Contractual, Is Premised Upon The Negligence in The Performance of A
Contractual, Is Premised Upon The Negligence in The Performance of A
Contractual, Is Premised Upon The Negligence in The Performance of A
CA
G.R. No. 122039. May 31, 2000
MENDOZA, J.:
Issue: Whether the decision in the case for quasi delict between Calalas on one
hand and Salva and Verena on the other hand, is res judicata to the issue in
this case.
Ruling: The argument that Sunga is bound by the ruling in Civil Case No.
3490 finding the driver and the owner of the truck liable for quasi-delict
ignores the fact that she was never a party to that case and, therefore, the
principle of res judicata does not apply. Nor are the issues in Civil Case No.
3490 and in the present case the same. The issue in Civil Case No. 3490 was
whether Salva and his driver Verena were liable for quasi-delict for the damage
caused to petitioner's jeepney. On the other hand, the issue in this case is
whether petitioner is liable on his contract of carriage. The first, quasi-delict,
also known as culpa aquiliana or culpa extra contractual, has as its source the
negligence of the tortfeasor. The second, breach of contract or culpa
contractual, is premised upon the negligence in the performance of a
contractual obligation. Consequently, in quasi-delict, the negligence or fault
should be clearly established because it is the basis of the action, whereas in
breach of contract, the action can be prosecuted merely by proving the
existence of the contract and the fact that the obligor, in this case the common
carrier, failed to transport his passenger safely to his destination. In case of
death or injuries to passengers, Art. 1756 of the Civil Code provides that
common carriers are presumed to have been at fault or to have acted
negligently unless they prove that they observed extraordinary diligence as
defined in Arts. 1733 and 1755 of the Code. This provision necessarily shifts to
the common carrier the burden of proof. It is immaterial that the proximate
cause of the collision between the jeepney and the truck was the negligence of
the truck driver. The doctrine of proximate cause is applicable only in actions
for quasi-delict, not in actions involving breach of contract. The doctrine is a
device for imputing liability to a person where there is no relation between him
and another party. In such a case, the obligation is created by law itself. But,
where there is a pre-existing contractual relation between the parties, it is the
parties themselves who create the obligation, and the function of the law is
merely to regulate the relation thus created.