Cervantes v. CA

Facts:

On March 27, 1989, private respondent PAL issued to herein petitioner Nicholas Cervantes a round trip ticket for Manila-Honolulu-Los Angeles-Honolulu-Manila, which is valid until March 27, 1990. On March 23, 1990, petitioner used it. Upon his arrival in Los Angeles, he immediately booked a flight to Manila, which was confirmed on April 2. Upon learning that the plane would make a stop-over in San Francisco, and because he would be there on April 2, petitioner made arrangements to board in San Francisco. On April 2, he was not allowed to board due to the expiration of his ticket. He filed a complaint for damages. It was not given due course by both the trial court and the Court of Appeals.

Issues:

(1) Whether or not the act of the PAL agents in confirming subject ticket extended the period of validity of petitioner's ticket

(2) Whether or not the denial of the award for damages was proper

Held:

(1) From the facts, it can be gleaned that the petitioner was fully aware that there was a need to send a letter to the legal counsel of PAL for the extension of the period of validity of his ticket. Under Article 1898 11 of the New Civil Code, the acts of an agent beyond the scope of his authority do not bind the principal, unless the latter ratifies the same expressly or impliedly. Furthermore, when the third person (herein petitioner) knows that the agent was acting beyond his power or authority, the principal cannot be held liable for the acts of the agent. If the said third person is aware of such limits of authority, he is to blame, and is not entitled to recover damages from the agent, unless the latter undertook to secure the principal's ratification.

(2) An award of damages is improper because petitioner failed to show that PAL acted in bad faith in refusing to allow him to board its plane in San Francisco. In awarding moral damages for breach of contract of carriage, the breach must be wanton and deliberately injurious or the one responsible acted fraudulently or with malice or bad faith. Petitioner knew there was a strong possibility that he could not use the subject ticket, so much so that he bought a back-up ticket to ensure his departure. Should there be a finding of bad faith, we are of the opinion that it should be on the petitioner. What the employees of PAL did was one of simple negligence. No injury resulted on the part of petitioner because he had a back-up ticket should PAL refuse to accommodate him with the use of subject ticket.

Neither can the claim for exemplary damages be upheld. Such kind of damages is imposed by way of example or correction for the public good, and the existence of bad faith is established. The wrongful act must be accompanied by bad faith, and an award of damages would be allowed only if the guilty party acted in a wanton, fraudulent, reckless or malevolent manner. Here, there is no showing that PAL acted in such a manner. An award for attorney's fees is also improper.