Civil Code - Oblicon

Front

Situation:
Maria, an interior designer, entered into a contract with Mr. Cruz to renovate his condominium unit for ₱1,000,000. The contract stated that the project would be completed within 3 months. After receiving an initial down payment of ₱500,000, Maria failed to complete the project on time and stopped responding to Mr. Cruz.

Question:
Can Mr. Cruz file a case against Maria for breach of contract?

Back

Answer:
Yes. Under Article 1308 of the Civil Code, contracts must bind both parties, and their fulfillment cannot be left to the will of one party. Since Maria did not fulfill her obligation, Mr. Cruz can seek legal remedies such as rescission of contract (Article 1381) and demand for damages (Article 1170) due to the delay and failure to complete the project.

Front

Situation:
Anna hired an interior designer, Joel, to renovate her café. Joel claimed to use high-quality Italian marble for the countertops as specified in their contract. After completion, Anna discovered that the countertops were made of cheaper synthetic material but charged as if they were genuine marble.

Question:
Can Anna take legal action against Joel?

Back

Answer:
Yes. This constitutes fraud under Article 1338, where one party induces another into entering a contract through deceit. Anna can file a case for contract annulment (Article 1390) and demand a refund or damages for the misrepresentation.

Front

Situation:
An elderly woman, Lola Carmen, hired an interior designer, Ben, to refurbish her ancestral home. However, Ben convinced her to sign a contract for ₱2 million, which was way beyond her budget. Due to her old age and poor eyesight, Lola Carmen was unaware of the excessive costs.

Question:
Can Lola Carmen have the contract annulled?

Back

Answer:
Yes. This falls under Article 1390, where a contract can be voided if consent was vitiated by undue influence or fraud. Given her vulnerability, she can argue that she did not fully understand the contract’s terms, making it voidable.

Front

Situation:
Joshua, an interior designer, agreed verbally to design and furnish a restaurant for Julia for ₱3 million. After completing the work, Julia refused to pay, claiming there was no written contract proving their agreement.

Question:
Can Joshua demand payment from Julia?

Back

Answer:
No. Under Article 1403 (Statute of Frauds), contracts involving amounts exceeding ₱500,000 must be in writing to be enforceable. Without a written agreement, Joshua may have difficulty proving the existence of the contract and enforcing payment.

Front

Situation:
Lance hired an interior designer, Kathy, to renovate his house. Halfway through the project, Lance unilaterally decided to terminate the contract without any valid reason.

Question:
Can Kathy demand compensation?

Back

Answer:
Yes. Article 1308 states that contracts cannot be revoked by just one party unless both agree or there is a legal basis. Kathy can claim payment for completed work and damages for lost profits (Article 1170).

Front

Situation:
A client requested that an interior designer install a self-sustaining indoor waterfall in her condo unit, but the building regulations prohibited such modifications. Despite this, the designer signed a contract agreeing to do the work.

Question:
Is this contract valid?

Back

Answer:
No. Under Article 1348, contracts with an impossible object are void. Since the project is legally impossible, the contract has no effect.