Jo Chung Cang v. Pacific Com. Co (1923)
Jo Chung Cang v. Pacific Com. Co (1923)
Jo Chung Cang v. Pacific Com. Co (1923)
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45Phil.142
[G.R.No.19892,September06,1923]
TECKSEING&CO.,LTD.,PETITIONERANDAPPELLEE.
SANTIAGOJOCHUNGCANGETAL.,PARTNERS,VS.PACIFIC
COMMERCIALCOMPANYETAL.,CREDITORSAND
APPELLANTS.
DECISION
MALCOLM,J.:
Followingthepresentationofanapplicationtobeadjudgedaninsolventbythe
"Sociedad Mercantil, Teck Seing & Co., Ltd.," the creditors, the Pacific
CommercialCompany,Piol&Company,RiuHermanos,andW.H.Anderson&.
Company,filedamotioninwhichtheCourtwasprayedtoenteranorder:"(A)
Declaring the individual partners as described in paragraph 5 parties to this
proceeding (B) to require each of said partners to file an inventory of his
property in the manner required by section 51 of Act No. 1956 and (C) that
eachofsaidpartnersbeadjudicatedinsolventdebtorsinthisproceeding."The
trial judge first granted the motion, but, subsequently, on opposition being
renewed, denied it. It is from this last order that an appeal was taken in
accordancewithsection82oftheInsolvencyLaw.
Therehasbeenlaidbeforeusforconsiderationanddecisionaquestionofsome
importance and of some intricacy. The issue in the case relates to a
determination of the nature of the mercantile establishment which operated
under the name of Teck Seing & Co., Ltd., and this issue requires us to look
into,andanalyze,thedocumentconstitutingTeckSeing&Co.,Ltd.Itreads:
"ESCRITURADESOCIEDADMERCANTILLIMITADA
"Sepantodosporlapresente:
"Que nosotros, Santiago Jo Chung Cang, mayor de edad,
comerciante,vecinoyresidentedelmunicipiodeTabogon,Provincia
de Cebu, Islas Filipinas, Go Tayco, mayor de edad, comerciante,
vecino y residente del municipio de Cebu, Provincia de Cebu, Islas
Filipinas, Yap Gueco, mayor de edad, comerciante, vecino y
residente del municipio y Provincia de Cebu, Islas Filipinas, Lim
Yogsing, mayor de edad, comerciante, vecino y residente del
municipio de Cebu, Provincia de Cebu, Islas Filipinas, y Jo Ybec,
mayor de edad, comerciante, vecino y residente del municipio de
Jagna, Provincia de Bohol, Islas Filipinas, hacemos constar por la
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SantiagoJo
ChungCang
P6,000.00
GoTayco
6,000.00
YapGueco
6,000.00
JoYbec
6,000.00
LimYogsing
6,000.00
Total
_________
30,000.00
"Queladuraciondelasociedadseraladeseisaos,acontardela
fecha de esta escritura, pudiendo prorrogarse este tiempo a
discrecionunanimedetodoslosaccionistas.
"Elobjetodelasociedadseralacomprayventademercaderiasen
general.
"El administrador o administradores de la sociedad podran, previa
conformidad de los accionistas, establecer cuantas sucursales o
establecimientos considere necesarios para facilitar sus negocios y
el mayor desarrollo del comercio a que se dedica la sociedad,
verificando todas las operaciones que crean convenientes para el
fomentodesucapital.
"Las ganancias o perdidas que resultaren durante cada ao
comercial, se distribuiran proporcionalmente entre los accionistas,
deacuerdoconelcapitalaportadoporcadaunodelosmismos.
"Las ganancias que resultaren en cada ao comercial, si resultaren
algunasganancias,nopodranserretiradasporlosaccionistashasta
dentro del termino de tres aos, a contar de la fecha del primer
balance anual del negocio, quedando por tanto estas ganancias en
reserva, para ampliar el capital aportado por los accionistas y
ampliar por tanto la esfera de accion emprendida por la misma
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sociedad.Alpasaroexpirarelterminodetresaos,cadaaccionista
podraretirarodepositarenpoderdelasociedad,lasgananciasque
ledebierancorresponderdurantedichoterminodetresaos.
