Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital v. Mallare-Phillips
REITERATIONFacts
The Antecedents: Petitioner, Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital (NDLH), owned and operated by the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres, was the defendant in an injunction suit filed by private respondents in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Baguio and Benguet at La Trinidad, Benguet. Procedural History: NDLH filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for lack of jurisdiction and improper venue. The RTC, in its order dated January 11, 1991, denied the motion, upholding its jurisdiction and the propriety of the venue. The Petition: NDLH filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court, assailing the RTC's order, arguing that the RTC lacked jurisdiction and committed grave abuse of discretion in denying the motion to dismiss.
Issue(s)
Whether the Regional Trial Court, Branch VIII at La Trinidad, Benguet, has jurisdiction to entertain the complaint for injunction, considering the location of the defendant hospital in Baguio City. Whether the venue was properly laid before the Regional Trial Court at La Trinidad, Benguet, given the residence of some plaintiffs in La Trinidad.
Ruling
The petition for certiorari is dismissed for lack of merit. The temporary restraining order issued by this Court on January 16, 1991, is set aside. Costs are against the petitioner.
Ratio Decidendi
On the Issue of Jurisdiction: The Supreme Court affirmed the RTC's denial of the motion to dismiss. Pursuant to Section 18 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 (The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980), the Supreme Court defines the territorial jurisdiction of each branch of the RTC. Administrative Order No. 7, as amended by Administrative Order No. 67, delineates the jurisdiction of RTC Branches III to VII in Baguio City to cover only the City of Baguio, while Branches VIII to X in La Trinidad, Benguet, cover all municipalities of Benguet province, including La Trinidad. Section 21(1) of B.P. Blg. 129 grants RTCs original jurisdiction in the issuance of writs of injunction, which may be enforced in any part of their respective regions. The RTC of La Trinidad, Benguet, is part of the First Judicial Region, which includes the City of Baguio. Therefore, a writ of injunction issued by the RTC in La Trinidad is enforceable in Baguio City, where the petitioner hospital is located. Consequently, the RTC did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion to dismiss. On the Issue of Venue: The action for injunction is a civil action where the subject matter is incapable of pecuniary estimation, thus falling under the exclusive original jurisdiction of the RTC as provided in Section 19 of B.P. Blg. 129. Furthermore, it is a personal action, not affecting title to or possession of real property. Under Section 2(b), Rule 4 of the Rules of Court, such an action may be commenced and tried where the defendant or any of the defendants resides, or may be found, or where the plaintiffs or any of the plaintiffs resides, at the election of the plaintiff. Since two of the plaintiffs, Drs. Felipe Tabanda, Jr. and Rosann Sta. Cruz, are residents of La Trinidad, Benguet, the complaint could properly be filed in the RTC at La Trinidad, Benguet. This choice of venue is sanctioned by law. The Court emphasized that the allegations in the complaint, not the allegations in the answer, determine jurisdiction and venue. The fact that Drs. Tabanda and Sta. Cruz are among many plaintiffs, or their specific standing as employees or residents, does not divest the court of jurisdiction or render the venue improper.
Main Doctrine
The Regional Trial Court, Branch VIII at La Trinidad, Benguet, has jurisdiction over an action for injunction filed by residents of La Trinidad, Benguet, even if the defendant hospital is located in Baguio City, as the venue is properly laid under Section 2(b), Rule 4 of the Rules of Court, and the writ of injunction issued by such court is enforceable within its region, including Baguio City, pursuant to Section 21(1) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129.