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Santos v.

Spouses Reyes GR 135813 10-25-01 FACTS: On June 13, 1986, a lending business venture was launched by Fernando Santos (petitioner), Nieves Reyes (respondent) and Meliton Zabat with the agreement that Santos will be the financer and will receive the lions share of 70% of the profit. The rest will receive 15% each. Thereafter, Zabat was replaced by the husband of Reyes because it was discovered that the latter was engaged in the same lending business in competition with their partnership. On June 5, 1987, Zabat filed a complaint for the recovery of sum of money from the spouses Reyes claiming that the latter misappropriated funds as employees. The spouses Reyes answered that they are not mere employees but partners of the petitioner. The trial court ruled in favor of Spouses Reyes and was affirmed by the Court of Appeals. ISSUE: WON there was a partnership established to engage in a money-lending business. WON the CA is correct in granting the spouses Reyes counterclaim for their share in partnership and for damages. HELD: As to the first ISSUE, there is an establishment of a partnership. Under the contract of partnership, two or more persons bind themselves to contribute money, property and industry to a common fund, with the intention of dividing the profit among themselves. The stipulation between the petitioner and the respondent spouses clearly shows that there is a partnership wherein the Articles of Agreement, there are signatories that they shall share the profits of the business in 70-15-15 manner, with petitioner getting the lions share. As to the second ISSUE, the SC found a reason to disagree with CA. exhibit 10-I showed that the partnership earned a total income of P20,429,520 for the period of June 13, 1986 until April 19, 1987. It did not consider the expenses sustained by the partnership. All expenses incurred by the money-lending enterprise of the parties must first be deducted from the total income in order to arrive at the net profit. The respondents exhibits did not reflect the complete financial condition of the money-lending business. Sevilla vs. CA GR 41182 April 15, 1988 FACTS: A contract by and between Noguera and Tourist World Service (TWS), represented by Canilao, wherein TWS leased the premises belonging to Noguera as branch office of TWS. When the branch office was opened, it was run by appellant Sevilla payable to TWS by any airline for any fare brought in on the efforts of Mrs. Sevilla, 4% was to go to Sevilla and 3% was to be withheld by the TWS. Later, TWS was informed that Sevilla was connected with rival firm, and since the branch office was losing, TWS considered closing down its office. On January 3, 1962, the contract with appellee for the use of the branch office premises was terminated and while the effectivity thereof was January 31, 1962, the appellees no longer used it. Because of this, Canilao, the secretary of TWS, went over to the branch office, and finding the premises locked, he padlocked the premises. When neither appellant Sevilla nor any of his employees could enter, a complaint was filed by the appellants against the appellees. TWS insisted that Sevilla was a mere employee, being the branch manager of its branch office and that she had no say on the lease executed with the private respondent, Noguera. ISSUE: W/N ER-EE relationship exists between Sevilla and TWS HELD: The records show that petitioner, Sevilla, was not subject to control by the private respondent TWS. In the first place, under the contract of lease, she had bound herself in solidum as and for rental payments, an arrangement that would belie claims of a master-servant relationship. That does not make her an employee of TWS, since a true employee cannot be made to part with his own money in pursuance of his employers business, or otherwise, assume any liability thereof. In the second place, when the branch office was opened, the same was run by the appellant Sevilla payable to TWS by any airline for any fare brought in on the effort of Sevilla. Thus, it cannot be said that Sevilla was under the control of TWS. Sevilla in pursuing the business, relied on her own capabilities. It is further admitted that Sevilla was not in the companys payroll. For her efforts, she retained 4% in commissions from airline bookings, the remaining 3% going to TWS. Unlike an employee, who earns a fixed salary, she earned compensation in fluctuating amount depending on her booking successes. The fact that Sevilla had been designated branch manager does not make her a TWS employee. It appears that Sevilla is a bona fide travel agent herself, and she acquired an interest in the business entrusted to her. She also had assumed personal obligation for the operation thereof, holding herself solidary liable for the payment of rentals. Wherefore, TWS and Canilao are jointly and severally liable to indemnify the petitioner, Sevilla.