"Quelosaccionistasnopodranextraernidisponerenninguntiempo
cualesquiera cantidad o cantidades de la sociedad, que haya sido
aportada por los mismos, para atender sus gastos particulares ni
aunpagandoreditoalgunosobrelacantidadqueintentendisponero
extraerdedichasociedad.
"El accionista Sr. Lim Yogsing tendra a su cargo, en union del Sr.
VicenteJocsonJo,laadministraciondelaCompaia,quienespodran
usar indistintamente la firma social, quedando por consiguiente
autorizados ambos para hacer en nombre de ella toda clase de
operaciones, negocios y especulaciones mercantiles, practicando
judicialyextrajudicialmentecuantosactosserequieranparaelbien
de la sociedad, nombrar procuradores o abogados para
reclamacionesycobrodecreditosyproponerantelostribunaleslas
demandas,convenios,transaccionesyexcepcionesprocedentes.En
caso de ausencia, enfermedad o cualquier otro impedimento del
accionista administrador Sr. Lim Yogsing, este podra conferir poder
general o especial al accionista que crea conveniente para que en
union del administrador auxiliar Sr. Vicente Jocson Jo, pudieran
ambos administrar convenientemente los negocios de la sociedad.
Quelosadministradorespodrantenerlosempleadosnecesariospara
elmejormanejodelosnegociosdelasociedad,yfijaranlossueldos
que debieran percibir dichos empleados por servicios rendidos a la
sociedad.
"Que ambos administradores podran disponer de mil doscientos
pesos (P1,200) moneda filipina, anualmente, para sus gastos
particulares, siendo dicha cantidad de P1,200 la que corresponde a
cada uno de dichos administradores, como emolumentos o salarios
queselesasignaacadauno,porsustrabajosenlaadministracion
delasociedad.Entendiendose,que,losaccionistaspodrandisponer
cada fin de ao la gratificacion que se concedera a cada
administrador,silosnegociosdelaofueranboyantesyjustifiquen
laconcesiondeunagratificacionespecial,apartedelsalarioaquidi
spuestoyespecificado.
"Quepasadoelterminodeseisaos,yesdelaconvenienciadelos
accionistas la continuacion del negocio de esta sociedad, dicho
terminoseraprorrogadoporigualnumerodeaos,sinnecesidaddel
otorgamientodeulterioresescrituras,quedandolapresenteenvigor
hastaelterminodispuestoportodoslosaccionistas.
"Que las diferencias que pudieran suscitarse entre los accionistas,
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(Fdos.)"LIMYOGSING
"JOYBECporHOSENGSIAN
"SANTIAGOJO
CHUNGCANG
"GOTAYCO
"YAPGUECO
Firmadoenpresenciade:
(Fdos.)"ATILANOLEYSON
"JULIODIAZ
"ESTADOSUNIDOSDEAMERICA
"ISLASFlLIPINAS
"PROVINCIADECEBU
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expedidaenCebu,Cebu,I.F.eldia20deenerode1919bajoelNo.
F1452296, Lim Yogsing tambien me exhibio la suya expedida en
Cebu,Cebu,I.F.,eldia26defebrerode1919bajoelNo.F1455662,
y Ho Seng Sian representante de Jo Ybec, me exhibio su cedula
personal expedida en Cebu, Cebu, I. F. el dia 4 de febrero de 1919
bajoelNo.F1453733.
"Antemi,
(Fdo.)"F.V.ARIAS
"NotarioPublico
"Hastael1.de
enerode1920
"AsientoNo.157
PaginaNo.95demi
RegistroNotarial
Serie1919
Libro2..
