CIVIL LAW Answers to the BAR as Arranged by Topics (Year 1990-2006)
ratify the sale contract, then Jesus shall be liable (Article
1898. Civil Code).
Termination; Effect of Death of Agent (1997)
Stating briefly the thesis to support your answer to each of
the following cases, will the death - (c) of an agent end an
agency?
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Yes. The death of an agent extinguishes the agency, by
express provision of par. 3, Art 1919 of the Civil Code.
PARTNERSHIP
Composition of Partnerships; Spouses; Corporations (1994)
1) Can a husband and wife form a limited partnership
to engage in real estate business, with the wife being a limited
partner?
2) Can two corporations organize a general partnership under
the Civil Code of the Philippines? 3) Can a corporation and
an individual form a general partnership?
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
1) a) Yes. The Civil Code prohibits a husband and wife from
constituting a universal partnership. Since a limited
partnership is not a universal partnership, a husband and wife
may validly form one. b) Yes. While spouses cannot enter
into a universal partnership, they can enter into a limited
partnership or be members thereof (CIR u. Suter, etal. 27
SCRA 152).
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
2) a) No, A corporation is managed by its board of
directors. If the corporation were to become a partner,
co-partners would have the power to make the corporation
party to transactions in an irregular manner since the partners
are not agents subject to the control of the Board of
Directors. But a corporation may enter into a joint venture
with another corporation as long as the nature of the venture
is in line with the business authorized by its charter. (Tuason
& Co., Inc. v. Bolano, 95 Phil. 106).
b) As a general rule a corporation may not form a general
partnership with another corporation or an individual because
a corporation may not be bound by persons who are neither
directors nor officers of the corporation.
However, a corporation may form a general partnership with
another corporation or an individual provided the following
conditions are met:
1) The Articles of Incorporation of the
corporation expressly allows the corporation to enter
into partnerships;
2) The Articles of Partnership must provide that
all partners will manage the partnership, and they shall be
jointly and severally liable; and
3) In case of a foreign corporation, it must be
licensed to do business in the Philippines.
c) No. A corporation may not be a general partner because
the principle of mutual agency in general partnership
allowing the other general partner to bind the corporation
will violate the corporation law principle that only the board
of directors may bind the corporation.
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
3) No, for the same reasons given in the Answer to Number
2 above.
Conveyance of a Partner’s Share Dissolution (1998)
Dielle, Karlo and Una are general partners in a merchandising
firm. Having contributed equal amounts to the capital, they
also agree on equal distribution of whatever net profit is
realized per fiscal period. After two years of operation,
however, Una conveys her whole interest in the partnership to
Justine, without the knowledge and consent of Dielle and
Karlo.
1. Is the partnership dissolved?
12%]
2. What are the rights of Justine, if any, should she desire to
participate in the management of the partnership and in the
distribution of a net profit of P360.000.00 which was realized
after her purchase of Una's interest? [3%]
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
1. No, a conveyance by a partner of his whole interest in a
partnership does not of itself dissolve the partnership in the
absence of an agreement. (Art. 1813. Civil Code)
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
2. Justine cannot interfere or participate in the management or
administration of the partnership business or affairs. She may,
however, receive the net profits to which Una would have
otherwise been entitled. In this case, P120.000 (Art. 1813,
Civil Code)
Dissolution of Partnership (1995)
Pauline, Patricia and Priscilla formed a business partnership
for the purpose of engaging in neon advertising for a term of
five (5) years. Pauline subsequently assigned to Philip her
interest in the partnership. When Patricia and Priscilla learned
of the assignment, they decided to dissolve the partnership
before the expiration of its term as they had an unproductive
business relationship with Philip in the past. On the other
hand, unaware of the move of Patricia and Priscilla but
sensing their negative reaction to his acquisition of Pauline's
interest, Philip simultaneously petitioned for the dissolution
of the partnership.
1. Is the dissolution done by Patricia and Priscilla without
the consent of Pauline or Philip valid? Explain.
2. Does Philip have any right to petition for the
dissolution of the partnership before the expiration of its
specified term? Explain.
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
1, Under Art. 1830 (1) (c) of the NCC, the dissolution by
Patricia and Priscilla is valid and did not violate the contract
of partnership even though Pauline and Philip did not
consent thereto. The consent of Pauline is not necessary
because she had already assigned her interest to Philip. The
consent of Philip is not also necessary because the assignment
to him of Pauline's interest did not make him a partner, under
Art, 1813 of the NCC.
ALTERNATIVE ANSWER:
Interpreting Art. 1830 (1) (c) to mean that if one of the
partners had assigned his interest on the partnership to
CIVIL LAW Answers to the BAR as Arranged by Topics (Year 1990-2006)
another the remaining partners may not dissolve the
partnership, the dissolution by Patricia and Priscilla without
the consent of Pauline or Philip is not valid.
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
2. No, Philip has no right to petition for dissolution because
he does not have the standing of a partner (Art. 1813 NCC).
Dissolution of Partnership; Termination (1993)
A, B and C formed a partnership for the purpose of
contracting with the Government in the construction of one
of its bridges. On June 30, 1992, after completion of the
project, the bridge was turned over by the partners to the
Government. On August 30, 1992, D, a supplier of materials
used in the project sued A for collection of the indebtedness
to him. A moved to dismiss the complaint against him on the
ground that it was the ABC partnership that is liable for the
debt. D replied that ABC partnership was dissolved upon
completion of the project for which purpose the partnership
was formed. Will you dismiss the complaint against A If you
were the Judge?
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
As Judge, I would not dismiss the complaint against A.
because A is still liable as a general partner for his pro rata
share of 1/3 (Art. 1816, C. C.J. Dissolution of a partnership
caused by the termination of the particular undertaking
specified in the agreement does not extinguish obligations,
which must be liquidated during the "winding up" of the
partnership affairs (Articles 1829 and 1830. par. 1-a, Civil
Code).
Effect of Death of Partner (1997)
Stating briefly the thesis to support your answer to each of
the following cases, will the death - of a partner terminate the
partnership?
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Yes. The death of a partner will terminate the partnership, by
express provision of par. 5, Art. 1830 of the Civil Code.
Obligations of a Partner (1992)
W, X, Y and Z organized a general partnership with W and X
as industrial partners and Y and Z as capitalist partners. Y
contributed P50,000.00 and Z contributed P20,000.00 to the
common fund. By a unanimous vote of the partners, W and
X were appointed managing partners, without any
specification of their respective powers and duties.
A applied for the position of Secretary and B applied for the
position of Accountant of the partnership.
The hiring of A was decided upon by W and X, but was
opposed by Y and Z.
The hiring of B was decided upon by W and Z, but was
opposed by X and Y.
Who of the applicants should be hired by the partnership?
Explain and give your reasons.
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
A should be hired as Secretary. The decision for the hiring
of A prevails because it is an act of administration which can
be performed by the duly appointed managing partners, W
and X.
B cannot be hired, because in case of a tie in the decision of
the managing partners, the deadlock must be decided by the
partners owning the controlling interest. In this case, the
opposition of X and Y prevails because Y owns the
controlling Interest (Art. 1801, Civil Code).
Obligations of a Partner; Industrial Partner (2001)
Joe and Rudy formed a partnership to operate a car repair
shop in Quezon City. Joe provided the capital while Rudy
contributed his labor and industry. On one side of their shop,
Joe opened and operated a coffee shop, while on the other
side, Rudy put up a car accessories store. May they engage in
such separate businesses? Why? [5%]
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Joe, the capitalist partner, may engage in the restaurant
business because it is not the same kind of business the
partnership is engaged in. On the other hand, Rudy may not
engage in any other business unless their partnership
expressly permits him to do so because as an industrial
partner he has to devote his full time to the business of the
partnership [Art. 1789, CC).
Commodatum & Mutuum
Commodatum (1993)
A, upon request, loaned his passenger Jeepney to B to enable
B to bring his sick wife from Paniqui. Tarlac to the Philippine
General Hospital in Manila for treatment. On the way back to
Paniqui, after leaving his wife at the hospital, people stopped
the passenger Jeepney. B stopped for them and allowed them
to ride on board, accepting payment from them just as in the
case of ordinary passenger Jeepneys plying their route. As B
was crossing Bamban, there was an onrush of Lahar from Mt
Pinatubo, the Jeep that was loaned to him was wrecked. 1)
What do you call the contract that was entered into by
A and B with respect to the passenger Jeepney that was
loaned by A to B to transport the latter's sick wife to
Manila? 2) Is B obliged to pay A for the use of the passenger
jeepney? 3) Is B liable to A for the loss of the
Jeepney?
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
1) The contract is called "commodatum". [Art. 1933. Civil
Code). COMMODATUM is a contract by which one of the
parties (bailor) delivers to another (bailee) something not
consumable so that the latter may use it for a certain time
and return it.
2) No, B is not obliged to pay A for the use of the passenger
Jeepney because commodatum is essentially gratuitous. (Art.
1933. Civil Code]
3) Yes, because B devoted the thing to a purpose different
from that for which it has been loaned (Art. 1942, par. 2,
Civil Code)