16. Anita Tan vs. Standard Vacuum Oil Co., Julito Sto.

Domingo, Igmidio Rico acquittal of the accused from the criminal charge will not necessarily
and Rural Transit Co. extinguish the civil liability unless the court declares in the judgment that the
G.R. No. L-4160, July 29, 1952 fact from which the civil liability might arise and did not exist.
Facts:  Here it is true that Julito Sto. Domingo and Igmidio Rico were acquitted, the
 On May 3, 1949, the Standard Vacuum Oil Company ordered the delivery to court holding that they were not responsible for the fire that destroyed the
the Rural Transit Company at its garage at Rizal Avenue Extension, City of house of the plaintiff,—which as a rule will not necessarily extinguish their
Manila, of 1,925 gallons of gasoline using a gasoline tank-truck trailer. civil liability,—but the court went further by stating that the evidence
 The truck was driven by Julito Sto. Domingo, who was helped by Igmidio Rico. throws no light on the cause of fire and that it was an unfortunate
While the gasoline was being discharged to the underground tank, it accident for which the accused cannot be held responsible. In our
caught fire, whereupon Julito Sto. Domingo drove the truck across the opinion, this declaration fits well into the exception of the rule which
Rizal Avenue Extension and upon reaching the middle of the street he exempts the two accused from civil liability. When the court acquitted
abandoned the truck with continued moving to the opposite side of the the accused because the fire was due to an unfortunate accident it
first street causing the buildings on that side to be burned and actually said that the fire was due to a fortuitous event for which the
detroyed. accused are not to blame. It actually exonerated them from civil
o The house of Anita Tan was among those destroyed and for its liability.
repair she spent P12,000.
 As an aftermath of the fire, Julito Sto. Domingo and Imigidio Rico were 2. Standard Vacuum Oil and Rural Transit Co. liable and res judicata not
charged with arson through reckless imprudence in the CFI of Manila where, applicable.
after trial, both were acquitted, the court holding that their negligence was  But the case takes a different aspect with respect to the other defendants. For
not proven and the fire was due to an unfortunate accident. one thing, the principle of res judicata cannot apply to them for the simple
o With respect to damages, Anita Tan did not make any reservation reason that they were not included as co-accused in the criminal case. Not
of her right to file a separate civil action against the accused as having been included in the criminal case they cannot enjoy the benefit
required by the Rules of Court Rule 107, section 1-(a). As Anita resulting from the acquittal of the accused. This benefit can only be
Tan failed to make reservation, and the accused were acquitted, claimed by the accused if a subsequent action is later taken against
the lower court ruled that she is now barred from filing this them under the Revised Penal Code. And this action can only be
action against the defendants. maintained if proper reservation is made and there is no express
 Anita Tan then brought the action against the Standard Vacuum Oil Company declaration that the basis of the civil action has not existed. It is,
and the Rural Transit Company; including the two employees, seeking to therefore, an error for the lower court to dismiss the case against these
recover the damages she has suffered for the destruction of her house. two defendants more so when their civil liability is predicated or facts
 Defendants filed separate motions to dismiss alleging in substance that other than those attributed to the two employees in the criminal case.
(a) plaintiff's action is barred by prior judgment and (b) plaintiff's complaint  Take, for instance, of the Standard Vacuum Oil Company. this company is
states no cause of action; and this motion having been sustained, plaintiff sued not precisely because of supposed negligent acts of its two employees
elevated the case to this Court imputing eight errors to the court a quo. Julito Sto. Domingo and Igmidio Rico but because of acts of its own which
might have contributed to the fire that destroyed the house of the plaintiff.
Issue: The complaint contains definite allegations of negligent acts properly
(1) WON Sto Domingo and Imigdio Rico are liable. (NO.) attributable to the company which proven and not refuted may serve as basis
(2) WON Standard Vacuum Oil Co. is liable. (YES. Res judicata cannot apply of its civil liability. Thus, in paragraph 5 of the first cause of action, it is
to them.) expressly alleged that this company, through its employees, failed to take the
necessary precautions or measures to insure safety and avoid harm to person
Held: and damage to property as well as to observe that degree of care, precaution
1. Sto. Domingo and Imigdio Rico are not liable. and vigilance which the circumstances justly demanded, thereby causing the
 The rule is that "extinction of the penal action does not carry with it gasoline they were unloading to catch fire. The precautions or measures
extinction of the civil, unless the extinction proceeds from the declaration in which this company has allegedly failed to take to prevent fire are not clearly
a final judgment that the fact from which the civil might arise did not exist" stated, but they are matters of evidence which need not now be determined.
(Rule 107, section 1-d, Rules of Court). This provision means that the Suffice it to say that such allegation furnishes enough basis for a cause of
 action against this company. There is no need for the plaintiff to make a
reservation of her right to file a separate civil action, for as this court already
held in a number of cases, such reservation is not necessary when the civil
action contemplated is not derived from the criminal liability but one based
on culpa aquiliana under the Old Civil Code (articles 1902 to 1910). These
two acts are separate and distinct and should not be confused one with the
other. Plaintiff can choose either.
 The case of the Rural Transit Co. is even more different as it is predicated on
a special provisions of the Revised Penal Code. Thus, article 101, Rule 2, of
said Code provides:

Art. 101. Rules regarding civil liability in certain cases. — The exemption
from criminal liability established in subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of
article 12 and in subdivision 4 of article 11 of this Code does not include
exemption from civil liability, which shall be enforced to the following
rules:

xxx xxx xxx

Second. In cases falling within subdivision 4 of article 11, the persons for
whose benefit the harm has been prevented shall be civilly liable in
proportion to the benefit which they have received.

 Considering the above quoted law and facts, the cause of action against the
Rural Transit Company can hardly be disputed, it appearing that the damage
caused to the plaintiff was brought about mainly because of the desire of
driver Julito Sto. Domingo to avoid greater evil or harm, which would have
been the case had he not brought the tank-truck trailer to the middle of the
street, for then the fire would have caused the explosion of the gasoline
deposit of the company which would have resulted in a conflagration of much
greater proportion and consequences to the houses nearby or surrounding
it. It cannot be denied that this company is one of those for whose benefit a
greater harm has been prevented, and as such it comes within the purview
of said penal provision. The acquittal of the accused cannot, therefore, be
deemed a bar to a civil action against this company because its civil liability
is completely divorced from the criminal liability of the accused. The rule
regarding reservation of the right to file a separate civil action does not apply
to it.

SC= CFI affirmed insofar as defendants Sto. Domingo and Rico while
reversed with regard to defendants Standard Vacuum and Rural Transit
Company.