"Presentado a las diez y cuarenta y tres minutos de la maana de
hoy, segun el asiento No. 125, pagina 9 del Tomo 1. del Libro
Diario.Cebu,11defebrerode1920.
[SELLO]
(Fdo.)"QUIRICO
ABETO
"Registrador
MercantilExOfficio
[SELLO]
(Fdo.)"QUIRICO
ABETO
"Registrador
MercantilExOfficio"
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oppositiontothemotionofthecreditors,as"unaverdaderasociedadanonima"
(atruesociedadanonima).TheprovisionsoftheCodeofCommercerelatingto
sociedades anonimas were, however, repealed by section 191 of the
CorporationLaw(ActNo.1459),withtheexceptionsthatsociedadesanonimas
lawfully organized at the time of the passage of the Corporation Law were
recognized,whichisnotourcase.
The document providing for the partnership contract purported to form "una
sociedad mercantil limitada," and counsel for the petitioner's first contention
was that Teck Seing & Co., Ltd. was not "una sociedad regular colectiva, ni
siquieracomanditaria,sinounasociedadmercantillimitada."Let us see if the
partnership contract created a "sociedad en comandita," or, as it is known in
English,andwillhereafterbespokenof,"alimitedpartnership."
Toestablishalimitedpartnershiptheremustbe,atleast,onegeneralpartner
and the name of at least one of the general partners must appear in the firm
name. (Code of Commerce, arts. 122 [2], 146, 148.) But neither of these
requirements have been fulfilled. The general rule is, that those who seek to
avail themselves of the protection of laws permitting the creation of limited
partnershipsmustshowasubstantiallyfullcompliancewithsuchlaws.Alimited
partnershipthathasnotcompliedwiththelawofitscreationisnotconsidered
alimitedpartnershipatall,butageneralpartnershipinwhichallthemembers
areliable.(Mechem,ElementsofPartnership,p.412Gilmore,Partnership,pp.
499,59520R.C.L.,1064.)
Thecontentionofthecreditorsandappellantsisthatthepartnershipcontract
establishedageneralpartnership.
Article 125 of the Code of Commerce provides that the articles of general
copartnershipmuststatethenames,surnames,anddomicilesofthepartners
the firm name the names, and surnames of the partners to whom the
management of the firm and the use of its signature is intrusted the capital
which each partner contributes in cash, credits, or property, stating the value
given the latter or the basis on which their appraisement is to be made the
durationofthecopartnershipandtheamountswhich,inapropercase,areto
begiventoeachmanagingpartnerannuallyforhisprivateexpenses,whilethe
succeeding article of the Code provides that the general copartnership must
transactbusinessunderthenameofallitsmembers,ofseveralofthem,orof
one only. Turning to the document before us, it will be noted that all of the
requirements of the Code have been met, with the sole exception of that
relating to the composition of the firm name. We leave consideration of this
phaseofthecaseforlaterdiscussion.
Theremainingpossibilityistherevisedcontentionofcounselforthepetitioners
to the effect that Teck Seing & Co., Ltd. is "una sociedad mercantil 'de facto'
solamente"(onlyadefactocommercialassociation), and that the decision of
theSupremeCourtinthecaseofHungManYocvs.KiengChiongSeng[1906],
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6 Phil., 498), is controlling. It was this argument which convinced the trial
judge, who gave effect to his understanding of the case last cited and which
heremustbegivenseriousattention.
ThedecisioninHungManYocvs.KiengChiongSeng,supra,disclosesthatthe
firm KiengChiongSeng was not organized by means of any public document
thatthepartnershiphadnotbeenrecordedinthemercantileregistryandthat
KiengChiongSeng was not proven to be the firm name, but rather the
designationofthepartnership.Theconclusionthenwas,thatthepartnershipin
questionwasmerelydefactoandthat,therefore,givingeffecttotheprovisions
of article 120 of the Code of Commerce, the right of action was against the
personsinchargeofthemanagementoftheassociation.
