Posted by: Riyani Marie M. Nartea on July 26, 2018
FACTS:
In the afternoon of October 28, 1984, Crispin Gicale was driving the passenger jeepney owned by his mother Martina Gicale. It was then raining. While driving north bound along the National Highway in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, a passenger bus, owned by Pantranco North Express, Inc., , driven by Alexander Buncan, was trailing behind. When the two vehicles were negotiating a curve along the highway, the passenger bus overtook the jeepney. In so doing, the passenger bus hit the left rear side of the jeepney and sped away. Crispin reported the incident to the Talavera Police Station and respondent Standard Insurance Co., Inc. (Standard), insurer of the jeepney. The total cost of the repair was P21,415.00, but respondent Standard paid only P8,000.00. Martina Gicale shouldered the balance of P13,415.00. Thereafter, Standard and Martina, respondents, demanded reimbursement from petitioners Pantranco and its driver Alexander Buncan, but they refused. This prompted respondents to file with the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 94, Manila, a complaint for sum of money. In their answer, Pantranco and Buncan specifically denied the allegations in the complaint and averred that it is the Metropolitan Trial Court, not the RTC, which has jurisdiction over the case.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the RTC has jurisdiction over the case?
HELD: Yes.
In this case, there is a single transaction common to all, that is, Pantranco's bus hitting the rear side of the jeepney. There is also a common question of fact, that is, whether petitioners are negligent. There being a single transaction common to both respondents, consequently, they have the same cause of action against petitioners.
As previously stated, respondents' cause of action against petitioners arose out of the same transaction. Thus, the amount of the demand shall be the totality of the claims.
Respondent Standard's claim is P8,000.00, while that of respondent Martina Gicale is P13,415.00, or a total of P21,415.00. Section 19 of B.P. Blg. 129 provides that the RTC has "exclusive original jurisdiction over all other cases, in which the demand, exclusive of interest and cost or the value of the property in controversy, amounts to more than twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00)." Clearly, it is the RTC that has jurisdiction over the instant case. It bears emphasis that when the complaint was filed, R.A. 7691 expanding the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan, Municipal and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts had not yet taken effect. It became effective on April 15, 1994.
FACTS:
In the afternoon of October 28, 1984, Crispin Gicale was driving the passenger jeepney owned by his mother Martina Gicale. It was then raining. While driving north bound along the National Highway in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, a passenger bus, owned by Pantranco North Express, Inc., , driven by Alexander Buncan, was trailing behind. When the two vehicles were negotiating a curve along the highway, the passenger bus overtook the jeepney. In so doing, the passenger bus hit the left rear side of the jeepney and sped away. Crispin reported the incident to the Talavera Police Station and respondent Standard Insurance Co., Inc. (Standard), insurer of the jeepney. The total cost of the repair was P21,415.00, but respondent Standard paid only P8,000.00. Martina Gicale shouldered the balance of P13,415.00. Thereafter, Standard and Martina, respondents, demanded reimbursement from petitioners Pantranco and its driver Alexander Buncan, but they refused. This prompted respondents to file with the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 94, Manila, a complaint for sum of money. In their answer, Pantranco and Buncan specifically denied the allegations in the complaint and averred that it is the Metropolitan Trial Court, not the RTC, which has jurisdiction over the case.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the RTC has jurisdiction over the case?
HELD: Yes.
In this case, there is a single transaction common to all, that is, Pantranco's bus hitting the rear side of the jeepney. There is also a common question of fact, that is, whether petitioners are negligent. There being a single transaction common to both respondents, consequently, they have the same cause of action against petitioners.
As previously stated, respondents' cause of action against petitioners arose out of the same transaction. Thus, the amount of the demand shall be the totality of the claims.
Respondent Standard's claim is P8,000.00, while that of respondent Martina Gicale is P13,415.00, or a total of P21,415.00. Section 19 of B.P. Blg. 129 provides that the RTC has "exclusive original jurisdiction over all other cases, in which the demand, exclusive of interest and cost or the value of the property in controversy, amounts to more than twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00)." Clearly, it is the RTC that has jurisdiction over the instant case. It bears emphasis that when the complaint was filed, R.A. 7691 expanding the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan, Municipal and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts had not yet taken effect. It became effective on April 15, 1994.
