CRUZ vs TUASON & CO. G.R. No. L-23749 April 29, 1977

FACTS:

As requested by the Deudors, the family of Telesforo Deudor who laid claim in question on the strength of an informacion posesoria, Cruz made permanent improvements on the said land having an area of more or less 20 quinones.

The improvements were valued at P30,400 and for which he incurred expenses amounting to P7,781.74

In 1952, Tuason & Co. availed of Cruz’ services as an intermediary with the Deudors, to work for the amicable settlement in a civil case. The said case involved 50 quiones of land, of which the 20 quiones of land mentioned formed part.

A compromise agreement between the Deudors and Tuason & Co. was entered into on 1963 which was approved by court.

Cruz alleged that Tuason & Co. promised to convey him the 3,000 sq. meters of land occupied by him which was part of the 20 quiones of land within 10 years from the date of signing of the compromise agreement between the Deudors and the latter as consideration of his services. The said land was not conveyed to him by Tuason & Co.

Cruz further alleged that Tuason & Co. was unjustly enriched at his expense since they enjoyed the benefits of the improvements he made on the land acquired by the latter.

The trial court dismissed the case on the ground that there was no cause of action. Hence, this appeal.

ISSUE: Whether or not a presumed quasi-contract be emerged as against one part when the subject matter thereof is already covered by a contract with another party.

HELD: From the very language of this provision, it is obvious that a presumed qauasi-contract cannot emerge as against one party when the subject mater thereof is already covered by an existing contract with another party. Predicated on the principle that no one should be allowed to unjustly enrich himself at the expense of another, Article 2124 creates the legal fiction of a quasi-contract precisely because of the absence of any actual agreement between the parties concerned. Corollarily, if the one who claims having enriched somebody has done so pursuant to a contract with a third party, his cause of action should be against the latter, who in turn may, if there is any ground therefor, seek relief against the party benefited. It is essential that the act by which the defendant is benefited must have been voluntary and unilateral on the part of the plaintiff. As one distinguished civilian puts it, "The act is voluntary. because the actor in quasi-contracts is not bound by any pre-existing obligation to act. It is unilateral, because it arises from the sole will of the actor who is not previously bound by any reciprocal or bilateral agreement. The reason why the law creates a juridical relations and imposes certain obligation is to prevent a situation where a person is able to benefit or take advantage of such lawful, voluntary and unilateral acts at the expense of said actor." In the case at bar, since appellant has a clearer and more direct recourse against the Deudors with whom he had entered into an agreement regarding the improvements and expenditures made by him on the land of appellees. It Cannot be said, in the sense contemplated in Article 2142, that appellees have been enriched at the expense of appellant.