ESTANISLAO, JR. v. COURT OF APPEALS GR 49982 April 27, 1988 Facts: The petitioner and private respondents are brothers and sisters who are co-owners of certain lots at the in Quezon City which were then being leased to SHELL. They agreed to open and operate a gas station thereat to be known as Estanislao Shell Service Station with an initial investment of PhP15,000.00 to be taken from the advance rentals due to them from SHELL for the occupancy of the said lots owned in common by them. A joint affidavit was executed by them on April 11, 1966. The respondents agreed to help their brother, petitioner therein, by allowing him to operate and manage the gasoline service station of the family. In order not to run counter to the companys policy of appointing only one dealer, it was agreed that petitioner would apply for the dealership. Respondent Remedios helped in co-managing the business with petitioner from May 1966 up to February 1967. On May 1966, the parties entered into an Additional Cash Pledge Agreement with SHELL wherein it was reiterated that the P15,000.00 advance rental shall be deposited with SHELL to cover advances of fuel to petitioner as dealer with a proviso that said agreement cancels and supersedes the Joint Affidavit.

For sometime, the petitioner submitted financial statement regarding the operation of the business to the private respondents, but thereafter petitioner failed to render subsequent accounting. Hence , the private respondents filed a complaint against the petitioner praying among others that the latter be ordered: (1) To execute a public document embodying all the provisions of the partnership agreement they entered into; (2) To render a formal accounting of the business operation veering the period from May 6, 1966 up to December 21, 1968, and from January 1, 1969 up to the time the order is issued and that the same be subject to proper audit; (3) To pay the plaintiffs their lawful shares and participation in the net profits of the business; and (4) To pay the plaintiffs attorneys fees and costs of the suit. Issue: Can a partnership exist between members of the same family arising from their joint ownership of certain properties? Trial Court: The complaint (of the respondents) was dismissed. But upon a motion for reconsideration of the decision, another decision was rendered in favor of the respondents. CA: Affirmed in toto Petitioner: The CA erred in interpreting the legal import of the Joint Affidavit vis--vis the Additional Cash Pledge Agreement. Because of the stipulation cancelling and superseding the Joint Affidavit, whatever partnership agreement there was in said previous agreement had thereby been abrogated. Also, the CA erred in declaring that a partnership was established by and among the petitioner and the private respondents as regards the ownership and /or operation of the gasoline service station business. Held: There is no merit in the petitioners contention that because of the stipulation cancelling and superseding the previous joint affidavit, whatever partnership agreement there was in said previous agreement had thereby been abrogated. Said cancelling provision was necessary for the Joint Affidavit speaks of P15,000.00 advance rental starting May 25, 1966 while the latter agreement also refers to advance rentals of the same amount starting May 24, 1966. There is therefore a duplication of reference to the P15,000.00 hence the need to provide in the subsequent document that it cancels and supercedes the previous none. Indeed, it is true that the latter document is silent as to the statement in the Join Affidavit that the value represents the capital investment of the parties in the business and it speaks of the petitioner as the sole dealer, but this is as it should be for in the latter document, SHELL was a signatory and it would be against their policy if in the agreement it should be stated that the business is a partnership with private respondents and not a sole proprietorship of the petitioner. Furthermore, there are other evidences in the record which show that there was in fact such partnership agreement between parties. The petitioner submitted to the private respondents periodic accounting of the business and gave a written authority to the private respondent Remedios Estanislao to examine and audit the books of their common business (aming negosyo). The respondent Remedios, on the other hand, assisted in the running of the business. Indeed, the parties hereto formed a partnership when they bound themselves to contribute money in a common fund with the intention of dividing the profits among themselves. G.R. No. 70926 January 31, 1989 DAN FUE LEUNG, petitioner, vs. HON. INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT and LEUNG YIU, respondents. FACTS: The petitioner asks for the reversal of the decision of the Appellate Court in which affirmed the decision of the lower court declaring private respondent Leung Yiu a partner of petitioner Dan Fue Leung in the business of Sun Wah Panciteria and ordering the petitioner to pay to the private respondent his share in the annual profits of the said restaurant. This case originated from a complaint filed by respondent Leung Yiu with the lower court to recover the sum equivalent to twenty-two percent (22%) of the annual profits derived from the operation of Sun Wah Panciteria since October, 1955 from petitioner Dan Fue Leung. The Sun Wah Panciteria was registered as a single proprietorship and its licenses and permits were issued to and in favor of petitioner Dan Fue Leung as the sole proprietor. Respondent Leung Yiu adduced evidence during the trial of the case to show that Sun Wah Panciteria was actually a partnership and that he was one of the partners having contributed P4,000.00 to its initial establishment. Lower court ruled in favor of the private respondent. Petitioner appealed the trial court's amended decision. However, the questioned decision was further modified and affirmed by the appellate court. Both the trial court and the appellate court declared that the private petitioner is a partner and is entitled to a share of the annual profits of the restaurant. Hence, an appeal to the SC.The petitioner argues that private respondent extended 'financial assistance' to herein petitioner at the time of the establishment of the Sun Wah Panciteria, in return of which private respondent allegedly will receive a share in the profits of the restaurant. It was, therefore, error for the Appellate Court to interpret or construe 'financial assistance' to mean the contribution of capital by a partner to a partnership. ISSUE: WON the private respondent is a partner of the petitioner in the establishment of Sun Wah Panciteria. HELD: In essence, the private respondent alleged that when Sun Wah Panciteria was established, he gave P4,000.00 to the petitioner with the understanding that he would be entitled to twenty-two percent (22%) of the annual profit derived from the operation of the said panciteria. These allegations, which were proved, make the private respondent and the petitioner partners in the establishment of Sun Wah Panciteria because Article 1767 of the Civil Code provides that "By the contract of partnership two or more persons bind themselves to contribute money, property or industry to a common fund, with the intention of dividing the profits among themselves". Therefore, the lower courts did not err in construing the complaint as one wherein the private respondent asserted his rights as partner of the petitioner in the establishment of the Sun Wah Panciteria, notwithstanding the use of the term financial assistance therein. SC affirmed appellate courts decision and ordered the dissolution of the partnership. Santos vs. Sps Reyes

In June 1986, Fernando Santos (70%), Nieves Reyes (15%), and Melton Zabat (15%) orally instituted a partnership with them as partners. Their venture is to set up a lending business where it was agreed that Santos shall be financier and that Nieves and Zabat shall contribute their industry. **The percentages after their names denote their share in the profit. Later, Nieves introduced Cesar Gragera to Santos. Gragera was the chairman of a corporation. It was agreed that the partnership shall provide loans to the employees of Grageras corporation and Gragera shall earn commission from loan payments. In August 1986, the three partners put into writing their verbal agreement to form the partnership. As earlier agreed, Santos shall finance and Nieves shall do the daily cash flow more particularly from their dealings with Gragera, Zabat on the other hand shall be a loan investigator. But then later, Nieves and Santos found out that Zabat was engaged in another lending business which competes with their partnership hence Zabat was expelled. The two continued with the partnership and they took with them Nieves husband, Arsenio, who became their loan investigator. Later, Santos accused the spouses of not remitting Grageras commissions to the latter. He sued them for collection of sum of money. The spouses countered that Santos merely filed the complaint because he did not want the spouses to get their shares in the profits. Santos argued that the spouses, insofar as the dealing with Gragera is concerned, are merely his employees. Santos alleged that there is a distinct partnership between him and Gragera which is separate from the partnership formed between him, Zabat and Nieves. The trial court as well as the Court of Appeals ruled against Santos and ordered the latter to pay the shares of the spouses. ISSUE: Whether or not the spouses are partners. HELD: Yes. Though it is true that the original partnership between Zabat, Santos and Nieves was terminated when Zabat was expelled, the said partnership was however considered continued when Nieves and Santos continued engaging as usual in the lending business even getting Nieves husband, who resigned from the Asian Development Bank, to be their loan investigator who, in effect, substituted Zabat. There is no separate partnership between Santos and Gragera. The latter being merely a commission agent of the partnership. This is even though the partnership was formalized shortly after Gragera met with Santos (Note that Nieves was even the one who introduced Gragera to Santos exactly for the purpose of setting up a lending agreement between the corporation and the partnership). HOWEVER, the order of the Court of Appeals directing Santos to give the spouses their shares in the profit is premature. The accounting made by the trial court is based on the total income of the partnership. Such total income calculated by the trial court did not consider the expenses sustained by the partnership. All expenses incurred by the money-lending enterprise of the parties must first be deducted from the total income in order to arrive at the net profit of the partnership. The share of each one of them should be based on this net profit and not from the gross income or total income.

