Chua vs. Atty. De Castro Case Digest

Joseph C. Chua vs. Atty. Arturo M. De Castro

A.C. No. 10671. December 5, 2016

Facts

Before the Court is a Motion for Reconsideration (MR) filed by respondent Atty. Arturo M. De Castro (Atty. De Castro) of the Court's Resolution dated November 25, 2015 which found him liable for violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR) and was meted out the penalty of suspension from the practice of law for a period of three (3) months.

Chua alleged that his company, Nemar Computer Resources Corp. (NCRC) filed a collection case against Dr. Concepcion Aguila Memorial College, represented by its counsel Atty. De Castro. According to Chua, since the filing of the collection case on June 15, 2006, it took more than five (5) years to present one witness of NCRC due to Atty. De Castro's propensity to seek postponements of agreed hearing dates for unmeritorious excuses. Atty. De Castro's flimsy excuses would vary from simple absence without notice, to claims of alleged ailment unbacked by any medical certificates, to claims of not being ready despite sufficient time given to prepare, to the sending of a representative lawyer who would profess non-knowledge of the case to seek continuance, to a plea for the postponement without providing any reason therefore.

For his defense, Atty. De Castro countered that his pleas for continuance and resetting were based on valid grounds. Also, he pointed out that most of the resetting were [sic] without the objection of the counsel for NCRC, and that, certain resettings were even at the instance of the latter.

On April 16, 2013, the IBP Board of Governors issued a Resolution adopting and approving with modification the Report and Recommendation of the CBD. The Board of Governors modified the penalty meted out to [Atty. De Castro] [by] reducing the period of suspension from six (6) months to three (3) months.

On November 25, 2015, the Court affirmed the recommendation of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Board of Governors. The Court held that Atty. De Castro violated his oath of office in his handling of the collection case filed against his client. Undaunted with the Court's ruling, Atty. De Castro filed the present motion for reconsideration. He strongly disputes the allegations of Chua averring that the long delay in the disposition of the collection case before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) was due to the several postponements which were found meritorious by the RTC.

Issue

Whether Atty. De Castro's suspension from the practice of law for three (3) months is proper.

Ruling

After a second hard look at the facts of the case, relevant laws, and jurisprudence, the Court finds merit in the motion for reconsideration. A lawyer indubitably owes fidelity to the cause of his clients, and is thus expected to serve the client with competence and utmost diligence. He is enabled to utilize every honorable means to defend the cause of his client and secure what is due the latter. Under the CPR, every lawyer is required to exert every effort and consider it his duty to assist in the speedy and efficient administration of justice.

Upon careful consideration of the circumstances, the Court finds that the delay in the disposition of Civil Case No. 7939 was not solely attributable to Atty. De Castro. The trial court itself, either at its own initiative or at the instance of Chua's counsel, allowed the delays. Consequently, if not all of such delays were attributable to Atty: De Castro's doing, it would be unfair to hold him solely responsible for the delays caused in the case. Moreover, it appears that the trial court granted Atty. De Castro's several motions for resetting of the trial; and that at no time did the trial court sanction or cite him for contempt of court for abuse on account of such motions. Verily, if his explanations for whatever delays he might have caused were accepted by the trial court without any reservations or conditions, there would be no legitimate grievance to be justly raised against him on the matter.

While Atty. De Castro's repeated requests for resetting and postponement of the trial of the case may be considered as contemptuous if there was a showing of abuse on his part, the Court, however, finds that Chua failed to show that Atty. De Castro was indeed moved to cause delays by malice, or dishonesty, or deceit, or grave misconduct as to warrant a finding of administrative liability against him. The operative phrase for causing delay in any suit or proceeding under Rule 1.03 is ''for any corrupt motive or interest." Considering that this matter concerned Atty. De Castro's state of mind, it absolutely behooved Chua to present sufficient evidence of the overt acts committed by Atty. De Castro that demonstrated his having deliberately intended thereby to do wrong or to cause damage to him and his business. That demonstration, however, was not made by Chua.

Notwithstanding the absence of malice, dishonesty, or ill motive, it is good to remind Atty. De Castro that as a member of the Bar, he is expected to exert every effort and consider it his duty to assist in the speedy and efficient administration of justice and to be more circumspect whenever seeking the postponements of cases.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Motion for Reconsideration filed by respondent Atty. Arturo M. De Castro is hereby GRANTED. The Court's Resolution dated November 25, 2015 is SET ASIDE. Atty. Arturo M. De Castro is ADMONISHED to exercise the necessary prudence required in the practice of his legal profession in his representation of the defendant in Civil Case No. 7939 in the Regional Trial Court of Batangas City.