TORTS AND DAMAGES – Arellano University School of Law

COURSE OUTLINE
REFERENCES: RA 386 (New Civil Code of the Philippines)
EO 209 (Family Code of the Philippines)
RA 7394 (Consumer Act)
Paras, E.L., Civil Code: Annotated, Book V (Rex)
Aquino, T.B., Torts and Damages (Rex)

I. Torts
A. Definition (Case Nos. 1 to 2)
B. Elements (3 to 5)
C. Quasi-Delict (6 to 9)
1.Quasi-Delict vs. Delict (10)
2.Culpa Acquiliana vs. Culpa Contractual (11 to 15)
D. Negligence
1.Concept
2.Diligence Required (16)
3.Degrees of Negligence (17 and 18)
4.Standard of Conduct (19 to 27)
5.Presumption
a. In motor vehicle mishaps (28)
b. Possessions of dangerous weapons or substance
c. Common carriers
d. Res ipsa loquitor (29 to 33)
6.Defenses
a. Plaintiff’s negligence (34 and 35)
b. Contributory negligence (36 and 37)
c. Fortuitous event (38)
d. Assumption of risk (39 and 40)
e. Prescription (41)
E. The Cause
1.Categories
a. Proximate (42)
b. Concurrent (43)
c. Remote (44)
d. Intervening
2.Tests (45 to 47)
F. Persons Vicariously Liable
1.Persons Exercising Parental Authority (48 to 49)
2.Teachers and Schools (50 to 52)
3.Owners/Managers of Establishments/Employers (53 to 57)
4.State (58 and 59)
G. Persons Specifically Liable (60 to 66)
1.Possessor or User of Animals
2.Owner of Motor Vehicles
3.Local Governments
ATTY. NICO B. VALDERRAMA, CPA, MPM 1
TORTS AND DAMAGES – Arellano University School of Law

4.Proprietors of Buildings
5.Engineer/Architect
6.Head of a Family
7.Owners of Enterprises
8.Manufacturers/Producers
9.Those who Interfere with Contractual Relations
H. Human Relations (67)
1.Abuse of Rights (68 to 70)
2.Illegal Acts
3.Acts Contra Bonos Mores (71 to 75)
4.Violation of Human Dignity (76)
5.Dereliction of Duty
6.Unfair Competition (77)
I. Independent Civil Actions
1.Violation of Civil and Political Rights (78)
2.Defamation, Fraud and Physical Injuries (79 to 83)
3.Neglect of Duty
4.“Catch-All”
II. Damages
A. When Allowed (84)
B. Classification
C. Apportionment (85)
D. Actual and Compensatory Damages
1.Definition and Purpose
2.Proof (86)
3.Coverage
a. In general (87 and 88)
b. In contracts and quasi-contracts (89)
c. In crimes and quasi-delicts (87, 90 and 91)
d. Earning capacity (86)
e. Death (92 to 95)
f. Rape (96 and 97)
g. Attorney’s fees (98 to 102)
h. Interest (103 and 104)
4.Mitigation (105 to 107)
E. Moral Damages
1.Definition and Purpose (108)
2.Recoverability (109 to 123)
3.Who may Recover (124 to 128)
4.Factors (129)
F. Nominal Damages
1.Definition and Purpose
2.Recoverability (130 to 135)
3.Nature and Determination (136 to 139)
G. Temperate or Moderate Damages
1.When Awarded (140 to 142)

ATTY. NICO B. VALDERRAMA, CPA, MPM 2

TORTS AND DAMAGES – Arellano University School of Law

2.Factors (143 to 146)

H. Liquidated Damages
1.Definition and Purpose (147 to 149)
2.Reduction (150 to 152)
I. Exemplary or Corrective Damages
1.Definition and Purpose
2.When Imposable (153 to 160)
J. Graduation of Damages
K. Miscellaneous Rules

Grading System:

30% Class Standing (15% Recitation, 10% Quizzes, 5% Prelim Exam)

30% Midterm Exam
40% Final Exam
100%

Requirements:

1. MANDATORY: 40 case summaries handwritten in yellow pad. Deadline: Day of

Midterms.
a. Components of a case summary: (NOTE: No facts needed.)
i. Case Title/GR #/Date
ii. Act: Act complained of
iii. Tort: Whether tortious or not
iv. Basis: Legal basis and principle why it was held tortious or otherwise
v. Award: Details of monetary award, if any
b. Case assignments depend on the last digit of the Student Number:
i. Cases 1-40: Student Numbers ending in 0 and 1
ii. 41-80: ending in 2 and 3
iii. 81-120: ending in 4, 5, and 6
iv. 121-160: ending in 7, 8, and 9
2. OPTIONAL:
a. Case digests in large notebook. It is the student’s choice how many cases from the
list of cases he/she wants to digest. These shall be counted as a special quiz (one
digest = 2 points). Deadline: Three weeks before Finals.
b. For a +5% incentive in the Finals, Articles 19 – 35 and 2176 – 2235 of the New
Civil Code handwritten in yellow pad. Deadline: Day of Finals

Ground Rules:

- Always bring at least five (5) sheets of yellow pad.

- Recitation will be conducted every class session. If not present when called, a grade of 50 shall
be given.
- Expect to have at least one (1) quiz every class session.
- No adjustments shall be made in the computation of the final grade.

ATTY. NICO B. VALDERRAMA, CPA, MPM 3

TORTS AND DAMAGES – Arellano University School of Law

- Students who earned any final grade lower than 70 shall be given a final grade of 70.
- If a student fails to take the Prelims or Midterms with valid reason, he/she will not be given a
special exam but his/her grades will be less 10% of the succeeding major exam (Midterms for
missed Prelims and Finals for missed Midterms).
- If a student fails to take the Prelims or Midterms without any valid reason, he/she shall earn a
grade of zero (0).

“The practice of law, despite its many, many flaws, can still be a very noble thing and I like to
think that it’s just a little more noble with me in it.”
-Harriet Korn, Harry’s Law

ATTY. NICO B. VALDERRAMA, CPA, MPM 4