Lilibeth Sunga Chan vs Lamberto Chua (G.R. No. 143340 August 15, 2001) FACTS: In 1977, Lamberto Chua verbally entered into a partnership agreement with Jacinto L Sunga, father of petitioner, in the distribution of Shellane Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Manila. For business convenience, respondent and Jacinto allegedly agreed to register the business name of their partnership, SHELLITE GAS APPLIANCE CENTER (hereafter Shellite), under the name of Jacinto as a sole proprietorship. Respondent allegedly delivered his initial capital contribution of P100,000.00 to Jacinto while the latter in turn produced P100,000.00 as his counterpart contribution, with the intention that the profits would be equally divided between them. Upon Jacinto's death in the later part of 1989, his surviving wife, petitioner Cecilia and particularly his daughter, petitioner Lilibeth, took over the operations, control, custody, disposition and management of Shellite without respondent's consent. Despite respondent's repeated demands upon petitioners for accounting, inventory, appraisal, winding up and restitution of his net shares in the partnership, petitioners failed to comply. Petitioner Lilibeth allegedly continued the operations of Shellite, converting to her own use and advantage its properties. On March 31, 1991, respondent claimed that after petitioner Lilibeth ran out the alibis and reasons to evade respondent's demands, she disbursed out of the partnership funds the amount of P200,000.00 and partially paid the same to respondent. Petitioner Lilibeth allegedly informed respondent that the P200,000.00 represented partial payment of the latter's share in the partnership, with a promise that the former would make the complete inventory and winding up of the properties of the business establishment. Despite such commitment, petitioners allegedly failed to comply with their duty to account, and continued to benefit from the assets and income of Shellite to the damage and prejudice of respondent. Trial court directed petitioner to render an accounting, to restitute to the partnership all properties, assets, income and profits they misapplied and converted to their own use and advantage, to pay the plaintiff earned but unreceived income and profits from the partnership from 1988 to May 30, 1992, ORDERING them to wind up the affairs of the partnership and terminate its business activities pursuant to law. CA affirmed the decision. ISSUES: WON there exists a partnership HELD: Decision is affirmed. Ratio Decidendi: A partnership may be constituted in any form, except where immovable property of real rights are contributed thereto, in which case a public instrument shall necessary.6 Hence, based on the intention of the parties, as gathered from the FACTS and ascertained from their language and conduct, a verbal contract of partnership may arise.7 The essential profits that must be proven to that a partnership was agreed upon are (1) mutual contribution to a common stock, and (2) a joint interest in the profits.8 FACTS:

In 1977, Chua and Jacinto Sunga verbally agreed to form a partnership for the sale and distribution of Shellane LPGs. Their business was very profitable but in 1989 Jacinto died. Upon Jacintos death, his daughter Lilibeth took over the business as well as the business assets. Chua then demanded for an accounting but Lilibeth kept on evading him. In 1992 however, Lilibeth gave Chua P200k. She said that the same represents a partial payment; that the rest will come after she finally made an accounting. She never made an accounting so in 1992, Chua filed a complaint for Winding Up of Partnership Affairs, Accounting, Appraisal and Recovery of Shares and Damages with Writ of Preliminary Attachment against Lilibeth. Lilibeth in her defense argued among others that Chuas action has prescribed. ISSUE: Whether or not Chuas claim is barred by prescription. HELD: No. The action for accounting filed by Chua three (3) years after Jacintos death was well within the prescribed period. The Civil Code provides that an action to enforce an oral contract prescribes in six (6) years while the right to demand an accounting for a partners interest as against the person continuing the business accrues at the date of dissolution, in the absence of any contrary agreement. Considering that the death of a partner results in the dissolution of the partnership, in this case, it was after Jacintos death that Chua as the surviving partner had the right to an account of his interest as against Lilibeth. It bears stressing that while Jacintos death dissolved the partnership, the dissolution did not immediately terminate the partnership. The Civil Code expressly provides that upon dissolution, the partnership continues and its legal personality is retained until the complete winding up of its business, culminating in its termination. PALTING V. SAN JOSE PETROLEUM GR L-144441 12-17-66 In 1956, San Jose Petroleum, Inc. (SJP), a mining corporation organized under the laws of Panama, was allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to sell its shares of stocks in the Philippines. Apparently, the proceeds of such sale shall be invested in San Jose Oil Company, Inc. (SJO), a domestic mining corporation. Pedro Palting opposed the authorization granted to SJP because said tie up between SJP and SJO is violative of the constitution; that SJO is 90% owned by SJP; that the other 10% is owned by another foreign corporation; that a mining corporation cannot be interested in another mining corporation. SJP on the other hand invoked that under the parity rights agreement (Laurel-Langley Agreement), SJP, a foreign corporation, is allowed to invest in a domestic corporation. ISSUE: Whether or not SJP is correct. HELD: No. The parity rights agreement is not applicable to SJP. The parity rights are only granted to American business enterprises or enterprises directly or indirectly controlled by US citizens. SJP is a Panamanian corporate citizen. The other owners of SJO are Venezuelan corporations, not Americans. SJP was not able to show contrary evidence. Further, the Supreme Court emphasized that the stocks of these corporations are being traded in stocks exchanges abroad which renders their foreign ownership subject to change from time to time. This fact renders a practical impossibility to meet the requirements under the parity rights. Hence, the tie up between SJP and SJO is illegal, SJP not being a domestic corporation or an American business enterprise contemplated under the Laurel-Langley Agreement.

Bastida vs Menzi Facts: Bastida offered to assign to Menzi & Co. his contract with Phil Sugar Centrals Agency and to supervise the mixing of the fertilizer and to obtain other orders for 50 % of the net profit that Menzi & Co., Inc., might derive therefrom. J. M. Menzi (gen. manager of Menzi & Co.) accepted the offer. The agreement between the parties was verbal and was confirmed by the letter of Menzi to the plaintiff on January 10, 1922. Pursuant to the verbal agreement, the defendant corporation on April 27, 1922 entered into a written contract with the plaintiff, marked Exhibit A, which is the basis of the present action. Still, the fertilizer business as carried on in the same manner as it was prior to the written contract, but the net profit that the plaintiff herein shall get would only be 35%. The intervention of the plaintiff was limited to supervising the mixing of the fertilizers in the bodegas of Menzi. Prior to the expiration of the contract (April 27, 1927), the manager of Menzi notified the plaintiff that the contract for his services would not be renewed. Subsequently, when the contract expired, Menzi proceeded to liquidate the fertilizer business in question. The plaintiff refused to agree to this. It argued, among others, that the written contract entered into by the parties is a contract of general regular commercial partnership, wherein Menzi was the capitalist and the plaintiff the industrial partner. Issue: Is the relationship between the petitioner and Menzi that of partners? Held: The relationship established between the parties was not that of partners, but that of employer and employee, whereby the plaintiff was to receive 35% of the net profits of the fertilizer business of Menzi in compensation for his services for supervising the mixing of the fertilizers. Neither the provisions of the contract nor the conduct of the parties prior or subsequent to its execution justified the finding that it was a contract of copartnership. The written contract was, in fact, a continuation of the verbal agreement between the parties, whereby the plaintiff worked for the defendant corporation for onehalf of the net profits derived by the corporation form certain fertilizer contracts. According to Art. 116 of the Code of Commerce, articles of association by which two or more persons obligate themselves to place in a common fund any property, industry, or any of these things, in order to obtain profit, shall be commercial, no matter what it class may be, provided it has been established in accordance with the provisions of the Code. However in this case, there was no common fund. The business belonged to Menzi & Co. The plaintiff was working for Menzi, and instead of receiving a fixed salary, he was to receive 35% of the net profits as compensation for his services. The phrase in the written contract en sociedad con, which is used as a basis of the plaintiff to prove partnership in this case, merely means en reunion con or in association with. It is also important to note that although Menzi agreed to furnish the necessary financial aid for the fertilizer business, it did not obligate itself to contribute any fixed sum as capital or to defray at its own expense the cost of securing the necessary credit. Agad vs Mabato

Facts: Petitioner Mauricio Agad claims that he and defendant Severino Mabato are partners in a fishpond business to which they contributed P1000 each. As managing partner, Mabato yearly rendered the accounts of the operations of the partnership. However, for the years 1957-1963, defendant failed to render the accounts despite repeated demands. Petitioner filed a complaint against Mabato to which a copy of the public instrument evidencing their partnership is attached. Aside from the share of profits (P14,000) and attorneys fees (P1000), petitioner prayed for the dissolution of the partnership and winding up of its affairs. Mabato denied the existence of the partnership alleging that Agad failed to pay hisP1000 contribution. He then filed a motion to dismiss on the ground of lack of cause of action. The lower court dismissed the complaint finding a failure to state a cause of action predicated upon the theory that the contract of partnership is null and void, pursuant to Art. 1773 of our Civil Code, because an inventory of the fishpond referred in said instrument had not been attached thereto. Art. 1771. A partnership may be constituted in any form, except where immovable property or real rights are contributed thereto, in which case a public instrument shall be necessary. Art. 1773. A contract of partnership is void, whenever immovable property is contributed thereto, if inventory of said property is not made, signed by the parties; and attached to the public instrument. Issue: Whether or not immovable property or real rights have been contributed to the partnership. Held: Based on the copy of the public instrument attached in the complaint, the partnership was established to operate a fishpond", and not to "engage in a fishpond business. Thus, Mabatos contention that it is really inconceivable how a partnership engaged in the fishpond business could exist without said fishpond property (being) contributed to the partnership is without merit. Their contributions were limited to P1000 each and neither a fishpond nor a real right thereto was contributed to the partnership. Therefore, Article 1773 of the Civil Code finds no application in the case at bar. Case remanded to the lower court for further proceedings. [G.R. No. L-3186. March 7, 1907.] THE GREAT COUNCIL OF THE UNITED STATES OF THE IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN, plaintiff-appellee, vs. THE VETERAN ARMY OF THE PHILIPPINES, defendant-appellant. Defendant as represented by Albert McCabe entered into a contract of lease with the plaintiff. Plaintiff and defendant being the lessor and lessee respectively. An action was commenced by the plaintiff against defendant to recover the rent for the unexpired lease term. Judgment was rendered against defendant.From this judgment, the last named defendant has appealed. The plaintiff did not appeal from the judgment acquitting defendant McCabe of the complaint. It is claimed by the appellant that the action can not be maintained by the plaintiff, The Great Council of the United States of the Improved Order of Red Men, as this organization did not make the contract of lease. It is also claimed that the action can not be maintained against the Veteran Army of the Philippines because it never contradicted, either with the plaintiff or with Apach Tribe, No. 1, and never authorized anyone to so contract in its name. ISSUE: WON defendant is a partnership thus making it liable for the unexpired lease term in the contract. RULING: SC held that no contract, such as the one in question, is binding on the Veteran Army of the Philippines unless it was authorized at a meeting of the department. No evidence was offered to show that the department had never taken any such action. In fact, the proof shows that the transaction in question was entirely between Apache Tribe, No. 1, and the Lawton Post, and there is nothing to show that any member of the department ever knew anything about it, or had anything to do with it. The liability of the Lawton Post is not presented in this appeal. The society (Veteran Army) was not constituted for the purpose of gain. it does not fall within this article of the Civil Code. Such an organization is fully covered by the Law of Associations of 1887, but that law was never extended to the Philippine Islands. According to some commentators it would be governed by the provisions relating to the community of property. However, the questions thus presented we do not find necessary to , and to not resolve. The view most favorable to the appellee is the one that makes the appellant a civil partnership. Assuming that is such, and is covered by the provisions of title 8, book 4 of the Civil Code, it is necessary for the appellee to prove that the contract in question was executed by some authorized to so by the Veteran Army of the Philippines. Judgment against the appellant is reversed, and the Veteran Army of the Philippines is acquitted of the complaint. Criado vs. Gutierrez Hermanos In January 1900, Placido Gutierrez de Celis (37%), Miguel Gutierrez de Celis (37%), Miguel Alfonso (16%), Daniel Perez (5%), and Leopoldo Criado (5%) formed a partnership called Gutierrez Hermanos. Perez and Criado were the industrialist partners while the other three are the capitalist partners.**The percentages after their names denote their share in the profit. In 1903, with the death of one partner (Alfonso), they agreed to liquidate the partnership. In the liquidation, it was put into record in the partnerships books that Criado only had a balance of P25,129.09. Criado immediately protested as he claimed that his balance in the partnership should be P55,738.69, but Miguel persuaded Criado not to protest anymore as he made assurances that the difference shall be paid later on by the new partnership that they will be forming. Miguel convinced Criado to make it appear that the partnership has incurred losses from 1900 to 1903 and that his share in the losses, based on Criados 5% share in profits is deducted from his actual P55k+ balance. Miguel said they have to do this in order to avoid some creditor claims against them, among others. Incidentally, Alfonso also owe P1k from Criado but Miguel assured that the same shall be paid by the new partnership.

So in 1904, a new partnership was formed involving the remaining 4 original partners. They still called themselves Hermanos Guttierez. This time they are all capitalist partners and Criado contributed his P25,129.09 from the first phase of the partnership. The second phase of the partnership went on until such time that Criado got tired of it because Miguel never made good his word to reimburse him of his remaining balance from the first phase of the partnership. And so a liquidation was made and in December 1911, Criado left the firm. Miguel requested Criado to render service in lieu of the liquidation which Criado complied until the partnership was fully liquidated in March 1912. ISSUES: 1. Whether or not Criado is estopped from claiming his balance from the first phase of the partnership considering that he did sign the new partnership agreement which indicated that the remaining balance hes bringing in to the second phase from the first phase of the partnership was only P25k+. 2. Whether or not Criado is liable for losses. 3. Whether or not Criado should be compensated for his services in the liquidation. HELD: No. There is no estoppel. It cannot be held that Criado was in estoppel immediately after having signed the partnership contract of 1904, in which it appears that he brought into the new firm, as capital of his own, P25,129.09, nor may it be said that he was not entitled to claim the rest of his assets in the firm during the first period from 1900 to 1903, to wit, his actual balance P55,738.69 less simulated balance in lieu of Miguels assurances of P25,129.09 = P30,609.60. Criado merely relied on the repeated promises of Miguel hence estoppel cannot be setup against him. No. He is an industrialist partner. Hence, this reinforces number (1). Yes. At the time of the last liquidation, Criado was not a managing partner. In the Code of Commerce, managing partners are the ones obliged to be in charge of the liquidation. Criado without being obliged took charge in the liquidation and this was even upon the request of Miguel himself hence, Criado is entitled to compensation (which as he claims is P1k per month). Gutierrez Hermanos Cross Claim The firm made a cross claim whereby it alleged that at one time when Criado was a managing partner, he delivered goods and provided loans to certain persons without any security for said goods and loans. And because of such, the firm incurred damage. The above claim by the firm against Criado is bereft of merit. According to the law, in order that the partner at fault may be compelled to pay an indemnity, it is indispensable, in the first, place, that his conduct shall have caused some damage to the partnership, and, in the second place, that his conduct should not have been expressly or impliedly ratified by the other partners or the manager of the partnership. Hermanos was not able to prove such damages by sufficient evidence. Island Sales v. United Pioneer General Construction Co. Et al United Pioneers General Construction Company is a general partnership formed by Benjamin Daco, Daniel Guizona, Noel Sim, Augusto Palisoc and Romulo Lumauig. In 1961, United Pioneers purchased by installment a motor vehicle from Island Sales, Inc. United Pioneers defaulted in its payment hence it was sued and the 5 partners were impleaded as co-defendants. Upon motion of Island Sales, Lumauig was removed as a defendant. United Pioneers lost the civil case and the trial court rendered judgment ordering United Pioneers to pay the outstanding balance plus interest and costs. It further decreed that the remaining 4 co-defendants shall pay Island Sales in case United Pioneers property will not be enough to satisfy its indebtedness to Island Sales. ISSUE: What is the extent of the liability of the partners considering that one partner was removed as a co-defendant on motion of Island Sales? HELD: Their liability is pro-rata pursuant to Article 1816 of the Civil Code. But is should be noted that since there were 5 partners when the purchase was made in behalf of the partnership, the liability of each partner should be 1/5th (of the companys obligation) each. The fact that the complaint against Lumauig was dismissed, upon motion of the Island Sales, does not unmake Lumauig as a general partner in the company. In so moving to dismiss the complaint, Island Sales merely condoned Lumauigs individual liability to them.

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