On January 20, 1915, Cangco was riding the train of Manila Railroad Co (MRC).

He was an
employee of the latter and he was given a pass so that he could ride the train for free. When
he was nearing his destination at about 7pm, he arose from his seat even though the train
was not at full stop. When he was about to alight from the train (which was still slightly
moving) he accidentally stepped on a sack of watermelons which he failed to notice due to
the fact that it was dim. This caused him to lose his balance at the door and he fell and his
arm was crushed by the train and he suffered other serious injuries. He was dragged a few
meters more as the train slowed down.
It was established that the employees of MRC were negligent in piling the sacks of
watermelons. MRC raised as a defense the fact that Cangco was also negligent as he failed
to exercise diligence in alighting from the train as he did not wait for it to stop.
ISSUE: Whether or not Manila Railroad Co is liable for damages.
HELD: Yes. Alighting from a moving train while it is slowing down is a common practice
and a lot of people are doing so every day without suffering injury. Cangco has the vigor
and agility of young manhood, and it was by no means so risky for him to get off while the
train was yet moving as the same act would have been in an aged or feeble person. He was
also ignorant of the fact that sacks of watermelons were there as there were no appropriate
warnings and the place was dimly lit.
The Court also elucidated on the distinction between the liability of employers under Article
2180 and their liability for breach of contract [of carriage]: