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8/10/2019 Conflict Full Text-jurisdiction
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CASES
BASIC PRINCIPLES
[G.R. No. 122191. October 8, 1998]
SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES,petitioner,vs. COURT OF APPEALS, ILAGROS P.ORADA !"# $ON. RODOLFO A. ORTI%, &" '&( c!)!c&t* !( Pre(&"+ -#+eo Br!"c' 89, Re+&o"!/ Tr&!/ Co-rt o 0-eo" C&t*, respondents.
D E C I S I O N
0UISUBING,J.
This petition for certioraripursuant to Rule 45 of the Rules of Court seeks to annul
and set aside the Resolution[1]dated September 27, 1995 and the e!ision[2]dated"pril 1#, 199$ of the Court of "ppeals[%]in C"&'(R( S) *o( %$5%%,[4]and the+rders[5]dated "uust 29, 1994[$]and -ebruar. 2, 1995[7]that /ere issued b. thetrial !ourt in Ci0il Case *o( &9%&1%94([]
The pertinent ante!edent fa!ts /hi!h a0e rise to the instant petition, as stated in
the 3uestioned e!ision[9], are as follo/s
+n 6anuar. 21, 19 defendant S"8" hired plainti as a -liht "ttendant for its
airlines based in 6eddah, Saudi "rabia( : : :
+n "pril 27, 199#, /hile on a la.&o0er in 6akarta, 8ndonesia, plainti /ent to a dis!o
dan!e /ith fello/ !re/ members Thamer "l&'a;;a/i and "llah "l&'a;;a/i, bothSaudi nationals( si!? room, "llah left on some prete:t( Shortl. after he did, Thamer attempted to
rape plainti( -ortunatel., a roombo. and se0eral se!urit. personnel heard her
!ries for help and res!ued her( @ater, the 8ndonesian poli!e !ame and arrested
Thamer and "llah "l&'a;;a/i, the latter as an a!!ompli!e(
=hen plainti returned to 6eddah a fe/ da.s later, se0eral S"8" oA!ials
interroated her about the 6akarta in!ident( The. then re3uested her to o ba!k to
6akarta to help arrane the release of Thamer and "llah( 8n 6akarta, S"8" @eal
+A!er Sirah "kkad and base manaer
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)lainti learned that, throuh the inter!ession of the Saudi "rabian o0ernment, the
8ndonesian authorities areed to deport Thamer and "llah after t/o /eeks of
detention( B0entuall., the. /ere aain put in ser0i!e b. defendant S"8 >si!?( 8n
September 199#, defendant S"8" transferred plainti to Danila(
+n 6anuar. 14, 1992, Eust /hen plainti thouht that the 6akarta in!ident /asalread. behind her, her superiors re3uested her to see Dr( "li Denie/., Chief @eal
+A!er of S"8", in 6eddah, Saudi "rabia( =hen she sa/ him, he brouht her to
the poli!e station /here the poli!e took her passport and 3uestioned her about the
6akarta in!ident( Dinie/. simpl. stood b. as the poli!e put pressure on her to make
a statement droppin the !ase aainst Thamer and "llah( *ot until she areed to
do so did the poli!e return her passport and allo/ed her to !at!h the afternoon
iht out of 6eddah(
+ne .ear and a half later or on 6une 1$, 199%, in Ri.adh, Saudi "rabia, a fe/
minutes before the departure of her iht to Danila, plainti /as not allo/ed to
board the plane and instead ordered to take a later iht to 6eddah to see Dr(Dinie/., the Chief @eal +A!er of S"8"( =hen she did, a !ertain Fhalid of the
S"8" oA!e brouht her to a Saudi !ourt /here she /as asked to sin a do!ument
/ritten in "rabi!( The. told her that this /as ne!essar. to !lose the !ase aainst
Thamer and "llah( "s it turned out, plainti sined a noti!e to her to appear before
the !ourt on 6une 27, 199%( )lainti then returned to Danila(
Shortl. after/ards, defendant S"8" summoned plainti to report to 6eddah on!e
aain and see Dinie/. on 6une 27, 199% for further in0estiation( )lainti did so
after re!ei0in assuran!e from S"8"Gs Danila manaer, "slam Saleemi, that the
in0estiation /as routinar. and that it posed no daner to her(
8n 6eddah, a S"8" leal oA!er brouht plainti to the same Saudi !ourt on 6une
27, 199%( *othin happened then but on 6une 2, 199%, a Saudi Eude interroated
plainti throuh an interpreter about the 6akarta in!ident( "fter one hour of
interroation, the. let her o( "t the airport, ho/e0er, Eust as her plane /as about
to take o, a S"8" oA!er told her that the airline had forbidden her to take
iht( "t the 8niht Ser0i!e +A!e /here she /as told to o, the se!retar. of Dr(
Hah.a Saddi!k took a/a. her passport and told her to remain in 6eddah, at the !re/
3uarters, until further orders(
+n 6ul. %, 199% a S"8" leal oA!er aain es!orted plainti to the same !ourt
/here the Eude, to her astonishment and sho!k, rendered a de!ision, translated toher in Bnlish, senten!in her to I0e months imprisonment and to 2$ lashes( +nl.
then did she reali;e that the Saudi !ourt had tried her, toether /ith Thamer and
"llah, for /hat happened in 6akarta( The !ourt found plainti uilt. of >1? adulter.J
>2? oin to a dis!o, dan!in and listenin to the musi! in 0iolation of 8slami! la/sJ
and >%? so!iali;in /ith the male !re/, in !ontra0ention of 8slami! tradition(K[1#]
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-a!in !on0i!tion, pri0ate respondent souht the help of her emplo.er, petitioner
S"8"( nfortunatel., she /as denied an. assistan!e( She then asked the
)hilippine Bmbass. in 6eddah to help her /hile her !ase is on appeal( Dean/hile, to
pa. for her upkeep, she /orked on the domesti! iht of S"8", /hile Thamer and
"llah !ontinued to ser0e in the international ihts([11]
4? that the trial !ourt has no Eurisdi!tion to tr. the
!ase(
+n -ebruar. 1#, 1994, Dorada Iled her +pposition >To Dotion to ismiss? [15]Saudia
Iled a repl.[1$]thereto on Dar!h %, 1994(
+n 6une 2%, 1994, Dorada Iled an "mended Complaint [17]/herein "l&
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Respondent 6ude subse3uentl. issued another +rder [24]dated -ebruar. 2, 1995,
den.in S"8"Gs Dotion for Re!onsideration( The pertinent portion of the assailed
+rder reads as follo/s
"!tin on the Dotion for Re!onsideration of defendant Saudi "rabian "irlines Iled,
thru !ounsel, on September 2#, 1994, and the +pposition thereto of the plaintiIled, thru !ounsel, on +!tober 14, 1994, as /ell as the Repl. there/ith of defendant
Saudi "rabian "irlines Iled, thru !ounsel, on +!tober 24, 1994, !onsiderin that a
perusal of the plaintiGs "mended Complaint, /hi!h is one for the re!o0er. of
a!tual, moral and e:emplar. damaes plus attorne.Gs fees, upon the basis of the
appli!able )hilippine la/, "rti!le 21 of the *e/ Ci0il Code of the )hilippines, is,
!learl., /ithin the Eurisdi!tion of this Court as reards the subEe!t matter, and there
bein nothin ne/ of substan!e /hi!h miht !ause the re0ersal or modiI!ation of
the order souht to be re!onsidered, the motion for re!onsideration of the
defendant, is B*8B(
S+ +RBRB(K[25]
Conse3uentl., on -ebruar. 2#, 1995, S"8" Iled its )etition for Certiorariand
)rohibition /ith )ra.er for 8ssuan!e of =rit of )reliminar. 8nEun!tion andLor
Temporar. Restrainin +rder[2$]/ith the Court of "ppeals(
Respondent Court of "ppeals promulated a Resolution /ith Temporar. Restrainin
+rder[27]dated -ebruar. 2%, 1995, prohibitin the respondent 6ude from further
!ondu!tin an. pro!eedin, unless other/ise dire!ted, in the interim(
8n another Resolution[2]promulated on September 27, 1995, no/ assailed, the
appellate !ourt denied S"8"Gs )etition for the 8ssuan!e of a =rit of )reliminar.
8nEun!tion dated -ebruar. 1, 1995, to /it
The )etition for the 8ssuan!e of a =rit of )reliminar. 8nEun!tion is hereb. B*8B,
after !onsiderin the "ns/er, /ith )ra.er to en. =rit of )reliminar. 8nEun!tion
>Rollo, p( 1%5? the Repl. and ReEoinder, it appearin that herein petitioner is not
!learl. entitled thereto >n!iano )aramedi!al Collee, et. Al., v. Court of "ppeals, et.
Al., 1##%%5, "pril 7, 199%, Se!ond i0ision?(
S+ +RBRB(K
+n +!tober 2#, 1995, S"8" Iled /ith this Monorable Court the instant
)etition[29]for Re0ie/ /ith )ra.er for Temporar. Restrainin +rder dated +!tober 1%,1995(
Mo/e0er, durin the penden!. of the instant )etition, respondent Court of "ppeals
rendered the e!ision[%#]dated "pril 1#, 199$, no/ also assailed( 8t ruled that the
)hilippines is an appropriate forum !onsiderin that the "mended ComplaintGs basis
for re!o0er. of damaes is "rti!le 21 of the Ci0il Code, and thus, !learl. /ithin the
Eurisdi!tion of respondent Court( 8t further held that certiorariis not the proper
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remed. in a denial of a Dotion to ismiss, inasmu!h as the petitioner should ha0e
pro!eeded to trial, and in !ase of an ad0erse rulin, Ind re!ourse in an appeal(
+n Da. 7, 199$, S"8" Iled its Supplemental )etition for Re0ie/ /ith )ra.er for
Temporar. Restrainin +rder[%1]dated "pril %#, 199$, i0en due !ourse b. this
Court( "fter both parties submitted their Demoranda,
[%2]
the instant !ase is no/deemed submitted for de!ision(
)etitioner S"8" raised the follo/in issues
3I
The trial !ourt has no Eurisdi!tion to hear and tr. Ci0il Case *o( &9%&1%94 based
on "rti!le 21 of the *e/ Ci0il Code sin!e the proper la/ appli!able is the la/ of the
Findom of Saudi "rabia inasmu!h as this !ase in0ol0es /hat is kno/n in pri0ate
international la/ as a N!oni!ts problemG( +ther/ise, the Republi! of the )hilippines
/ill sit in Eudment of the a!ts done b. another so0erein state /hi!h is abhorred(
II.
@ea0e of !ourt before Ilin a supplemental pleadin is not a Eurisdi!tional
re3uirement( 1#? a.s -rom *oti!e Thereof( -urther, the
Re0ised Rules of Court should be !onstrued /ith liberalit. pursuant to Se!tion 2,
Rule 1 thereof(
III.
)etitioner re!ei0ed on "pril 22, 199$ the "pril 1#, 199$ de!ision in C"&'(R( S) *+(
%$5%% entitled NSaudi "rabian "irlines v.Mon( Rodolfo "( +rti;, et al(G and Iled its
"pril %#, 199$ Supplemental )etition -or Re0ie/ =ith )ra.er -or " Temporar.
Restrainin +rder on Da. 7, 199$ at 1#29 a(m( or /ithin the 15&da. relementar.
period as pro0ided for under Se!tion 1, Rule 45 of the Re0ised Rules of
Court( Therefore, the de!ision in C"&'(R( S) *+( %$5%% has not .et be!ome Inal
and e:e!utor. and this Monorable Court !an take !oni;an!e of this !ase(K[%%]
-rom the foreoin fa!tual and pro!edural ante!edents, the follo/in issues emere
for our resolution
I.
=MBTMBR RBS)+*B*T "))B@@"TB C+RT BRRB 8* M+@8*' TM"T TMB
RB'8+*"@ TR8"@ C+RT +- BO+* C8TH M"S 6R8S8CT8+* T+ MB"R "* TRH
C8P8@ C"SB *+( &9%&1%94 B*T8T@B D8@"'R+S )( D+R"" P( S"8 "R"
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II.
=MBTMBR RBS)+*B*T "))B@@"TB C+RT BRRB 8* R@8*' TM"T 8* TMB C"SB
)M8@8))8*B @"= SM+@ '+PBR*(
)etitioner S"8" !laims that before us is a !oni!t of la/s that must be settled at
the outset( 8t maintains that pri0ate respondentGs !laim for alleed abuse of rihts
o!!urred in the Findom of Saudi "rabia( 8t allees that the e:isten!e of a forein
element 3ualiIes the instant !ase for the appli!ation of the la/ of the Findom of
Saudi "rabia, b. 0irtue of the lex loci delicti commissirule([%4]
+n the other hand, pri0ate respondent !ontends that sin!e her "mended Complaint
is based on "rti!les 19[%5]and 21[%$]of the Ci0il Code, then the instant !ase is
properl. a matter of domesti! la/( [%7]
nder the fa!tual ante!edents obtainin in this !ase, there is no dispute that the
interpla. of e0ents o!!urred in t/o states, the )hilippines and Saudi "rabia(
"s stated b. pri0ate respondent in her "mended Complaint[%]dated 6une 2%, 1994
2( efendant S"8 "R"
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Thamer and "llah( "s it turned out, plainti sined a noti!e to her to appear before
the !ourt on 6une 27, 199%( )lainti then returned to Danila(
9( Shortl. after/ards, defendant S"8" summoned plainti to report to 6eddah
on!e aain and see Dinie/. on 6une 27, 199% for further in0estiation( )lainti did
so after re!ei0in assuran!e from S"8"Gs Danila manaer, "slam Saleemi, thatthe in0estiation /as routinar. and that it posed no daner to her(
1#( 8n 6eddah, a S"8" leal oA!er brouht plainti to the same Saudi !ourt on
6une 27, 199%( *othin happened then but on 6une 2, 199%, a Saudi Eude
interroated plainti throuh an interpreter about the 6akarta in!ident( "fter one
hour of interroation, the. let her o( "t the airport, ho/e0er, Eust as her plane /as
about to take o, a S"8" oA!er told her that the airline had forbidden her to take
that iht( "t the 8niht Ser0i!e +A!e /here she /as told to o, the se!retar. of
Dr( Hah.a Saddi!k took a/a. her passport and told her to remain in 6eddah, at the
!re/ 3uarters, until further orders(
11( +n 6ul. %, 199% a S"8" leal oA!er aain es!orted plainti to the same
!ourt /here the Eude, to her astonishment and sho!k, rendered a de!ision,
translated to her in Bnlish, senten!in her to I0e months imprisonment and to 2$
lashes( +nl. then did she reali;e that the Saudi !ourt had tried her, toether /ith
Thamer and "llah, for /hat happened in 6akarta( The !ourt found plainti uilt. of
>1? adulter.J >2? oin to a dis!o, dan!in, and listenin to the musi! in 0iolation of
8slami! la/sJ >%? so!iali;in /ith the male !re/, in !ontra0ention of 8slami! tradition(
12(
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8n the instant !ase, the forein element !onsisted in the fa!t that pri0ate respondent
Dorada is a resident )hilippine national, and that petitioner S"8" is a resident
forein !orporation( "lso, b. 0irtue of the emplo.ment of Dorada /ith the
petitioner Saudia as a iht ste/ardess, e0ents did transpire durin her man.
o!!asions of tra0el a!ross national borders, parti!ularl. from Danila, )hilippines to
6eddah, Saudi "rabia, and 0i!e 0ersa, that !aused a !oni!tsK situation to arise(
=e thus Ind pri0ate respondentGs assertion that the !ase is purel. domesti!,
impre!ise( " confictsproblem presents itself here, and the 3uestion of
Eurisdi!tion[4%]!onfronts the !ourt a quo(
"fter a !areful stud. of the pri0ate respondentGs "mended Complaint,[44]and the
Comment thereon, /e note that she aptl. predi!ated her !ause of a!tion on "rti!les
19 and 21 of the *e/ Ci0il Code(
+n one hand, "rti!le 19 of the *e/ Ci0il Code pro0idesJ
"rt( 19( B0er. person must, in the e:er!ise of his rihts and in the performan!e ofhis duties, a!t /ith Eusti!e i0e e0er.one his due and obser0e honest. and ood
faith(K
+n the other hand, "rti!le 21 of the *e/ Ci0il Code pro0ides
"rt( 21( "n. person /ho /illfull. !auses loss or inEur. to another in a manner that
is !ontrar. to morals, ood !ustoms or publi! poli!. shall !ompensate the latter for
damaes(K
Thus, in Philippine National Bank (PNB) vs. Court o Appeals,[45]this Court held that
The afore!ited pro0isions on human relations /ere intended to e:pand the !on!ept
of torts in this Eurisdi!tion b. rantin ade3uate leal remed. for the untold number
of moral /rons /hi!h is impossible for human foresiht to spe!iI!all. pro0ide in
the statutes(K
"lthouh "rti!le 19 merel. de!lares a prin!iple of la/, "rti!le 21 i0es esh to its
pro0isions( Thus, /e aree /ith pri0ate respondentGs assertion that 0iolations of
"rti!les 19 and 21 are a!tionable, /ith Eudi!iall. enfor!eable remedies in the
muni!ipal forum(
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SBC( 19( 6urisdi!tion in Ci0il Cases( Q Reional Trial Courts shall e:er!ise e:!lusi0e
Eurisdi!tion
: : : : : : : : :
>? 8n all other !ases in /hi!h demand, e:!lusi0e of interest, damaes of /hate0er
kind, attorne.Gs fees, litiation e:penses, and !osts or the 0alue of the propert. in
!ontro0ers. e:!eeds +ne hundred thousand pesos >)1##,###(##? or, in su!h other
!ases in Detro Danila, /here the demand, e:!lusi0e of the abo0e&mentioned items
e:!eeds T/o hundred Thousand pesos >)2##,###(##?( >Bmphasis ours?
: : : : : : : : :
"nd follo/in Se!tion 2 >b?, Rule 4 of the Re0ised Rules of Courtthe 0enue,
ue;on Cit., is appropriate
SBC( 2 Penue in Courts of -irst 8nstan!e( Q[*o/ Reional Trial Court]
>a? : : : : : : : : :
>b? )ersonal a!tions( Q "ll other a!tions ma. be !ommen!ed and tried /here the
defendant or an. of the defendants resides or ma. be found, or /here the plainti
or an. of the plainti resides, at the ele!tion of the plainti(K
)ramati! !onsiderations, in!ludin the !on0enien!e of the parties, also /eih
hea0il. in fa0or of the RTC ue;on Cit. assumin Eurisdi!tion( )aramount is the
pri0ate interest of the litiant( Bnfor!eabilit. of a Eudment if one is obtained is
3uite ob0ious( Relati0e ad0antaes and obsta!les to a fair trial are e3uall.
important( )lainti ma. not, b. !hoi!e of an in!on0enient forum, N0e:G, NharassG, orNoppressG the defendant, e(( b. ini!tin upon him needless e:pense or
disturban!e( pri0ate respondent no/? to seek remedial a!tion else/here, i(e( in
the Findom of Saudi "rabia /here she no loner maintains substantial
!onne!tions( That /ould ha0e !aused a fundamental unfairness to her(
Doreo0er, b. hearin the !ase in the )hilippines no unne!essar. diA!ulties and
in!on0enien!e ha0e been sho/n b. either of the parties( The !hoi!e of forum of the
plainti >no/ pri0ate respondent? should be upheld(
Similarl., the trial !ourt also possesses Eurisdi!tion o0er the persons of the parties
herein(
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The re!ords sho/ that petitioner S"8" has Iled se0eral motions[5#]pra.in for the
dismissal of DoradaGs "mended Complaint( S"8" also Iled an "ns/er 8n !x
A"undante Cautelamdated -ebruar. 2#, 1995( =hat is 0er. patent and e:pli!it
from the motions Iled, is that S"8" pra.ed for other reliefs under the
premises( ndeniabl., petitioner S"8" has ee!ti0el. submitted to the trial
!ourtGs Eurisdi!tion b. pra.in for the dismissal of the "mended Complaint onrounds other than la!k of Eurisdi!tion(
"s held b. this Court in Repu"lic vs. #er and Compan$, %td.[51]
=e obser0e that the motion to dismiss Iled on "pril 14, 19$2, aside from disputin
the lo/er !ourtGs Eurisdi!tion o0er defendantGs person, pra.ed for dismissal of the
!omplaint on the round that plaintiGs !ause of a!tion has pres!ribed(
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do so( The forum is then fa!ed /ith the problem of de!idin /hi!h of these t/o
important 0alues should be stressed([54]
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for the reason that it falls under one of the e:!eptions to the appli!ations of forein
la/J and
>? the a of a ship, /hi!h in man. !ases is de!isi0e of pra!ti!all. all leal
relationships of the ship and of its master or o/ner as su!h( 8t also !o0ers
!ontra!tual relationships parti!ularl. !ontra!ts of areihtment(K
[$#]
>nders!orinours(?
"fter a !areful stud. of the pleadins on re!ord, in!ludin alleations in the
"mended Complaint deemed submitted for purposes of the motion to dismiss, /e
are !on0in!ed that there is reasonable basis for pri0ate respondentGs assertion that
althouh she /as alread. /orkin in Danila, petitioner brouht her to 6eddah on the
pretense that she /ould merel. testif. in an in0estiation of the !hares she made
aainst the t/o S"8" !re/ members for the atta!k on her person /hile the. /ere
in 6akarta( "s it turned out, she /as the one made to fa!e trial for 0er. serious
!hares, in!ludin adulter. and 0iolation of 8slami! la/s and tradition(
There is like/ise loi!al basis on re!ord for the !laim that the handin o0erK or
turnin o0erK of the person of pri0ate respondent to 6eddah oA!ials, petitioner
ma. ha0e a!ted be.ond its duties as emplo.er( )etitionerGs purported a!t
!ontributed to and ampliIed or e0en pro:imatel. !aused additional humiliation,
miser. and suerin of pri0ate respondent( )etitioner thereb. alleedl. fa!ilitated
the arrest, detention and prose!ution of pri0ate respondent under the uise of
petitionerGs authorit. as emplo.er, takin ad0antae of the trust, !onIden!e and
faith she reposed upon it( "s purportedl. found b. the )rin!e of Dakkah, the
alleed !on0i!tion and imprisonment of pri0ate respondent /as /ronful( herein pri0ate respondent?( "ll told, it
is not /ithout basis to identif. the )hilippines as the situsof the alleed tort(
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Doreo0er, /ith the /idespread !riti!ism of the traditional rule of lex loci delicti
commissi, modern theories and rules on tort liabilit.[$1]ha0e been ad0an!ed to oer
fresh Eudi!ial approa!hes to arri0e at Eust results( 8n keepin abreast /ith
the modern theories on tort liabilit., /e Ind here an o!!asion to appl. the State of
the most siniI!ant relationshipK rule, /hi!h in our 0ie/ should be appropriate to
appl. no/, i0en the fa!tual !onte:t of this !ase(
8n appl.in said prin!iple to determine the State /hi!h has the most siniI!ant
relationship, the follo/in !onta!ts are to be taken into a!!ount and e0aluated
a!!ordin to their relati0e importan!e /ith respe!t to the parti!ular issue >a? the
pla!e /here the inEur. o!!urredJ >b? the pla!e /here the !ondu!t !ausin the inEur.
o!!urredJ >!? the domi!ile, residen!e, nationalit., pla!e of in!orporation and pla!e of
business of the parties, and >d? the pla!e /here the relationship, if an., bet/een the
parties is !entered([$2]
"s alread. dis!ussed, there is basis for the !laim that o0er&all inEur. o!!urred and
loded in the )hilippines( There is like/ise no 3uestion that pri0ate respondent is aresident -ilipina national, /orkin /ith petitioner, a resident forein !orporation
enaed here in the business of international air !arriae( Thus, the relationshipK
bet/een the parties /as !entered here, althouh it should be stressed that this suit
is not based on mere labor la/ 0iolations( -rom the re!ord, the !laim that the
)hilippines has the most siniI!ant !onta!t /ith the matter in this dispute, [$%]raised
b. pri0ate respondent as plainti belo/ aainst defendant >herein petitioner?, in our
0ie/, has been properl. established(
)res!indin from this premise that the )hilippines is the situsof the tort !omplaint
of and the pla!e ha0in the most interest in the problemK, /e Ind, b. /a. of
re!apitulation, that the )hilippine la/ on tort liabilit. should ha0e paramountappli!ation to and !ontrol in the resolution of the leal issues arisin out of this
!ase( -urther, /e hold that the respondent Reional Trial Court has Eurisdi!tion o0er
the parties and the subEe!t matter of the !omplaintJ the appropriate 0enue is in
ue;on Cit., /hi!h !ould properl. appl. )hilippine la/( Doreo0er, /e Ind
untenable petitionerGs insisten!e that [s]in!e pri0ate respondent instituted this
suit, she has the burden of pleadin and pro0in the appli!able Saudi la/ on the
matter(K[$4]"s aptl. said b. pri0ate respondent, she has no obliation to plead and
pro0e the la/ of the Findom of Saudi "rabia sin!e her !ause of a!tion is based on
"rti!les 19 and 21K of the Ci0il Code of the )hilippines( 8n her "mended Complaint
and subse3uent pleadins she ne0er alleed that Saudi la/ should o0ern this !ase([$5]"nd as !orre!tl. held b. the respondent appellate !ourt, !onsiderin that it /as
the petitioner /ho /as in0okin the appli!abilit. of the la/ of Saudi "rabia, thus the
burden /as on it [petitioner] to plead and to establish /hat the la/ of Saudi "rabia
isK([$$]
@astl., no error !ould be imputed to the respondent appellate !ourt in upholdin the
trial !ourtGs denial of defendantGs >herein petitionerGs? motion to dismiss the
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!ase( *ot onl. /as Eurisdi!tion in order and 0enue properl. laid, but appeal after
trial /as ob0iousl. a0ailable, and the e:peditious trial itself indi!ated b. the nature
of the !ase at hand( 8ndubitabl., the )hilippines is the state intimatel. !on!erned
/ith the ultimate out!ome of the !ase belo/ not Eust for the beneIt of all the
litiants, but also for the 0indi!ation of the !ountr.Gs s.stem of la/ and Eusti!e in a
transnational settin( =ith these uidelines in mind, the trial !ourt must pro!eed totr. and adEude the !ase in the liht of rele0ant )hilippine la/, /ith due
!onsideration of the forein element or elements in0ol0ed( *othin said herein, of
!ourse, should be !onstrued as preEudin the results of the !ase in an. manner
/hatsoe0er(
7$EREFORE, the instant petition for !ertiorari is hereb. 8SD8SSB( Ci0il Case *o(&9%&1%94 entitled Dilaros )( Dorada vs( Saudi "rabia "irlinesK is hereb.
RBD"*B to Reional Trial Court of ue;on Cit.,
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DECISION
NAC$URA,J.
C"? in
C"&'(R( S) *o( $#27, and the 6ul. 25, 2##1 Resolution[2]den.in the motion for
re!onsideration thereof(
+n Dar!h %#, 1999, petitioner *ippon Bnineerin Consultants Co(, @td(
>*ippon?, a 6apanese !onsultan!. Irm pro0idin te!hni!al and manaement support
in the infrastru!ture proEe!ts of forein o0ernments, [%]entered into an 8ndependent
Contra!tor "reement >8C"? /ith respondent Dinoru Fitamura, a 6apanese national
permanentl. residin in the )hilippines([4]The areement pro0ides that respondent
/as to e:tend professional ser0i!es to *ippon for a .ear startin on "pril 1, 1999([5] *ippon then assined respondent to /ork as the proEe!t manaer of the
Southern Taalo "!!ess Road >ST"R? )roEe!t in the )hilippines, follo/in the
!ompan.s !onsultan!. !ontra!t /ith the )hilippine 'o0ernment([$]
=hen the ST"R )roEe!t /as near !ompletion, the epartment of )ubli! =orks
and Mih/a.s >)=M? enaed the !onsultan!. ser0i!es of*ippon, on 6anuar. 2,
2###, this time for the detailed enineerin and !onstru!tion super0ision of the
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+n -ebruar. 2, 2###, petitioner Fa;uhiro Masea/a, *ippons eneral
manaer for its 8nternational i0ision, informed respondent that the !ompan. had
no more intention of automati!all. rene/in his 8C"( Mis ser0i!es /ould be enaed
b. the !ompan. onl. up to the substantial !ompletion of the ST"R )roEe!t on Dar!h%1, 2###, Eust in time for the 8C"s e:pir.( [9]
Threatened /ith impendin unemplo.ment, respondent, throuh his la/.er,
re3uested a neotiation !onferen!e and demanded that he be assined to the
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"rie0ed b. this de0elopment, petitioners Iled /ith the C", on September
19, 2###, still /ithin the relementar. period, a(eco"#)etition for Certiorari underRule $5 alread. statin therein the material dates and atta!hin thereto the proper
0eriI!ation and !ertiI!ation( This se!ond petition, /hi!h substantiall. raised thesame issues as those in the Irst, /as do!keted as C"&'(R( S) *o(
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The pi0otal 3uestion that this Court is !alled upon to resol0e is /hether the
subEe!t matter Eurisdi!tion of )hilippine !ourts in !i0il !ases for spe!iI! performan!e
and damaes in0ol0in !ontra!ts e:e!uted outside the !ountr. b. forein nationals
ma. be assailed on the prin!iples of lex loci cele"rationis, lex contractus, the state
of the most siniI!ant relationship rule,K or orum non conveniens(
Mo/e0er, before rulin on this issue, /e must Irst dispose of the pro!edural
matters raised b. the respondent(
Fitamura !ontends that the Inalit. of the appellate !ourts de!ision in C"&'(R(
S) *o( $#2#5 has alread. barred the Ilin of the se!ond petition do!keted as C"&
'(R( S) *o( $#27 >fundamentall. raisin the same issues as those in the Irst one?
and the instant petition for re0ie/ thereof(
=e do not aree( =hen the C" dismissed C"&'(R( S) *o( $#2#5 on a!!ount of
the petitions defe!ti0e !ertiI!ation of non&forum shoppin, it /as a dismissal
/ithout preEudi!e([27]The same holds true in the C"s dismissal of the said !ase due
to defe!ts in the formal re3uirement of 0eriI!ation [2]and in the other re3uirement
in Rule 4$ of the Rules of Court on the statement of the material dates( [29]The
dismissal bein /ithout preEudi!e, petitioners !an re&Ile the petition, or Ile a se!ond
petition atta!hin thereto the appropriate 0eriI!ation and !ertiI!ationas the., in
fa!t didand statin therein the material dates, /ithin the pres!ribed period [%#]in
Se!tion 4, Rule $5 of the said Rules([%1]
The dismissal of a !ase /ithout preEudi!e siniIes the absen!e of a de!ision
on the merits and lea0es the parties free to litiate the matter in a subse3uent
a!tion as thouh the dismissed a!tion had not been !ommen!ed( 8n other /ords,
the termination of a !ase not on the merits does not bar another a!tion in0ol0in
the same parties, on the same subEe!t matter and theor.([%2]
*e!essaril., be!ause the said dismissal is /ithout preEudi!e and has no res
2udicata ee!t, and e0en if petitioners still indi!ated in the 0eriI!ation and
!ertiI!ation of the se!ond certiorari petition that the Irst had alread. been
dismissed on pro!edural rounds,[%%]petitioners are no loner re3uired b. the Rules
to indi!ate in their !ertiI!ation of non&forum shoppin in the instant petition or
revie3 o the second certiorari petition, the status of the aforesaid Irst petition
before the C"( 8n an. !ase, an omission in the !ertiI!ate of non&forum shoppin
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about an. e0ent that /ill not !onstitute res2udicata and litispendentia,as in the
present !ase, is not a fatal defe!t( 8t /ill not /arrant the dismissal and nulliI!ation
of the entire pro!eedins, !onsiderin that the e0ils souht to be pre0ented b. the
said !ertiI!ate are no loner present([%4]
The Court also Inds no merit in respondents !ontention that petitioner
Masea/a is onl. authori;ed to 0erif. and !ertif., on behalf of*ippon,
the certiorari petition Iled /ith the C" and not the instant petition( True, the
"uthori;ation[%5]dated September 4, 2###, /hi!h is atta!hed to the
se!ond certiorari petition and /hi!h is also atta!hed to the instant petition for
re0ie/, is limited in s!opeits /ordins indi!ate that Masea/a is i0en the
authorit. to sin for and a!t on behalf of the !ompan. onl. in the petition Iled /ith
the appellate !ourt, and that authorit. !annot e:tend to the instant petition for
re0ie/([%$]8n a plethora of !ases, ho/e0er, this Court has liberall. applied the Rules
or e0en suspended its appli!ation /hene0er a satisfa!tor. e:planation and asubse3uent fulIllment of the re3uirements ha0e been made( [%7]'i0en that
petitioners herein suA!ientl. e:plained their misi0ins on this point and appended
to their Repl.[%]an updated "uthori;ation[%9]for Masea/a to a!t on behalf of the
!ompan. in the instant petition, the Court Inds the same as suA!ient !omplian!e
/ith the Rules(
Mo/e0er, the Court !annot e:tend the same liberal treatment to the defe!t in
the 0eriI!ation and !ertiI!ation( "s respondent pointed out, and to /hi!h /e aree,
Masea/a is trul. not authori;ed to a!t on behalf of *ippon in this !ase( Theaforesaid September 4, 2### "uthori;ation and e0en the subse3uent "uust 17,
2##1 "uthori;ation /ere issued onl. b. *ippons president and !hief e:e!uti0e
oA!er, not b. the !ompan.s board of dire!tors( 8n not a fe/ !ases, /e ha0e ruled
that !orporate po/ers are e:er!ised b. the board of dire!torsJ thus, no person, not
e0en its oA!ers, !an bind the !orporation, in the absen!e of authorit. from the
board([4#]Considerin that Masea/a 0eriIed and !ertiIed the petition onl. on his
behalf and not on behalf of the other petitioner, the petition has to be denied
pursuant to %oquias v. 4ce o the m"udsman([41]Substantial !omplian!e /ill not
suA!e in a matter that demands stri!t obser0an!e of the Rules( [42]=hile te!hni!al
rules of pro!edure are desined not to frustrate the ends of Eusti!e, nonetheless,
the. are intended to ee!t the proper and orderl. disposition of !ases and
ee!ti0el. pre0ent the !loin of !ourt do!kets([4%]
-urther, the Court has obser0ed that petitioners in!orre!tl. Iled a Rule $5
petitionto 3uestion the trial !ourts denial of their motion to dismiss( 8t is a /ell&
established rule that an order den.in a motion to dismiss is interlo!utor.,
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and !annot be the subEe!t of the e:traordinar.petition for certiorarior mandamus(
The appropriate re!ourse is to Ile an ans/er and to interpose as defenses the
obEe!tions raised in themotion, to pro!eed to trial, and, in !ase of an ad0erse
de!ision, to ele0ate the entire !ase b. appeal in due !ourse([44]=hile there are
re!oni;ed e:!eptions to this rule,[45]petitioners !ase does not fall amon them(
This brins us to the dis!ussion of the substanti0e issue of the !ase(
"ssertin that the RTC of @ipa Cit. is an in!on0enient forum, petitioners
3uestion its Eurisdi!tion to hear and resol0e the !i0il !ase for spe!iI! performan!e
and damaes Iled b. the respondent( The 8C" subEe!t of the litiation /as entered
into and perfe!ted in Tok.o, 6apan, b. 6apanese nationals, and /ritten /holl. in the
6apanese lanuae( Thus, petitioners posit that lo!al !ourts ha0e no substantial
relationship to the parties[4$]follo/in the [state of the] most siniI!ant relationshiprule in )ri0ate 8nternational @a/([47]
The Court notes that petitioners adopted an additional but dierent theor.
/hen the. ele0ated the !ase to the appellate !ourt( 8n the Dotion to ismiss[4]Iled
/ith the trial !ourt, petitioners ne0er !ontended that the RTC is an in!on0enient
forum( The. merel. arued that the appli!able la/ /hi!h /ill determine the 0alidit.
or in0alidit. of respondents !laim is that of 6apan, follo/in the prin!iples of lex loci
cele"rationisand lex contractus([49]=hile not abandonin this stan!e in their
petition before the appellate !ourt, petitioners on certiorarisiniI!antl. in0oked thedefense of orum non conveniens([5#]+n petition for re0ie/ before this Court,
petitioners dropped their other aruments, maintained the orum non
conveniens defense, and introdu!ed their ne/ arument that the appli!able
prin!iple is the [state of the] most siniI!ant relationship rule([51]
1? =here
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!an or should litiation be initiatedV >2? =hi!h la/ /ill the !ourt appl.V and >%?
=here !an the resultin Eudment be enfor!edV[5%]
"nal.ti!all., Eurisdi!tion and !hoi!e of la/ are t/o distin!t !on!epts([54]6urisdi!tion !onsiders /hether it is fair to !ause a defendant to tra0el to this
stateJ !hoi!e of la/ asks the further 3uestion /hether the appli!ation of a
substanti0e la/ /hi!h /ill determine the merits of the !ase is fair to both parties(
The po/er to e:er!ise Eurisdi!tion does not automati!all. i0e a state !onstitutional
authorit. to appl. forum la/( =hile Eurisdi!tion and the !hoi!e of the lex ori /ill
often !oin!ide, the minimum !onta!tsK for one do not al/a.s pro0ide the
ne!essar. siniI!ant !onta!tsK for the other([55]The 3uestion of /hether the la/ of
a state !an be applied to a transa!tion is dierent from the 3uestion of /hether the
!ourts of that state ha0e Eurisdi!tion to enter a Eudment([5$]
8n this !ase, onl. the Irst phase is at issueEurisdi!tion( 6urisdi!tion, ho/e0er,
has 0arious aspe!ts( -or a !ourt to 0alidl. e:er!ise its po/er to adEudi!ate a
!ontro0ers., it must ha0e Eurisdi!tion o0er the plainti or the petitioner, o0er the
defendant or the respondent, o0er the subEe!t matter, o0er the issues of the !ase
and, in !ases in0ol0in propert., o0er the resor the thin /hi!h is the subEe!t of the
litiation([57]8n assailin the trial !ourts Eurisdi!tion herein, petitioners are a!tuall.
referrin to subEe!t matter Eurisdi!tion(
6urisdi!tion over the su"2ect matterin a Eudi!ial pro!eedin is !onferred b. theso0erein authorit. /hi!h establishes and orani;es the !ourt( 8t is i0en onl. b.
la/ and in the manner pres!ribed b. la/([5]8t is further determined b. the
alleations of the !omplaint irrespe!ti0e of /hether the plainti is entitled to all or
some of the !laims asserted therein([59]To su!!eed in its motion for the dismissal of
an a!tion for la!k of Eurisdi!tion o0er the subEe!t matter of the !laim, [$#]the mo0ant
must sho/ that the !ourt or tribunal !annot a!t on the matter submitted to it
be!ause no la/ rants it the po/er to adEudi!ate the !laims([$1]
8n the instant !ase, petitioners, in their motion to dismiss, do not !laim thatthe trial !ourt is not properl. 0ested b. la/ /ith Eurisdi!tion to hear the subEe!t
!ontro0ers. for, indeed, Ci0il Case *o( ##$4 for spe!iI! performan!e and
damaes is one not !apable of pe!uniar. estimation and is properl. !oni;able b.
the RTC of @ipa Cit.([$2]=hat the. rather raise as rounds to 3uestion subEe!t
matter Eurisdi!tion are the prin!iples of lex loci cele"rationisand lex contractus,and
the state of the most siniI!ant relationship rule(K
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The Court Inds the in0o!ation of these rounds unsound(
%ex loci cele"rationisrelates to the la/ of the pla!e of the !eremon.K [$%]orthe la/ of the pla!e /here a !ontra!t is made([$4]The do!trine of lex
contractus or lex loci contractus means the la/ of the pla!e /here a !ontra!t is
e:e!uted or to be performed(K[$5]8t !ontrols the nature, !onstru!tion, and 0alidit. of
the !ontra!t[$$]and it ma. pertain to the la/ 0oluntaril. areed upon b. the parties
or the la/ intended b. them either e:pressl. or impli!itl.( [$7]nder the state of the
most siniI!ant relationship rule,K to as!ertain /hat state la/ to appl. to a dispute,
the !ourt should determine /hi!h state has the most substantial !onne!tion to the
o!!urren!e and the parties( 8n a !ase in0ol0in a !ontra!t, the !ourt should !onsider
/here the !ontra!t /as made, /as neotiated, /as to be performed, and the
domi!ile, pla!e of business, or pla!e of in!orporation of the parties([$]This rule
takes into a!!ount se0eral !onta!ts and e0aluates them a!!ordin to their relati0e
importan!e /ith respe!t to the parti!ular issue to be resol0ed([$9]
Sin!e these three prin!iples in !oni!t of la/s make referen!e to the la/
appli!able to a dispute, the. are rules proper for the se!ond phase, the !hoi!e of
la/([7#]The. determine /hi!h states la/ is to be applied in resol0in the substanti0e
issues of a !oni!ts problem([71]*e!essaril., as the onl. issue in this !ase is that of
Eurisdi!tion, !hoi!e&of&la/ rules are not onl. inappli!able but also not .et !alled for(
-urther, petitioners premature in0o!ation of !hoi!e&of&la/ rules is e:posed b.
the fa!t that the. ha0e not .et pointed out an. !oni!t bet/een the la/s
of 6apan and ours(
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the !ourt is not limited b. forein so0erein la/ short of treaties or other formal
areements, e0en in matters reardin rihts pro0ided b. forein so0ereins([75]
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*either !an the other round raised, orum non conveniens,[7$]be used to depri0e
the trial !ourt of its Eurisdi!tion herein( -irst, it is not a proper basis for a motion to
dismiss be!ause Se!tion 1, Rule 1$ of the Rules of Court does not in!lude it as a
round([77]Se!ond, /hether a suit should be entertained or dismissed on the basis of
the said do!trine depends larel. upon the fa!ts of the parti!ular !ase and is
addressed to the sound dis!retion of the trial !ourt([7]
8n this !ase, the RTC de!idedto assume Eurisdi!tion( Third, the propriet. of dismissin a !ase based on this
prin!iple re3uires a fa!tual determinationJ hen!e, this !oni!ts prin!iple is more
properl. !onsidered a matter of defense([79]
"!!ordinl., sin!e the RTC is 0ested b. la/ /ith the po/er to entertain and
hear the !i0il !ase Iled b. respondent and the rounds raised b. petitioners to
assail that Eurisdi!tion are inappropriate, the trial and appellate !ourts !orre!tl.
denied the petitionersG motion to dismiss(
7$EREFORE,premises !onsidered, the petition for re0ie/ on certiorariis DENIED(
G.R. No. 112>:? Febr-!r* 9, 199>
NORT$7EST ORIENT AIRLINES, INC. )et&t&o"er,
@(.COURT OF APPEALS !"# C.F. S$ARP COPAN INC., re()o"#e"t(.
PADILLA, R.,J.:
T'&( )et&t&o" or re@&e4 o" certiorari (ee( to (et !(e t'e #ec&(&o" o t'eCo-rt o A))e!/( !r5&"+ t'e #&(5&((!/ o t'e )et&t&o"er( co5)/!&"t toe"orce t'e -#+5e"t o ! !)!"e(e co-rt. T'e )r&"c&)!/ &((-e 'ere &(4'et'er ! !)!"e(e co-rt c!" !c-&re -r&(#&ct&o" o@er ! P'&/&))&"ecor)or!t&o" #o&"+ b-(&"e(( &" !)!" b* (er@&"+ (-55o"( t'ro-+'
#&)/o5!t&c c'!""e/( o" t'e P'&/&))&"e cor)or!t&o" !t &t( )r&"c&)!/ oce &"!"&/! !ter )r&or !tte5)t( to (er@e (-55o"( &" !)!" '!# !&/e#.
Pet&t&o"er Nort'4e(t Or&e"t A&r/&"e(, I"c. H'ere&"!ter NORTHWEST, !cor)or!t&o" or+!"&e# -"#er t'e /!4( o t'e St!te o &""e(ot!, U.S.A.,(o-+'t to e"orce &" C&@&/ C!(e No. 8?J1:
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co-rt !+!&"(t )r&@!te re()o"#e"t C.F. S'!r) Co5)!"*, I"c., H'ere&"!terS$ARP, ! cor)or!t&o" &"cor)or!te# -"#er P'&/&))&"e /!4(.
A( o-"# b* t'e Co-rt o A))e!/( &" t'e c'!//e"+e# #ec&(&o" o 1=No@e5ber 199?, 1t'e o//o4&"+ !re t'e !ct-!/ !"# )roce#-r!/
!"tece#e"t( o t'&( co"tro@er(*O" !* 9, 19:, )/!&"t&K Nort'4e(t A&r/&"e( !"# #ee"#!"t C.F. S'!r) Co5)!"*, t'ro-+' &t( !)!" br!"c', e"tere# &"to !" I"ter"!t&o"!/P!((e"+er S!/e( A+e"c* A+ree5e"t, 4'ereb* t'e or5er !-t'or&e# t'e/!tter to (e// &t( !&r tr!"()ort!t&o" t&cet(. U"!b/e to re5&t t'e )rocee#( ot'e t&cet (!/e( 5!#e b* #ee"#!"t o" be'!/ o t'e )/!&"t&K -"#er t'e(! !+ree5e"t, )/!&"t&K o" !rc' 2>, 198= (-e# #ee"#!"t &" To*o,!)!", or co//ect&o" o t'e -"re5&tte# )rocee#( o t'e t&cet (!/e(, 4&t'c/!&5 or #!5!+e(.
O" A)r&/ 11, 198=, ! 4r&t o (-55o"( 4!( &((-e# b* t'e ?
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O" !rc' 2, 1981, #ee"#!"t rece&@e# ro5 De)-t* S'er&K B!/&"+&t co)*o t'e -#+5e"t. Dee"#!"t "ot '!@&"+ !))e!/e# t'e -#+5e"t, t'e (!5ebec!5e ;"!/ !"# eec-tor*.
P/!&"t&K 4!( -"!b/e to eec-te t'e #ec&(&o" &" !)!", 'e"ce, o" !* 2=,
198?, ! (-&t or e"orce5e"t o t'e -#+5e"t 4!( ;/e# b* )/!&"t&K beoret'e Re+&o"!/ Tr&!/ Co-rt o !"&/! Br!"c' >.2
O" -/* 1
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t'e #ee"#!"t &" t'e terr&tor&!/ -r&(#&ct&o" o t'e ore&+" co-rt. S-c' &("ot t'e c!(e 'ere bec!-(e t'e #ee"#!"t 4!( (er@e# 4&t' (-55o"( &" t'eP'&/&))&"e( !"# "ot &" !)!".
U"!b/e to !cce)t t'e (! #ec&(&o", )/!&"t&K o" -/* 11, 1989 5o@e# or
reco"(er!t&o" o t'e #ec&(&o", ;/&"+ !t t'e (!5e t&5e ! co"#&t&o"!/Not&ce o A))e!/, !(&"+ t'e co-rt to tre!t t'e (! "ot&ce o !))e!/ !( &"eKect !ter !"# -)o" &((-!"ce o t'e co-rt( #e"&!/ o t'e 5ot&o" orreco"(er!t&o".
Dee"#!"t o))o(e# t'e 5ot&o" or reco"(er!t&o" to 4'&c' ! Re)/* #!te#A-+-(t 28, 1989 4!( ;/e# b* t'e )/!&"t&K.
O" October 1 SCRA2?=. To co"er -r&(#&ct&o" o" t'e co-rt, )er(o"!/ or (-b(t&t-te# (er@&ce o(-55o"( o" t'e #ee"#!"t "ot etr!terr&tor&!/ (er@&ce &( "ece((!r* HD&!/Cor) @(. Sor&!"o, 1
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It &( ! +e"er!/ r-/e t'!t )roce((e( o t'e co-rt c!""ot /!4-//* be (er@e#o-t(e t'e terr&tor&!/ /&5&t( o t'e -r&(#&ct&o" o t'e co-rt ro5 4'&c' &t&((-e( HC!rter @(. C!rter6 1 S.E. 2# >?2, 2=1 !"# t'&( &(regardless o t!eresidence or citi"ens!ip o t'e )!rt* t'-( (er@e# HIo4!JR!'r @(. R!'r, 129N7 9, 1>= Io4! >11, ?> LRC, NS, 292, A5. C!(e 1912 D
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4'&c' t'e !ct&o" &( bro-+'t !"# "ot e/(e4'ere HSt. C/!&r @(. Co, 1=< US?>=, 2: L e#. 222, 1 S. Ct. ?>. >
It t'e" co"c/-#e# t'!t t'e (er@&ce o (-55o"( eKecte# &" !"&/! orbe*o"# t'e terr&tor&!/ bo-"#!r&e( o !)!" 4!( "-// !"# # "ot co"er
-r&(#&ct&o" -)o" t'e To*o D&(tr&ct Co-rt o@er t'e )er(o" o S$ARP6'e"ce, &t( #ec&(&o" 4!( @o.
U"!b/e to obt!&" ! reco"(er!t&o" o t'e #ec&(&o", NORT$7EST e/e@!te#t'e c!(e to t'&( Co-rt co"te"#&"+ t'!t t'e re()o"#e"t co-rt erre# &"'o/#&"+ t'!t S$ARP 4!( "ot ! re(e"t o !)!" !"# t'!t (-55o"( o"S$ARP co-/# o"/* be @!//* (er@e# 4&t'&" t'!t co-"tr*.
A ore&+" -#+5e"t &( )re(-5e# to be @!/ !"# b&"#&"+ &" t'e co-"tr*ro5 4'&c' &t co5e(, -"t&/ t'e co"tr!r* &( ('o4". It &( !/(o )ro)er to)re(-5e t'e re+-/!r&t* o t'e )rocee#&"+( !"# t'e +&@&"+ o #-e "ot&cet'ere&".=, R-/e ?9 o t'e R-/e( o Co-rt, ! -#+5e"t &" !" !ct&o" inpersonam o ! tr&b-"!/ o ! ore&+" co-"tr* '!@&"+ -r&(#&ct&o" to)ro"o-"ce t'e (!5e &( )re(-5)t&@e e@e"ce o ! r&+'t !( bet4ee" t'e)!rt&e( !"# t'e&r (-cce((or(J&"J&"tere(t b* ! (-b(e-e"t t&t/e. T'e-#+5e"t 5!*, 'o4e@er, be !((!&/e# b* e@e"ce o 4!"t o -r&(#&ct&o",4!"t o "ot&ce to t'e )!rt*, co//-(&o", r!-#, or c/e!r 5&(t!e o /!4 or!ct. A/(o, -"#er Sect&o" ? o R-/e 1?1, ! co-rt, 4'et'er o t'e P'&/&))&"e(or e/(e4'ere, e"o*( t'e )re(-5)t&o" t'!t &t 4!( !ct&"+ &" t'e /!4-/eerc&(e o -r&(#&ct&o" !"# '!( re+-/!r/* )eror5e# &t( oc&!/ #-t*.
Co"(e-e"t/*, t'e )!rt* !tt!c&"+ ! ore&+" -#+5e"t '!( t'e b-r#e" oo@erco5&"+ t'e )re(-5)t&o" o &t( @!/&t*.:Be&"+ t'e )!rt* c'!//e"+&"+t'e -#+5e"t re"#ere# b* t'e !)!"e(e co-rt, S$ARP '!# t'e #-t* to#e5o"(tr!te t'e &"@!/&t* o (-c' -#+5e"t. I" !" !tte5)t to #&(c'!r+et'!t b-r#e", &t co"te"#( t'!t t'e etr!terr&tor&!/ (er@&ce o (-55o"(eKecte# !t &t( 'o5e oce &" t'e P'&/&))&"e( 4!( "ot o"/* &"eKect-!/ b-t!/(o @o, !"# t'e !)!"e(e Co-rt # "ot, t'ereore !c-&re -r&(#&ct&o"o@er &t.
It &( (ett/e# t'!t 5!tter( o re5e#* !"# )roce#-re (-c' !( t'o(e re/!t&"+
to t'e (er@&ce o )roce(( -)o" ! #ee"#!"t !re +o@er"e# b* t'e lex ori ort'e &"ter"!/ /!4 o t'e or-5.8 I" t'&( c!(e, &t &( t'e )roce#-r!/ /!4 o!)!" 4'ere t'e -#+5e"t 4!( re"#ere# t'!t #eter5&"e( t'e @!/&t* ot'e etr!terr&tor&!/ (er@&ce o )roce(( o" S$ARP. A( to 4'!t t'&( /!4 &( &( !-e(t&o" o !ct, "ot o /!4. It 5!* "ot be t!e" -#&c&!/ "ot&ce o !"# 5-(tbe )/e!#e# !"# )ro@e# /&e !"* ot'er !ct. 9Sect&o"( 2 !"# 2>, R-/e 1?2o t'e R-/e( o Co-rt )ro@e t'!t &t 5!* be e@e"ce# b* !" oc&!/)-b/&c!t&o" or b* ! #-/* !tte(te# or !-t'e"t&c!te# co)* t'ereo. It 4!(
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t'e" &"c-5be"t -)o" S$ARP to )re(e"t e@e"ce !( to 4'!t t'!t !)!"e(e)roce#-r!/ /!4 &( !"# to ('o4 t'!t -"#er &t, t'e !((!&/e# etr!terr&tor&!/(er@&ce &( &"@!/. It # "ot. Accor#&"+/*, t'e )re(-5)t&o" o @!/&t* !"#re+-/!r&t* o t'e (er@&ce o (-55o"( !"# t'e #ec&(&o" t'ere!ter re"#ere#b* t'e !)!"e(e co-rt 5-(t (t!"#.
A/ter"!t&@e/* &" t'e /&+'t o t'e !b(e"ce o )roo re+!r#&"+ !)!"e(e/!4, t'e )re(-5)t&o" o e"t&t* or (&5&/!r&t* or t'e (oJc!//e# )roce((-!/)re(-5)t&o" 1=5!* be &"@oe#. A))/*&"+ &t, t'e !)!"e(e /!4 o" t'e5!tter &( )re(-5e# to be (&5&/!r 4&t' t'e P'&/&))&"e /!4 o" (er@&ce o(-55o"( o" ! )r&@!te ore&+" cor)or!t&o" #o&"+ b-(&"e(( &" t'eP'&/&))&"e(. Sect&o" 1, R-/e 1 o t'e R-/e( o Co-rt )ro@e( t'!t & t'e#ee"#!"t &( ! ore&+" cor)or!t&o" #o&"+ b-(&"e(( &" t'e P'&/&))&"e(,(er@&ce 5!* be 5!#e H1 o" &t( re(e"t !+e"t #e(&+"!te# &" !ccor#!"ce4&t' /!4 or t'!t )-r)o(e, or, H2 & t'ere &( "o (-c' re(e"t !+e"t, o" t'e+o@er"5e"t oc&!/ #e(&+"!te# b* /!4 to t'!t eKect6 or H? o" !"* o &t(
ocer( or !+e"t( 4&t'&" t'e P'&/&))&"e(.
I t'e ore&+" cor)or!t&o" '!( #e(&+"!te# !" !+e"t to rece&@e (-55o"(,t'e #e(&+"!t&o" &( ec/-(&@e, !"# (er@&ce o (-55o"( &( 4&t'o-t orce !"#+&@e( t'e co-rt "o -r&(#&ct&o" -"/e(( 5!#e -)o" '&5. 11
7'ere t'e cor)or!t&o" '!( "o (-c' !+e"t, (er@&ce ('!// be 5!#e o" t'e+o@er"5e"t oc&!/ #e(&+"!te# b* /!4, to 4&t H! t'e I"(-r!"ceCo55&((&o"er &" t'e c!(e o ! ore&+" &"(-r!"ce co5)!"*6 Hb t'eS-)er&"te"#e"t o B!"(, &" t'e c!(e o ! ore&+" b!"&"+ cor)or!t&o"6 !"#Hc t'e Sec-r&t&e( !"# Ec'!"+e Co55&((&o", &" t'e c!(e o ot'er ore&+"
cor)or!t&o"( #-/* /&ce"(e# to #o b-(&"e(( &" t'e P'&/&))&"e(. 7'e"e@er(er@&ce o )roce(( &( (o 5!#e, t'e +o@er"5e"t oce or oc&!/ (er@e#('!// tr!"(5&t b* 5!&/ ! co)* o t'e (-55o"( or ot'er /e+!/ )rocce(( tot'e cor)or!t&o" !t &t( 'o5e or )r&"c&)!/ oce. T'e (e"#&"+ o (-c' co)* &(! "ece((!r* )!rt o t'e (er@&ce. 12
S$ARP co"te"#( t'!t t'e /!4( !-t'or&&"+ (er@&ce o )roce(( -)o" t'eSec-r&t&e( !"# Ec'!"+e Co55&((&o", t'e S-)er&"te"#e"t o B!"(, !"#t'e I"(-r!"ce Co55&((&o"er, !( t'e c!(e 5!* be, )re(-))o(e ! (&t-!t&o"4'ere&" t'e ore&+" cor)or!t&o" #o&"+ b-(&"e(( &" t'e co-"tr* "o /o"+er'!( !"* br!"c'e( or oce( 4&t'&" t'e P'&/&))&"e(. S-c' co"te"t&o" &(be/&e# b* t'e )ert&"e"t )ro@&(&o"( o t'e (! /!4(. T'-(, Sect&o" 128 ot'e Cor)or!t&o" Co#e1?!"# Sect&o" 19= o t'e I"(-r!"ce Co#e 1c/e!r/*co"te5)/!te t4o (&t-!t&o"( H1 & t'e cor)or!t&o" '!# /et t'e P'&/&))&"e(or '!# ce!(e# to tr!"(!ct b-(&"e(( t'ere&", !"# H2 & t'e cor)or!t&o" '!("o #e(&+"!te# !+e"t. Sect&o" 1: o t'e Ge"er!/ B!"&"+ Act 1>#oe( "ote@e" ()e! ! cor)or!t&o" 4'&c' '!# ce!(e# to tr!"(!ct b-(&"e(( &" t'eP'&/&))&"e(.
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No4'ere &" &t( )/e!#&"+( # S$ARP )roe(( to '!@&"+ '!# ! re(e"t!+e"t !-t'or&e# to rece&@e co-rt )roce((e( &" !)!". T'&( (&/e"ce co-/#o"/* 5e!", or /e!(t cre!te !" &5)re((&o", t'!t &t '!# "o"e. $e"ce, (er@&ceo" t'e #e(&+"!te# +o@er"5e"t oc&!/ or o" !"* o S$ARP( ocer( or!+e"t( &" !)!" co-/# be !@!&/e# o. T'e re()o"#e"t, 'o4e@er, &"(&(t( t'!t
o"/* (er@&ce o !"* o &t( ocer( or e5)/o*ee( &" &t( br!"c'e( &" !)!"co-/# be re(orte# to. 7e #o "ot !+ree. A( o-"# b* t'e re()o"#e"t co-rt,t4o !tte5)t( !t (er@&ce 4ere 5!#e !t S$ARP( oo'!5! br!"c'. Bot'4ere -"(-cce((-/. O" t'e ;r(t !tte5)t, r. D&"oo, 4'o 4!( be/&e@e# tobe t'e )er(o" !-t'or&e# to !cce)t co-rt )roce((, 4!( &" !"&/!. O" t'e(eco"#, r. D&"oo 4!( )re(e"t, b-t to !cce)t t'e (-55o"( bec!-(e,!ccor#&"+ to '&5, 'e 4!( "o /o"+er !" e5)/o*ee o S$ARP. 7'&/e &t 5!* betr-e t'!t (er@&ce co-/# '!@e bee" 5!#e -)o" !"* o t'e ocer( or !+e"t(o S$ARP !t &t( t'ree ot'er br!"c'e( &" !)!", t'e !@!&/!b&/&t* o (-c' !reco-r(e 4o-/# "ot )rec/-#e (er@&ce -)o" t'e )ro)er +o@er"5e"t oc&!/,!( (t!te# !bo@e.
A( o-"# b* t'e Co-rt o A))e!/(, &t 4!( t'e To*o D&(tr&ct Co-rt 4'&c'or#ere# t'!t (-55o"( or S$ARP be (er@e# !t &t( 'e!# oce &" t'eP'&/&))&"e( !ter t'e t4o !tte5)t( o (er@&ce '!# !&/e#. 1
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T'e )roce(( o ! co-rt, '!( "o etr!terr&tor&!/ eKect, !"# "o -r&(#&ct&o" &(!c-&re# o@er t'e )er(o" o t'e #ee"#!"t b* (er@&"+ '&5 be*o"# t'ebo-"#!r&e( o t'e (t!te. Nor '!( ! -#+5e"t o ! co-rt o ! ore&+" co-"tr*!+!&"(t ! re(e"t o t'&( co-"tr* '!@&"+ "o )ro)ert* &" (-c' ore&+"co-"tr* b!(e# o" )roce(( (er@e# 'ere, !"* eKect 'ere !+!&"(t e&t'er t'e
#ee"#!"t )er(o"!//* or '&( )ro)ert* (&t-!te# 'ere.
Proce(( &((-&"+ ro5 t'e co-rt( o o"e (t!te or co-"tr* c!""ot r-" &"to!"ot'er, !"# !/t'o-+' ! "o"re(e"t #ee"#!"t 5!* '!@e bee" )er(o"!//*(er@e# 4&t' (-c' )roce(( &" t'e (t!te or co-"tr* o '&( #o5&c&/e, &t 4&// "ot+&@e (-c' -r&(#&ct&o" !( to !-t'or&e ! )er(o"!/ -#+5e"t !+!&"(t '&5.
It -rt'er !@!&/e# o t'e r-/&"+ &" #agdalena Estate$%nc.vs.Nieto19!"# &ial 'orp.vs.Soriano, 2=!( 4e// !( t'e )r&"c&)/e /!#o4" b* t'e Io4! S-)re5e Co-rt &" t'e 1911 c!(e o Ra!er vs.Ra!er. 21
T'e ;r(t t'ree c!(e( !re, 'o4e@er, &"!))/&c!b/e.Boudard
&"@o/@e# t'ee"orce5e"t o ! -#+5e"t o t'e c&@&/ #&@&(&o" o t'e Co-rt o F&r(tI"(t!"ce o $!"o&, Fre"c' I"#oJC'&"!. T'e tr&!/ co-rt #&(5&((e# t'e c!(ebec!-(e t'e $!"o& co-rt "e@er !c-&re# -r&(#&ct&o" o@er t'e )er(o" o t'e#ee"#!"t co"(er&"+ t'!t [t]'e, e@e"ce !##-ce# !t t'e tr&!/co"c/-(&@e/* )ro@e( t'!t "e&t'er t'e !))e//ee [t'e #ee"#!"t] "or '&(!+e"t or e5)/o*ee( 4ere e@er &" $!"o&, Fre"c' I"#oJC'&"!6 !"# t'!t t'e#ece!(e# !r&e T'eo#ore ero5e Bo-#!r# '!# "e@er, !t !"* t&5e, bee" '&(e5)/o*ee. I" #agdalena Estate, 4'!t 4!( #ec/!re# &"@!/ re(-/t&"+ &"t'e !&/-re o t'e co-rt to !c-&re -r&(#&ct&o" o@er t'e )er(o" o t'e#ee"#!"t( &" !" !ct&o" in personam4!( t'e (er@&ce o (-55o"( t'ro-+'
)-b/&c!t&o" !+!&"(t "o"J!))e!r&"+ re(e"t #ee"#!"t(. It 4!( c/!&5e#t'!t t'e /!tter co"ce!/e# t'e5(e/@e( to !@o )er(o"!/ (er@&ce o(-55o"( -)o" t'e5. I" &ial, t'e #ee"#!"t( 4ere ore&+" cor)or!t&o"(4'&c' 4ere "ot, #o5&c&/e# !"# /&ce"(e# to e"+!+e &" b-(&"e(( &" t'eP'&/&))&"e( !"# 4'&c' # "ot '!@e ocer( or !+e"t(, )/!ce( o b-(&"e((,or )ro)ert&e( 'ere. O" t'e ot'er '!"#, &" t'e &"(t!"t c!(e, S$ARP 4!(#o&"+ b-(&"e(( &" !)!" !"# 4!( 5!&"t!&"&"+ o-r br!"c'e( t'ere&".
I"(o!r !( to t'e P'&/&))&"e( &( co"cer"e#, Ra!er&( ! t'&"+ o t'e )!(t. I"t'!t c!(e, ! #&@e# S-)re5e Co-rt o Io4! #ec/!re# t'!t t'e )r&"c&)/et'!t t'ere c!" be "o -r&(#&ct&o" &" ! co-rt o ! terr&tor* to re"#er !)er(o"!/ -#+5e"t !+!&"(t !"*o"e -)o" (er@&ce 5!#e o-t(e &t( /&5&t(4!( !))/&c!b/e !/&e to c!(e( o re(e"t( !"# "o"Jre(e"t(. T'e )r&"c&)/e4!( )-t !t re(t b* t'e U"&te# St!te( S-)re5e Co-rt 4'e" &t r-/e# &" t'e19= c!(e o#illi(en vs.#e)er 22t'!t #o5&c&/e &" t'e (t!te &( !/o"e(-c&e"t to br&"+ !" !b(e"t #ee"#!"t 4&t'&" t'e re!c' o t'e (t!te(-r&(#&ct&o" or )-r)o(e( o ! )er(o"!/ -#+5e"t b* 5e!"( o !))ro)r&!te(-b(t&t-te# (er@&ce or )er(o"!/ (er@&ce 4&t'o-t t'e (t!te. T'&( )r&"c&)/e &(
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e5bo#&e# &" (ect&o" 18, R-/e 1 o t'e R-/e( o Co-rt 4'&c' !//o4( (er@&ceo (-55o"( o" re(e"t( te5)or!r&/* o-t o t'e P'&/&))&"e( to be 5!#eo-t o t'e co-"tr*. T'e r!t&o"!/e or t'&( r-/e 4!( e)/!&"e# &" #illi(en !(o//o4(
[T]'e !-t'or&t* o ! (t!te o@er o"e o &t( c&t&e"( &( "ot ter5&"!te# b* t'e5ere !ct o '&( !b(e"ce ro5 t'e (t!te. T'e (t!te 4'&c' !ccor#( '&5)r&@&/e+e( !"# !Kor#( )rotect&o" to '&5 !"# '&( )ro)ert* b* @&rt-e o '&(#o5&c&/e 5!* !/(o e!ct rec&)roc!/ #-t&e(. E"o*5e"t o t'e )r&@&/e+e( ore(e"ce 4&t'&" t'e (t!te, !"# t'e !tte"#!"t r&+'t to &"@oe t'e)rotect&o" o &t( /!4(, !re &"(e)!r!b/e ro5 t'e @!r&o-( &"ce"ce( o(t!te c&t&e"('&). T'e re()o"(&b&/&t&e( o t'!t c&t&e"('&) !r&(e o-t o t'ere/!t&o"('&) to t'e (t!te 4'&c' #o5&c&/e cre!te(. T'!t re/!t&o"('&) &( "ot#&((o/@e# b* 5ere !b(e"ce ro5 t'e (t!te. T'e !tte"#!"t #-t&e(, /&e t'er&+'t( !"# )r&@&/e+e( &"ce"t to #o5&c&/e, !re "ot #e)e"#e"t o"co"t&"-o-( )re(e"ce &" t'e (t!te. O"e (-c' &"ce"t o #o5&c&/e &(
!5e"!b&/&t* to (-&t 4&t'&" t'e (t!te e@e" #-r&"+ (oo-r"( 4&t'o-t t'e(t!te, 4'ere t'e (t!te '!( )ro@e# !"# e5)/o*e# ! re!(o"!b/e 5et'o#or !))r&(&"+ (-c' !" !b(e"t )!rt* o t'e )rocee#&"+( !+!&"(t '&5. 2?
T'e #o5&c&/e o ! cor)or!t&o" be/o"+( to t'e (t!te 4'ere &t 4!(&"cor)or!te#. 2I" ! (tr&ct tec'"&c!/ (e"(e, (-c' #o5&c&/e !( ! cor)or!t&o"5!* '!@e &( (&"+/e &" &t( e((e"ce !"# ! cor)or!t&o" c!" '!@e o"/* o"e#o5&c&/e 4'&c' &( t'e (t!te o &t( cre!t&o". 2>
No"et'e/e((, ! cor)or!t&o" or5e# &" o"eJ(t!te 5!*, or cert!&" )-r)o(e(,be re+!r#e# ! re(e"t &" !"ot'er (t!te &" 4'&c' &t '!( oce( !"#
tr!"(!ct( b-(&"e((. T'&( &( t'e r-/e &" o-r -r&(#&ct&o" !"# apropost'ereto,&t 5!* be "ece((er* to -ote 4'!t 4e (t!te# &" State %nvestment House$%nc, vs. 'iti*an($ N.+., 2
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T'e OK('ore B!"&"+ L!4, Pre(e"t&!/ Decree No. 1=?, (t!te( t'!tbr!"c'e(, (-b(&!r&e(, !/&!t&o", ete"(&o" oce( or !"* ot'er -"&t( ocor)or!t&o" or -r&c!/ )er(o" or+!"&e# -"#er t'e /!4( o !"* ore&+"co-"tr* o)er!t&"+ &" t'e P'&/&))&"e( ('!// be co"(ere# re(e"t( o t'eP'&/&))&"e(. [Sec. 1He].
T'e Ge"er!/ B!"&"+ Act, Re)-b/&c Act No. ??:, )/!ce( br!"c'e( !"#!+e"c&e( &" t'e P'&/&))&"e( o ore&+" b!"( . . . H4'&c' !re c!//e#P'&/&))&"e br!"c'e(, &" t'e (!5e c!te+or* !( co55erc&!/ b!"(, (!@&"+(!((oc&!t&o"(, 5ort+!+e b!"(, #e@e/o)5e"t b!"(, r-r!/ b!"(, (toc(!@&"+( !"# /o!" !((oc&!t&o"( H4'&c' '!@e bee" or5e# !"# or+!"&e#-"#er P'&/&))&"e /!4(, 5!&"+ "o #&(t&"ct&o" bet4ee" t'e or5er !"# t'e/!tter &" (o !r !( t'e ter5( b!"&"+ &"(t&t-t&o"( !"# b!" !re -(e# &"t'e Act [Sec. 2], #ec/!r&"+ o" t'e co"tr!r* t'!t &" !// 5!tter( "ot()ec&;c!//* co@ere# b* ()ec&!/ )ro@&(&o"( !))/&c!b/e o"/* to ore&+" b!"(,or t'e&r br!"c'e( !"# !+e"c&e( &" t'e P'&/&))&"e(, (! ore&+" b!"( or
t'e&r br!"c'e( !"# !+e"c&e( /!4-//* #o&"+ b-(&"e(( &" t'e P'&/&))&"e(('!// be bo-"# b* !// /!4(, r-/e(, !"# re+-/!t&o"( !))/&c!b/e to #o5e(t&cb!"&"+ cor)or!t&o"( o t'e (!5e c/!((, ece)t (-c' /!4(, r-/e( !"#re+-/!t&o"( !( )ro@e# or t'e cre!t&o", or5!t&o", or+!"&!t&o", or#&((o/-t&o" o cor)or!t&o"( or !( ; t'e re/!t&o", /&!b&/&t&e(,re()o"(&b&/&t&e(, or #-t&e( o 5e5ber(, (toc'o/#er( or ocer( ocor)or!t&o". [Sec. 18].
T'&( co-rt &t(e/ '!( !/re!#* '!# occ!(&o" to 'o/# [C/!-#e Neo" L&+'t(,Fe#. I"c. @(. P'&/&))&"e A#@ert&(&"+ Cor)., >: P'&/. :, R-/e( o 199, !"# !r('!// 7e//( Co. @(.$e"r* 7. E/(er Co., < P'&/. :=, :
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?8>, 11 7e t'&" &t 4o-/# be e"t&re/* o-t o /&"e 4&t' t'&( )o/&c* ('o-/#4e 5!e ! #&(cr&5&"!t&o" !+!&"(t ! ore&+" cor)or!t&o", /&e t'e )et&t&o"er,!"# (-bect &t( )ro)ert* to t'e '!r(' 4r&t o (e&-re b* !tt!c'5e"t 4'e" &t'!( co5)/&e# "ot o"/* 4&t' e@er* re-&re5e"t o /!4 5!#e ()ec&!//* oore&+" cor)or!t&o"(, b-t &" !##&t&o" 4&t' e@er* re-&re5e"t o /!4 5!#e
o #o5e(t&c cor)or!t&o"(. . . .
Ob@&o-(/*, t'e !((&5&/!t&o" o ore&+" cor)or!t&o"( !-t'or&e# to #ob-(&"e(( &" t'e P'&/&))&"e( to t'e (t!t-( o domestic cor)or!t&o"(,(-b(-5e( t'e&r be&"+ o-"# !"# o)er!t&"+ !( cor)or!t&o"(,'e"ce,residing, &" t'e co-"tr*.
T'e (!5e )r&"c&)/e &( reco+"&e# &" A5er&c!" /!4 t'!t t'e re(e"ce o !cor)or!t&o", & &t c!" be (! to '!@e ! re(e"ce, &( "ece((!r&/* 4'ere &teerc&(e( cor)or!te -"ct&o"( . . .6 t'!t &t &( co"(ere# !( #4e//&"+ &" t'e)/!ce 4'ere &t( b-(&"e(( &( #o"e . . ., !( be&"+ /oc!te# 4'ere &t(
r!"c'&(e( !re eerc&(e# . . ., !"# !( be&"+ )re(e"t 4'ere &t &( e"+!+e#&" t'e )ro(ec-t&o" o t'e cor)or!te e"ter)r&(e6 t'!t ! ore&+" cor)or!t&o"/&ce"(e# to #o b-(&"e(( &" ! (t!te &( ! re(e"t o !"* co-"tr* 4'ere &t5!&"t!&"( !" oce or !+e"t or tr!"(!ct&o" o &t( -(-!/ !"# c-(to5!r*b-(&"e(( or @e"-e )-r)o(e(6 !"# t'!t t'e "ece((!r* e/e5e"t &" &t((&+"&;c!t&o" &( /oc!/&t* o e&(te"ce. [7or#( !"# P'r!(e(, Per5!"e"t E#.,@o/. ?:, )). ?9, 12, 9?].
I" !( 5-c' !( S$ARP 4!( !#5&tte#/* #o&"+ b-(&"e(( &" !)!" t'ro-+' &t(o-r #-/* re+&(tere# br!"c'e( !t t'e t&5e t'e co//ect&o" (-&t !+!&"(t &t 4!(;/e#, t'e" &" t'e /&+'t o t'e )roce((-!/ )re(-5)t&o", S$ARP 5!* be
#ee5e# ! re(e"t o !)!", !"#, !( (-c', 4!( !5e"!b/e to t'e-r&(#&ct&o" o t'e co-rt( t'ere&" !"# 5!* be #ee5e# to '!@e !((e"te# tot'e (! co-rt( /!4-/ 5et'o#( o (er@&"+ )roce((. 2:
Accor#&"+/*, t'e etr!terr&tor&!/ (er@&ce o (-55o"( o" &t b* t'e !)!"e(eCo-rt 4!( @!/ "ot o"/* -"#er t'e )roce((-!/ )re(-5)t&o" b-t !/(obec!-(e o t'e )re(-5)t&o" o re+-/!r&t* o )eror5!"ce o oc&!/ #-t*.
7e ;"# NORT$7EST( c/!&5 or !ttor"e*( ee(, /&t&+!t&o" e)e"(e(, !"#ee5)/!r* #!5!+e( to be 4&t'o-t 5er&t. 7e ;"# "o e@e"ce t'!t 4o-/#-(t&* !" !4!r# or !ttor"e*( ee( !"# /&t&+!t&o" e)e"(e( -"#er Art&c/e
22=8 o t'e C&@&/ Co#e o t'e P'&/&))&"e(. Nor &( !" !4!r# or ee5)/!r*#!5!+e( 4!rr!"te#. U"#er Art&c/e 22? o t'e C&@&/ Co#e, beore t'e co-rt5!* co"(er t'e -e(t&o" o 4'et'er or "ot ee5)/!r* #!5!+e( ('o-/#be !4!r#e#, t'e )/!&"t&K 5-(t ('o4 t'!t 'e &( e"t&t/e# to 5or!/,te5)er!te, or co5)e"(!tor* #!5!+e#. T'ere be&"+ "o (-c' )roo)re(e"te# b* NORT$7EST, "o ee5)/!r* #!5!+e( 5!* be !#-#+e# &" &t(!@or.
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7$EREFORE, t'e &"(t!"t )et&t&o" &( )!rt/* GRANTED, !"# t'e c'!//e"+e##ec&(&o" &( AFFIRED &"(o!r !( &t #e"&e# NORT$7EST( c/!&5( or!ttor"e*( ee(, /&t&+!t&o" e)e"(e(, !"# ee5)/!r* #!5!+e( b-tREERSED &"(o!r !( &" (-(t!&"e# t'e tr&!/ co-rt( #&(5&((!/ oNORT$7EST( co5)/!&"t &" C&@&/ C!(e No. 8?J1:
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)ro)ert* !"# !cco-"t&"+ o re"t!/( !+!&"(t )et&t&o"er( Lo-r#e( A.!/5o"te !"# A/re#o D. !/5o"te beore t'e Re+&o"!/ Tr&!/ Co-rt o!"&/!, Br!"c' 8. T'e (-bect o t'e !ct&o" &( ! t'reeJ#oor !)!rt5e"t/oc!te# &" P!co, !"&/!.
I" 'er Co5)/!&"t, )r&@!te re()o"#e"t !//e+e#T'e )/!&"t&K &( o /e+!/ !+e, ! 4o4 !"# &( !t )re(e"t ! re(e"t o 182?Co"4!* Ro!#, C'e(ter;e/#, &((o-r&, U.S.A., 4'&/e t'e #ee"#!"t( !re()o-(e(, o /e+!/ !+e !"# !t )re(e"t re(e"t( o 9=222 C!ree Dr&@e,So-t' Se!tt/e, 7!('&"+to", U.S.A., b-t, or )-r)o(e( o t'&( co5)/!&"t 5!*be (er@e# 4&t' (-55o"( !t Ge#&(co Ce"ter, U"&t ?=, 1>
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!cce)t t'e (-55o"( or '&( 4&e, Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te, o" t'e +ro-"# t'!t'e 4!( "ot !-t'or&e# to !cce)t t'e )roce(( o" 'er be'!/. Accor#&"+/* t'e)roce(( (er@er /et 4&t'o-t /e!@&"+ ! co)* o t'e (-55o"( !"# co5)/!&"tor )et&t&o"er Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te.
Pet&t&o"er A/re#o D. !/5o"te t'ere!ter ;/e# '&( A"(4er 4&t'Co-"terc/!&5. Pet&t&o"er Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te, 'o4e@er, # "ot ;/e 'erA"(4er. For t'&( re!(o" )r&@!te re()o"#e"t 5o@e# to #ec/!re 'er &"#e!-/t. Pet&t&o"er A/re#o D. !/5o"te e"tere# ! ()ec&!/ !))e!r!"ce &"be'!/ o '&( 4&e !"# o))o(e# t'e )r&@!te re()o"#e"t( 5ot&o".
I" &t( Or#er #!te# -/* ?, 1992, t'e tr&!/ co-rt, #e"&e# )r&@!te re()o"#e"t(5ot&o" to #ec/!re )et&t&o"er Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te &" #e!-/t. A 5ot&o" orreco"(er!t&o" 4!( (&5&/!r/* #e"&e# o" Se)te5ber 2?, 1992. 7'ere-)o",)r&@!te re()o"#e"t ;/e# ! )et&t&o" or cert&or!r&, )ro'&b&t&o" !"#5!"#!5-( 4&t' t'e Co-rt o A))e!/(.
O" Dece5ber 29, 1992, t'e Co-rt o A))e!/( re"#ere# ! #ec&(&o" +r!"t&"+t'e )et&t&o" !"# #ec/!r&"+ Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te &" #e!-/t. A co)* o t'e!))e//!te co-rt( #ec&(&o" 4!( rece&@e# b* )et&t&o"er A/re#o D. !/5o"teo" !"-!r* /$ 199? !t '&( !"&/! oce !"# o" !"-!r* 21,199? &" Se!tt/e,7!('&"+to". $e"ce, t'&( )et&t&o".
T'e &((-e !t b!r &( 4'et'er &" /&+'t o t'e !ct( (et ort' !bo@e, )et&t&o"erLo-r#e( A. !/5o"te 4!( @!//* (er@e# 4&t' (-55o"(. I" 'o/#&"+ t'!t ('e'!# bee", t'e Co-rt o A))e!/( (t!te#[1]
[I]" 'er !bo@eJ-ote# re)/*, r(. !/5o"te c/e!r/* !"# -"e-&@oc!//*#&recte# t'e !ore5e"t&o"e# co-"(e/ o D&5!/!"t! to !##re(( allcommunications He@e"t/* reerr&"+ to 'er co"tro@er(* 4&t' 'er (&(terr(. D&5!/!"t! o@er t'e P!co )ro)ert*, "o4 t'e (-bect o t'e &"(t!"tc!(e to 'er /!4*er 4'o '!))e"( !/(o to be 'er '-(b!"#. S-c' #&rect&@e4!( 5!#e 4&t'o-t !"* -!/&;c!t&o" -(t !( 4!( 'er c'o&ce#e(&+"!t&o" o'er '-(b!"# Att*. !/5o"te !( 'er /!4*er /&e4&(e 5!#e 4&t'o-t !"*-!/&;c!t&o" or re(er@!t&o". A"* #&(c/!&5er t'ereore o" t'e )!rt o Att*.!/5o"te !( to '&( be&"+ '&( 4&e( !ttor"e* H!t /e!(t 4&t' re+!r# to t'e#&()-te @&(J!J@&( [(&c] t'e P!co )ro)ert* 4o-/# !))e!r to be eeb/e ortr&&"+, & "ot &"cre#&b/e.
T'&( @&e4 &( bo/(tere# b* Att*. !/5o"te( (-b(e-e"t !//e+e# ()ec&!/!))e!r!"ce 5!#e o" be'!/ o '&( 4&e. 7'ere!( r(. !/5o"te '!#5!"&e(t/* !-t'or&e# 'er '-(b!"# to (er@e !( 'er /!4*er re/!t&@e to 'er#&()-te 4&t' 'er (&(ter o@er t'e P!co )ro)ert* !"# to rece&@e !//co55-"&c!t&o"( re+!r#&"+ t'e (!5e !"# (-b(e-e"t/* to !))e!r o" 'erbe'!/ b* 4!* o ! (oJc!//e# ()ec&!/ !))e!r!"ce, ('e 4o-/# "o"et'e/e(("o4 &"(&(t t'!t t'e (!5e '-(b!"# 4o-/# "o"et'e/e(( '!# !b(o/-te/* "o
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!-t'or&t* to rece&@e (-55o"( o" 'er be'!/. I" eKect, ('e &( !((ert&"+ t'!tre)re(e"t!t&o" b* 'er /!4*er H4'o &( !/(o 'er '-(b!"# !( !r !( t'e P!co)ro)ert* co"tro@er(* &( co"cer"e#, ('o-/# o"/* be 5!#e b* '&5 4'e" (-c're)re(e"t!t&o" 4o-/# be !@or!b/e to 'er b-t "ot ot'er4&(e. It 4o-/#ob@&o-(/* be &"e-&t!b/e or t'&( Co-rt to !//o4 )r&@!te re()o"#e"t
Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te to 'o/# t'!t 'er '-(b!"# '!( t'e !-t'or&t* tore)re(e"t 'er 4'e" !" !#@!"t!+e &( to be obt!&"e# b* 'er !"# to #e"*(-c' !-t'or&t* 4'e" &t 4o-/# t-r" o-t to be 'er #&(!#@!"t!+e. I t'&( be!//o4e#, O-r R-/e( o Co-rt, &"(te!# o be&"+ !" &"(tr-5e"t to )ro5ote-(t&ce 4o-/# be 5!#e -(e o to t'4!rt or r-(tr!te t'e (!5e.
T-r"&"+ to !"ot'er )o&"t, &t 4o-/# "ot #o or U( to o@er/oo t'e !ct t'!tt'e #&()-te# (-55o"( 4!( (er@e# "ot -)o" -(t !" or#&"!r* /!4*er o)r&@!te re()o"#e"t Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te, b-t -)o" 'er /!4*er '-(b!"#.
B-t t'!t &( "ot !//, t'e (!5e /!4*er'-(b!"# '!))e"( to be !/(o 'er coJ#ee"#!"t &" t'e &"(t!"t c!(e 4'&c' &"@o/@e( re!/ )ro)ert* 4'&c',!ccor#&"+ to 'er /!4*er'-(b!"# coJ#ee"#!"t, be/o"+( to t'e co"-+!/)!rt"er('&) o t'e #ee"#!"t( Ht'e ()o-(e( !/5o"te. It &( '&+'/*&"co"ce&@!b/e !"# cert!&"/* &t 4o-/# be co"tr!r* to '-5!" "!t-re or t'e/!4*er'-(b!"#coJ#ee"#!"t to ee) to '&5(e/ t'e !ct t'!t t'e* Ht'e()o-(e( !/5o"te '!# bee" (-e# 4&t' re+!r# to ! )ro)ert* 4'&c' 'ec/!&5( to be co"-+!/. P!re"t'et&c!//*, t'ere &( "ot'&"+ &" t'e recor#( ot'e c!(e beore U( re+!r#&"+ !"* 5!"&e(t!t&o" b* )r&@!te re()o"#e"tLo-r#e( A. !/5o"te !bo-t 'er /!c o "o4/e#+e !bo-t t'e c!(e&"(t&t-te# !+!&"(t 'er !"# 'er /!4*er'-(b!"#coJ#ee"#!"t b* 'er (&(terRo(&t!.
PREISES CONSIDERED, t'e &"(t!"t )et&t&o" or cert&or!r&, )ro'&b&t&o" !"#5!"#!5-( &( +&@e" #-e co-r(e. T'&( Co-rt 'ereb* Re(o/@e( to "-//&* t'eor#er( o t'e co-rt a quo #!te# -/* ?, 1992 !"# Se)te5ber 2?, 1992 !"#-rt'er #ec/!re( )r&@!te re()o"#e"t Lo-r#e( Arreo/! !/5o"te !( '!@&"+bee" )ro)er/* (er@e# 4&t' (-55o"(.
Pet&t&o"er( !((!&/ t'e !ore-ote# #ec&(&o", !//e+&"+ t'!t t'e Co-rt oA))e!/( erre# H1 &" re-(&"+ to !))/* t'e )ro@&(&o"( o R-/e 1, 1: o t'eRe@&(e# R-/e( o Co-rt !"# !))/*&"+ &"(te!# R-/e 1, 8 4'e" t'e !ct &(t'!t )et&t&o"er Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te &( ! "o"re(e"t #ee"#!"t6 !"# H2bec!-(e e@e" & R-/e 1, 8 &( t'e !))/&c!b/e )ro@&(&o", t'ere 4!( "o @!/(-b(t&t-te# (er@&ce !( t'ere 4!( "o (tr&ct co5)/&!"ce 4&t' t'ere-&re5e"t b* /e!@&"+ ! co)* o t'e (-55o"( !"# co5)/!&"t 4&t')et&t&o"er A/re#o D. !/5o"te. Pr&@!te re()o"#e"t, -)o" t'e ot'er '!"#,!((ert( t'!t )et&t&o"er( !re &"@o&"+ ! tec'"&c!/&t* !"# t'!t (tr&ct!#'ere"ce to t'e r-/e( 4o-/# o"/* re(-/t &" ! -(e/e(( cere5o"*.
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7e 'o/# t'!t t'ere 4!( "o @!/ (er@&ce o )roce(( o" Lo-r#e( A.!/5o"te.
To )ro@e )er()ect&@e, &t 4&// be 'e/)-/ to #eter5&"e ;r(t t'e "!t-re ot'e !ct&o" ;/e# !+!&"(t )et&t&o"er( Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te !"# A/re#o D.
!/5o"te b* )r&@!te re()o"#e"t, 4'et'er &t &( !" !ct&o" in personam$ inrem or quasi in rem. T'&( &( bec!-(e t'e r-/e( o" (er@&ce o (-55o"(e5bo#&e# &" R-/e 1 !))/* !ccor#&"+ to 4'et'er !" !ct&o" &( o"e or t'eot'er o t'e(e !ct&o"(.
I" !" !ct&o" in personam$ )er(o"!/ (er@&ce o (-55o"( or, & t'&( &( "ot)o((&b/e !"# 'e c!""ot be )er(o"!//* (er@e#, (-b(t&t-te# (er@&ce, !()ro@e# &" R-/e 1, :J8[2]&( e((e"t&!/ or t'e !c-&(&t&o" b* t'e co-rt o-r&(#&ct&o" o@er t'e )er(o" o ! #ee"#!"t 4'o #oe( "ot @o/-"t!r&/*(-b5&t '&5(e/ to t'e !-t'or&t* o t'e co-rt.[?] I #ee"#!"t c!""ot be(er@e# 4&t' (-55o"( bec!-(e 'e &( te5)or!r&/* !bro!#, b-t ot'er4&(e 'e
&( ! P'&/&))&"e re(e"t, (er@&ce o (-55o"( 5!*, b* /e!@e o co-rt, be5!#e b* )-b/&c!t&o".[]Ot'er4&(e (t!te#, ! re(e"t #ee"#!"t &" !"!ct&o" in personam$ 4'o c!""ot be )er(o"!//* (er@e# 4&t' (-55o"(, 5!*be (-55o"e# e&t'er b* 5e!"( o (-b(t&t-te# (er@&ce &" !ccor#!"ce 4&t'R-/e 1, 8 or b* )-b/&c!t&o" !( )ro@e# &" 1: !"# 18 o t'e (!5e R-/e.[>]
I" !// o t'e(e c!(e(, &t ('o-/# be "ote#, #ee"#!"t 5-(t be ! re(e"t ot'e P'&/&))&"e(, ot'er4&(e !" !ct&o" in personam c!""ot be bro-+'tbec!-(e -r&(#&ct&o" o@er '&( )er(o" &( e((e"t&!/ to 5!e ! b&"#&"+#ec&(&o".
O" t'e ot'er '!"#, & t'e !ct&o" &( in rem or quasi in rem$-r&(#&ct&o" o@ert'e )er(o" o t'e #ee"#!"t &( "ot e((e"t&!/ or +&@&"+ t'e co-rt-r&(#&ct&o" (o /o"+ !( t'e co-rt !c-&re( -r&(#&ct&o" o@er t'e res. I t'e#ee"#!"t &( ! "o"re(e"t !"# 'e &( "ot o-"# &" t'e co-"tr*, (-55o"(5!* be (er@e# etr!terr&tor&!//* &" !ccor#!"ce 4&t' R-/e 1, 1:, 4'&c')ro@e(
1:. Extraterritorial service. J 7'e" t'e #ee"#!"t #oe( "ot re(e !"# &("ot o-"# &" t'e P'&/&))&"e( !"# t'e !ct&o" !Kect( t'e )er(o"!/ (t!t-( ot'e )/!&"t&K or re/!te( to, or t'e (-bect o 4'&c' &(, )ro)ert* 4&t'&" t'e
P'&/&))&"e(, &" 4'&c' t'e #ee"#!"t '!( or c/!&5( ! /&e" or &"tere(t, !ct-!/or co"t&"+e"t, or &" 4'&c' t'e re/&e #e5!"#e# co"(&(t(, 4'o//* or &" )!rt,&" ec/-#&"+ t'e #ee"#!"t ro5 !"* &"tere(t t'ere&", or t'e )ro)ert* ot'e #ee"#!"t '!( bee" !tt!c'e# 4&t'&" t'e P'&/&))&"e(, (er@&ce 5!*, b*/e!@e o co-rt, be eKecte# o-t o t'e P'&/&))&"e( b* )er(o"!/ (er@&ce !(-"#er Sect&o" :6 or b* )-b/&c!t&o" &" ! "e4()!)er o +e"er!/ c&rc-/!t&o" &"(-c' )/!ce( !"# or (-c' t&5e !( t'e co-rt 5!* or#er, &" 4'&c' c!(e ! co)*
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o t'e (-55o"( !"# or#er o t'e co-rt ('!// be (e"t b* re+&(tere# 5!&/ tot'e /!(t "o4" !##re(( o t'e #ee"#!"t, or &" !"* ot'er 5!""er t'e co-rt5!* #ee5 (-c&e"t. A"* or#er +r!"t&"+ (-c' /e!@e ('!// ()ec&* !re!(o"!b/e t&5e, 4'&c' ('!// "ot be /e(( t'!" (&t* H
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S&"ce &" t'e c!(e !t b!r, t'e (er@&ce o (-55o"( -)o" )et&t&o"er Lo-r#e(A. !/5o"te 4!( "ot #o"e b* 5e!"( o !"* o t'e ;r(t t4o 5o#e(, t'e-e(t&o" &( 4'et'er t'e (er@&ce o" 'er !ttor"e*, )et&t&o"er A/re#o D.!/5o"te, c!" be -(t&;e# -"#er t'e t'&r# 5o#e, "!5e/*, 3&" !"* . . .5!""er t'e co-rt 5!* #ee5 (-c&e"t.
7e 'o/# &t c!""ot. T'&( 5o#e o (er@&ce, /&e t'e ;r(t t4o, 5-(t be 5!#eo-t(e t'e P'&/&))&"e(, (-c' !( t'ro-+' t'e P'&/&))&"e E5b!((* &" t'eore&+" co-"tr* 4'ere t'e #ee"#!"t re(e(.[8]oreo@er, t'ere !re(e@er!/ re!(o"( 4'* t'e (er@&ce o (-55o"( o" Att*. A/re#o D. !/5o"tec!""ot be co"(ere# ! @!/ (er@&ce o (-55o"( o" )et&t&o"er Lo-r#e( A.!/5o"te. I" t'e ;r(t )/!ce, (er@&ce o (-55o"( o" )et&t&o"er A/re#o D.!/5o"te 4!( "ot 5!#e -)o" t'e or#er o t'e co-rt !( re-&re# b* R-/e1, 1: !"# cert!&"/* 4!( "ot ! 5o#e #ee5e# (-c&e"t b* t'e co-rt4'&c' &" !ct re-(e# to co"(er t'e (er@&ce to be @!/ !"# o" t'!t b!(&(#ec/!re )et&t&o"er Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te &" #e!-/t or 'er !&/-re to ;/e !"
!"(4er.
I" t'e (eco"# )/!ce, (er@&ce &" t'e !tte5)te# 5!""er o" )et&t&o"er 4!("ot 5!#e -)o" )r&or /e!@e o t'e tr&!/ co-rt !( re-&re# !/(o &" R-/e 1, 1:. A( )ro@e# &" 19, (-c' /e!@e 5-(t be !))/&e# or b* 5ot&o" &"4r&t&"+, (-))orte# b* !#!@&t o t'e )/!&"t&K or (o5e )er(o" o" '&( be'!/!"# (ett&"+ ort' t'e +ro-"#( or t'e !))/&c!t&o".
F&"!//*, !"# 5o(t &5)ort!"t/*, bec!-(e t'ere 4!( "o or#er +r!"t&"+ (-c'/e!@e, )et&t&o"er Lo-r#e( A. !/5o"te 4!( "ot +&@e" !5)/e t&5e to ;/e 'erA"(4er 4'&c', !ccor#&"+ to t'e r-/e(, ('!// be "ot /e(( t'!" (&t* H
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t'e&r co"-+!/ 'o5e &" Ceb- C&t* !"# t'e 4&e 4!( o"/* te5)or!r&/*!b(e"t, '!@&"+ +o"e to D-5!+-ete C&t* or ! @!c!t&o". T'e !ct&o" 4!( orco//ect&o" o ! (-5 o 5o"e*. I" !ccor#!"ce 4&t' R-/e 1, 8, (-b(t&t-te#(er@&ce co-/# be 5!#e o" !"* )er(o" o (-c&e"t #&(cret&o" &" t'e#4e//&"+ )/!ce o t'e #ee"#!"t, !"# cert!&"/* #ee"#!"t( '-(b!"#, 4'o
4!( t'ere, 4!( co5)ete"t to rece&@e t'e (-55o"( o" 'er be'!/. I" !"*e@e"t, &t !))e!r( t'!t #ee"#!"t &" t'!t c!(e (-b5&tte# to t'e -r&(#&ct&o"o t'e co-rt b* &"(tr-ct&"+ 'er '-(b!"# to 5o@e or t'e #&((o/-t&o" o t'e4r&t o !tt!c'5e"t &((-e# &" t'!t c!(e.
O" t'e ot'er '!"#, &" t'e c!(e o 8emperle v. Sc!en(er$294&t 4!( 'e/# t'!t(er@&ce o" t'e 4&e o ! "o"re(e"t #ee"#!"t 4!( o-"# (-c&e"tbec!-(e t'e #ee"#!"t '!# !))o&"te# '&( 4&e !( '&( !ttor"e*J&"J!ct. It4!( 'e/# t'!t !/t'o-+' #ee"#!"t P!-/ Sc'e"er 4!( ! S4&(( c&t&e" !"#re(e"t o S4&ter/!"#, (er@&ce o (-55o"( -)o" '&( 4&e $e/e" Sc'e"er4'o 4!( &" t'e P'&/&))&"e( 4!( (-c&e"t bec!-(e ('e 4!( 'er '-(b!"#(
re)re(e"t!t&@e !"# !ttor"e*J&"J!ct &" ! c&@&/ c!(e, 4'&c' 'e '!# e!r/&er;/e# !+!&"(t 7&//&!5 Ge5)er/e. I" !ct Ge5)er/e( !ct&o" 4!( or #!5!+e(!r&(&"+ ro5 !//e+e#/* #ero+!tor* (t!te5e"t( co"t!&"e# &" t'e co5)/!&"t;/e# &" t'e ;r(t c!(e. A( t'&( Co-rt (!, 3&]" ot'er 4or#(, r(. Sc'e"er'!# !-t'or&t* to (-e, !"# '!# !ct-!//* (-e#, o" be'!/ o 'er '-(b!"#, (ot'!t ('e 4!(, !/(o, e5)o4ere# to re)re(e"t '&5 &" (-&t( ;/e# !+!&