LAW ON SALES | RAMOS V. NGASEO, 445 SCRA 529, DECEMBER 9, 2004

RAMOS V. NGASEO

445 SCRA 529, DECEMBER 9, 2004

 

TOPIC/DOCTRINE

Mere demand for delivery of the litigated property does not cause the transfer of ownership, hence, not a prohibited transaction within the contemplation of Article 1491.

 

FACTS

This is a complaint for suspension of respondent Atty. Patricio A. Ngaseo for violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Article 1491 of the Civil Code by demanding from his client, complainant Federico N. Ramos, the delivery of 1,000 square meters of land, a litigated property, as payment for his appearance fees.

 

ISSUE

Whether respondent violated the prohibition against lawyers under Article 1491 (5) of the Civil Code.

 

RULING

No.

 

The court held that Article 1491 (5) of the Civil Code prohibiting lawyers from acquiring either by purchase or assignment the property or rights involved which are the object of the litigation in which they intervene by virtue of their profession applies only if the sale or assignment of the property takes place during the pendency of the litigation involving the client’s property.

 

Here, the court hold that there was no actual acquisition of the property in litigation since the respondent only made a written demand for its delivery which the complainant refused to comply. Mere demand for delivery of the litigated property does not cause the transfer of ownership, hence, not a prohibited transaction within the contemplation of Article 1491. Even assuming arguendo that such demand for delivery is unethical, respondent’s act does not fall within the purview of Article 1491. The letter of demand dated January 29, 2003 was made long after the judgment in Civil Case No. SCC-2128 became final and executory on January 18, 2002.https://www.instagram.com/lawyalstudent/

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