Dingcong vs.

Kanaan
Jose Dingcong vs. Halim Kanaan, Nasri Kanaan, and Michael Kanaan
GR No. L-47033 | April 25, 1941 | J. Avancena
(Note: This case is in Spanish so translations and inferences from other digests were made.)
Relevant Law: NCC 2193: !e !ea" o# a #a$il% &!a& live' in a ()il"in* or a par& &!ereo#, i' re'pon'i(le #or
"a$a*e' ca)'e" (% &!in*' &!ro+n or #allin* #ro$ &!e 'a$e.
Facts:
Jo'e ,in*con* o+ne" an" $ana*e" &!e Cen&ral -o&el in .loilo. -e live' a& &!e &op #loor o# &!e !o&el. A
cer&ain /ranci'co 0c!evarria occ)pie" Roo$ No. 10 o# &!e !o&el #or 130 per $on&!. 2n 3ep&. 19, 1933,
a' 0c!evarria re&ire" &o (e", !e carele''l% le#& open &!e #a)ce&. !e !o&el pipe' +ere &!en )n"er repair 'o
")rin* &!e ni*!&, +a&er #ro$ &!e #a)ce& 'pille" on&o &!e #loor, ca)'in* #loo"in* an" "rippin* &o &!e '&ore
(elo+ 0c!evarria4' roo$ +!ic! +a' o+ne" (% &!e 5anaan'. !e '&ore, 6A$erican 7a8aar9, ')##ere" a
lo'' #or i&' ar&icle' &!a& *o& "a$a*e", +!ic! &!e C/. !el" &o (e a& 11,0:9.;1.
!e 5anaan' #ile" an ac&ion #or "a$a*e' a*ain'& ,in*con* an" 0c!evarria.
C/.: onl% 0c!evarria i' lia(le
CA: rever'e" &!e C/. "eci'ion an" "eclare" ,in*con* lia(le #or "a$a*e' &o &!e 5anaan'
-ence, &!i' appeal (% cer&iorari #ile" +i&! &!e 3C.
Issue: <2N ,in*con* i' lia(le &o pa% #or &!e "a$a*e' ca)'e" (% 0c!evarria - =03
Held:
=e', ,in*con* a' &!e proprie&or i' lia(le #or &!e ne*li*en& ac& o# &!e *)e'& o# !i' !o&el, +!o in &!i' ca'e i'
0c!evarria. A' ,in*con* i' &!e $ana*er, +!o coinci"en&all% al'o live' a& &!e &op #loor, !e $)'& an'+er #or
"a$a*e' ca)'e" (% &!in*' &!a& +ere &!ro+n or +!ic! #ell #ro$ i&, p)r')an& &o NCC 2193. r)e, 0c!evarria
+a' ne*li*en& in leavin* open &!e &ap ()& i& +a' no& '!o+n &!a& ,in*con* e>erci'e" &!e "ili*ence o# a
*oo" #a&!er in preven&in* &!e "a$a*e ca)'e". !e pipe' '!o)l" !ave (een repaire" alrea"% an" in &!e
$ean&i$e, 0c!evarria '!o)l" !ave (een provi"e" +i&! a con&ainer &o ca&c! &!e "rip. !ere#ore, ,in*con*
i' lia(le &o pa% #or "a$a*e' (% rea'on o# !i' ne*li*ence.