Obligations Flashcards
What is an obligation?
- A juridical necessity to give, to do or not to do.
- Juridical relation where a party may demand of the other to perform a behavior and when breached, you can gain the benefit lost from the assets of the debtor
- Legal relation between one party and another where the latter is bound to fulfill the prestation demanded of him by the former
What is juridical necessity?
Courts may be called upon to enforce it. Or, if needed, be liable for damages. Necessity because it is required of him to comply whether he likes it or not and failure to do so will bring consequences
Elements of an obligation
(1) active subject
(2) passive
(3) object of the presentation
(4) efficient cause/juridical tie
Obligation vs. right vs. wrong
Obligation: act/performance to be enforced
Right: power that a person has to demand from another
Wrong (cause of action): act/omission in violation of the rights of another
Formula for cause of action
right + legal tie/obligation + act violative of the right
Characteristics of a prestation
Possible, determinate, has an equivalent in money
When does a cause of action begin?
Time of breach
Injury vs. damage vs. damages
Injury: illegal invasion of a legal right
Damage: loss, hurt or harm resulting from the injury
Damages: sum of money that can be recovered in compensation for the damage sustained
Damnum absque injuria
Damage without injury. Acts must not only be hurtful but wrongful
Kinds of obligations acc to subject matter
Real obligation (to give) — there exists a thing that must be delivered Personal obligation (to do or not to do)
Sources of obligations
(1) Law
(2) Contracts
(3) Quasi-contracts
(4) Acts or omissions punished by law — arise from civil liability that is a consequence of a criminal offense
(5) Quasi-delicts. (1089a) — an act or omission there being fault or negligence but no contractual relation previously existed
Quasi-contractual obligations
A juridical relation resulting from a lawful, voluntary and unilateral acts that are enforced to ensure no one is unjustly enriched or benefited
Kinds of quasi contracts
1) Negotiorum gestio - voluntary management of the property of another without the latter’s consent/knowledge. Does not arise when property/business is NOT neglected/abandoned or when manager is already tacitly authorized
2) Solutio indebiti - something is received when there is no right to demand it and it was unduly delivered
Scope of civil liablity
Restitution, reparation for damage causes and indemnification for consequential damages
Requisites of quasi delicts
1) act or omission
2) Fault or negligence
3) Damage caused
4) Direct relation of cause and effect between the act or omission and the damage
4) Exists no pre-existing contractual relation between the parties
Difference between a quasi-delict and a crime?
1) Crimes are public, quasi-delicts are private.
2) Crimes have criminal and civil liability, quasi delicts only have civil
3) Crimes are for punishment while quasi delicts are for indemnification
4) Quasi delicts can be an object of compromise like other civil lability
5) Quasi delicts need only mere preponderance of evidence
- Delicts are strictly construed by law and not as broad as quasi-delicts. Quasi-delicts may arise from any occasion of fault or negligence.
Generic objects
Only indicated by its kind. The generic never perishes.
Determinate objects
Identified by its individuality. Can’t be substituted with another even though same kind and quality when there is no consent from the creditor
Incidental obligations to delivery
(1) obligation to preserve with due care
(2) obligation to deliver fruits, (3) obligation to deliver accessions and accessories, (4) deliver the thing itself, and (5) to answer for damages in case of non-fulfillment
Standard of care in obligations to take care
Diligence of a good father
Kinds of fruits
1) natural
2) industrial
3) civil
Real vs. personal rights
1) Real: Direct and immediate juridical power over the thing; can be exercised against other persons and the world
2) personal: “power belonging to one person to demand of another”
When does creditor acquire real right over the fruits?
When it has been delivered to him
What are the remedies of a creditor for delivery?
1) Action for specific performance
2) Action to rescind/resolve the obligation
3) Action for damages (exclusively or as add on to the first two)
Mitigating factors for damages in delay
(1) plaintiff contravened contract
(2) was able to gain some benefit from the contract
(3) if there were exemplary damages,
(4) defendant acted upon advice of counsel
(5) loss would have resulted in any event
(6) since filing, defendant had done his best to lessen plaintiff’s loss
Accessories
Destined for embellishment, use or preservation of another thing of more importance. Are for completion
Accession
Everything produced by a thing. Incorporated or attached, whether naturally or artificially
Accession continua
Everything produced by a thing. Incorporated or attached, whether naturally or artificially
Kinds of accession
accesion natural (alluvion), accesion industrial (building, planting or sowing)
When is demand not necessary?
1) Express stipulation (no need for a date of performance), must state that after period lapses, default will commence
2) Law so provides (no need for a date of performance)
3) Period is the controlling motive
4) Demand would be useless
Delay
Equivalent to default. There is only default in positive obligations
Kinds of Mora
1) Mora solvendi — Delay on part of debtor (ex re or ex persona)
2) Mora accipiendi — Delay on part of creditor
3) Compensatio morae — Default of both parties (reciprocal obligations)
Requisites for mora solvendi
(1) Obligation be demandable and already liquidated
(2) debtor delays performance
(3) creditor requires the performance judicially or extrajudicially
When does default begin?
From the time of extra-judicial demand
Culpa aquilina v. culpa contractual
Aquilina: negligence becomes a source of an obligation for those not formally bound by a pre-existing contract.
Contractual: negligence in the performance for contracts resulting in breach.
What is covered in recovery of damages for breach?
1) Expectation interest — his interest in the benefit of the bargain
2) Reliance interest — interest in reimbursement caused by reliance on the contract
3) Restitution interest — interest hin having restored to him any benefit he conferred
Fraud v. negligence
1) Fraud: deliberate intent to cause damage while negligence has no such intention
2) Waiver of liability for future fraud is void; may be allowed for negligence
3) Fraud must be clearly proved while negligence is presumed from the breach
4) Liability for fraud CANNOT be mitigated.
When is negligence equivalent to fraud?
Negligence shows bad faith = gross negligence = want or absence of or failure to exercise even slight care or diligence
When is negligence equivalent to fraud?
Negligence shows bad faith = gross negligence = want or absence of or failure to exercise even slight care or diligence
Kinds of negligence according to source of obligation
1) Contractual negligence
2) Civil negligence (culpa aquiliana)
3) Criminal negligence (culpa criminal)
Test to determine when a person is negligent
Reasonable care and caution expected of a prudent person
Remedies of the creditor
Specific performance
Levy property of debtor
Use all rights of debtor
Rescission or impugn the acts of debtor
Pure vs. conditional obligation
Pure: not subject to a condition/period; immediately demandable
Conditional: Consequences are subject to the fulfillment of a condition
Condition
1) Future and uncertain event
2) Past but unknown
3) Must not be impossible
Suspensive v. resolutory
1) Obligation arises, obligation is extinguished
2) If suspensive, no tie of law if unfulfilled. If resolutory, tie of law is consolidated.
3) Until suspensive, obligation is just a possibility. In resolutory, termination looms.
4) Failure to comply with suspensive –> failure of the contract. Failure to comply with resolutory –> gives party the option to refuse the obligation or waive the condition
Period
future and certain event, arrival of which subjects the obligation to arise/extinguish
Casual condition
Depends on chance
Mixed condition
Depends partly on chance and upon will of a third person