(,tte# to t'e SC "or auto,at$ re%e).
6SS78:
9'et'er or not t'e a)ar# "or ,ora! #a,a*e& )a& +ro+er.
R7L6NG:
T'e a)ar# o" 4/,/// $o,+r&e& a$tua! #a,a*e& e- #e!$to. 6t & ,an#atory u+on "n#n* t'e "a$t
o" ra+e. T'e a,ount & n$rea&e# to =4,/// #ue to t'e e-&ten$e o" a**ra%atn* $r$u,&tan$e&
?tre&+a&& to #)e!!n*, ar,e# )t' a 'an#*un@ an# 'e & or#ere# to +ay an a##tona! 4/,/// a&
,ora! #a,a*e&.
eople v. &scobar
FACTS:
8&$o(ar )a& a#:u#*e# *u!ty o" ra+n* t'e 4 year-o!# #au*'ter o" '& e,+!oyer&.
6SS78:
9'et'er or not t'e %$t, & entt!e# to ,ora! #a,a*e&.
R7L6NG:
8&$o(ar & or#ere# to +ay 4/,/// a& a$tua! #a,a*e& e- #e!$to an# 4/,/// ,ora! #a,a*e&. T'e
*rant o" ,ora! #a,a*e& & auto,at$a!!y ,a#e n ra+e $a&e& )t'out nee# o" +roo" "or t &
a&&u,e# t'at t'e $o,+!anant 'a& &u&tane# ,enta!, +'y&$a! an# +&y$'o!o*$a! &u""ern*&, t'u&
entt!n* 'er to &u$' a)ar#.