Laying the facts of the case of HungManYoc vs. KiengChiongSeng, supra,
sidebysidewiththefactsbeforeus,amarkeddifferenceisatoncedisclosed.
Inthecitedcase,theorganizationofthepartnershipwasnotevidencedbyany
public document here, it is by a public document. In the cited case, the
partnership naturally could not present a public instrument for record in the
mercantileregistryhere,thecontractofpartnershiphasbeendulyregistered.
Butthetwocasesaresimilarinthatthefirmnamefailedtoincludethename
ofanyofthepartners.
Wecomethentotheultimatequestion,whichis,whetherweshouldfollowthe
decisioninHungManYocvs.KiengChiongSeng,supra,orwhetherweshould
differentiate the two cases, holding Teck Seing & Co., Ltd., a general
copartnership,notwithstandingthefailureofthefirmnametoincludethename
ofoneofthepartners.Letusnownoticethisdecisivepointinthecase.
Article 119 of the Code of Commerce requires every commercial association
beforebeginningitsbusinesstostateitsarticles,agreements,andconditionsin
a public instrument, which shall be presented for record in the mercantile
registry.Article120,nextfollowing,providesthatthepersonsinchargeofthe
management of the association who violate the provisions of the foregoing
article shall be responsible in solidum to the persons not members of the
associationwithwhomtheymayhavetransactedbusinessinthenameofthe
association. Applied to the facts before us, it would seem that Teck Seing &
Co., Ltd. has fulfilled the provisions of article 119. Moreover, to permit the
creditors only to look to the person in charge of the management of the
association,thepartnerLimYogsing,wouldnotproveveryhelpfultothem.
What is said in article 126 of the Code of Commerce relating to the general
copartnership transacting business under the name of all its members' or of
several of them or of one only, is wisely included in our commercial law. It
wouldappear,however,thatthisprovisionwasinsertedmorefortheprotection
of the creditors than of the partners themselves. A distinction could well be
drawn between the right of the alleged partnership to institute action when
failingtoliveuptotheprovisionsofthelaw,oreventherightsofthepartners
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"As this act involves purely business transactions, and affects only
money interests, we think it should be construed as rendering
contracts made in violation of it unlawful and unenforceable at the
instance of the offending party only, but not as designed to take
away the rights of innocent parties who may have dealt with the
offendersinignoranceoftheirhavingviolatedthestatute." (Cashin
vs.Pliter[1912],168Mich.,386Ann.Cas.[1913C],697.)
TheearlydecisionofourSupremeCourtinthecaseofPrautch,Scholes&Co.
vs. Hernandez ([1903], 1 Phil., 705), contains the following pertinent
observations:
"Another case may be supposed. A partnership is organized for
commercial purposes. It fails to comply with the requirements of
article119.Acreditorsuesthepartnershipforadebtcontractedby
it, claiming to hold the partners severally. They answer that their
failure to com ply with the Code of Commerce makes them a civil
partnershipandthattheyareinaccordancewitharticle1698ofthe
CivilCodeonlyliablejointly.Toallowsuchlibertyofactionwouldbe
topermitthepartiesbyaviolationoftheCodetoescapealiability
which the law has seen fit to impose upon persons who organized
commercial partnerships 'Because it would be contrary to all legal
principlesthat the nonperformance of a duty should redound to the
benefit of the person in default either intentional or unintentional.'
(MercantileLaw,Eixala,fourthed.,p.145.)"(Seealso Lichauco vs.
Lichauco[1916],33Phil.,350,360.)
Dr. Jose de Echavarri y Vivanco, in his Codigo de Comercio, includes the
followingcommentafterarticles121and126oftheCode:
"Fromthedecisionscitedinthisandinthepreviouscomments,the
following is deduced: 1st. Defects in the organization cannot affect
relations with third persons. 2d. Members who contract with other
persons before the association is lawfully organized are liable to
thesepersons.3d.Theintentiontoformanassociationisnecessary,
so that if the intention of mutual participation in the profits and
lossesinaparticularbusinessisproved,andtherearenoarticlesof
association,thereisnoassociation.4th.Anassociation,thearticles
ofwhichhavenotbeenregistered,isvalidinfavorofthirdpersons.
5th.Theprivatepactoragreementtoformacommercialassociation
is governed not by the commercial law but by the civil law. 6th.
Secretstipulationsexpressedinapublicinstrument,butnotinserted
in the articles of association, do not affect third persons, but are
binding on the parties themselves. 7th. An agreement made in a
publicinstrument,otherthanthearticlesofassociation,bymeansof
which one of the partners guarantees to another certain profits or
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sufficientcauseofpreventingtheformationofageneralpartnership,
especially if the other requisites are present and the requisite
regardingregistrationofthearticlesofassociationintheCommercial
Registry has been complied with, as in the present case. I do not
believe that the adoption of a wrong name is a material fact to be
taken into consideration in this case first, because the mere fact
that a person uses a name not his own does not prevent him from
being bound in a contract or an obligation he voluntarily entered
into second, because such a requirement of the law is merely a
formal and not necessarily an essential one to the existence of the
partnership, and as long as the name adopted sufficiently identify
the firm or partnership intended to use it, the acts and contracts
done and entered into under such a name bind the firm to third
persons and third, because the failure of the partners herein to
adoptthe correct name prescribed by law cannot shield them from
theirpersonalliabilities,asneitherlawnorequitywillpermitthemto
utilizetheirownmistakeinordertoputtheblameonthirdpersons,
andmuchless,onthefirmcreditorsinordertoavoidtheirpersonal
responsibility."
The legal intention deducible from the acts of the parties controls in
determiningtheexistenceofapartnership.Iftheyintendtodoathingwhichin
lawconstitutesapartnership,theyarepartners,althoughtheirpurposewasto
avoid the creation of such relation. Here, the intention of the persons making
upTeckSeing&Co.,Ltd.wastoestablishapartnershipwhichtheyerroneously
denominated a limited partnership. If this was their purpose, all subterfuges
resortedtoinordertoevadeliabilityforpossiblelosses,whileassuming their
enjoyment of the advantages to be derived from the relation, must be
disregarded.Thepartnerswhohavedisguisedtheiridentityunderadesignation
distinct from that of any of the members of the firm should be penalized, and
notthecreditorswhopresumablyhavedealtwiththepartnershipingoodfaith.
Articles 127 and 237 of the Code of Commerce make all the members of the
generalcopartnershipliablepersonallyandinsolidumwithalltheirpropertyfor
the results of the transactions made in the name and for the account of the
partnership.Section51oftheInsolvencyLaw,likewise,makesalltheproperty
of the partnership and also all the separate property of each of the partners
liable.Inotherwords,ifafirmbeinsolvent,butoneormorepartners thereof
are solvent, the creditors may proceed both against the firm and against the
solvent partner or partners, first exhausting the assets of the firm before
seizingthepropertyofthepartners.(BrandenburgonBankruptcy,sec.108De
losReyesvs.LukbanandBorja[1916],35Phil.,757InvoluntaryInsolvencyof
CamposRueda&Co.vs.PacificCommercialCo.[1922],44Phil.,916.)
Wereachtheconclusionthatthecontractofpartnershipfoundinthedocument
hereinbeforequotedestablishedageneralpartnershipor,tobemoreexact, a
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partnershipasthiswordisusedintheInsolvencyLaw.
Wherefore, the order appealed from is reversed, and the record shall be
returned to the court of origin for further proceedings pursuant to the motion
presentedbythecreditors,inconformitywiththeprovisionsoftheInsolvency
Law.Withoutspecialfindingastothecostsinthisinstance,itissoordered.
Araullo, C.J., Johnson, Street, Avancea, Villamor, Johns, and Romualdez, JJ.,
concur.
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