Warranty
Warranty
461
CIVIL LAW
expressed warranty that the thing is free from Effects of waiver of an implied warranty
all burdens and encumbrances
1. Seller in bad faith and there is waiver against
4. Warranty against Hidden Defects (NCC, Art. eviction –void.
1561) 2. When buyer without knowledge of a
particular risk, made general renunciation of
Requisites: (HENNAS) warranty – is not a waiver but merely limits
a. Defect is important or Serious; liability of seller in case of eviction.
i. The thing sold is unfit for the use 3. When buyer with knowledge of risk of
which it is intended; and eviction assumed its consequences and made
ii. Diminishes its fitness for such use or a waiver – seller not liable (applicable only to
to such an extent that the buyer waiver of warranty against eviction).
would not have acquired it had he
been aware thereof. WARRANTY AGAINST EVICTION
Where the cause of action is to hold the seller The buyer shall have the right to demand the R-I-
of a vehicle for breach of implied warranty C-E with damages from seller:
Under Article 1599 of the Civil Code, once an 1. The Return of the value which the thing sold
express warranty is breached, the buyer can had at the time of the eviction, be it greater or
accept or keep the goods and maintain an action lesser than the price of the sale;
against the seller for damages. In the absence of 2. The Income or fruits, if he has been ordered to
an existing express warranty a complaint for deliver them to the party who won the suit
damages may be anchored on the enforcement of against him;
an implied warranty against hidden defects. 3. The Costs of suit which caused the eviction,
However, this right must be exercised within six and, in a proper case, those of suit brought
(6) months from the delivery of the thing sold, else against the vendor for the warranty;
his cause of action had become time-barred 4. The Expenses of contract if buyer has paid
(De Guzman v. Toyota Cubao, G.R. No. 141480, them; and
November 29, 2006). 5. The damages, interests and ornamental
expenses if sale was made in bad faith (NCC,
Art. 1555).
Purchaser must be aware of the title of the vendor Redhibitory defect on animals (NCC, Art. 1576)
(Caveat Emptor).
If the hidden defect of animals, even in case a
Rights of buyer in case of partial eviction professional inspection has been made, should be
of such a nature that expert knowledge is not
1. Restitution (with obligation to return the sufficient to discover it, the defect shall be
thing w/o other encumbrances than those considered as redhibitory.
which it had when he acquired it); and
2. Enforcement of warranty against eviction Void sale of animal (NCC, Art. 1575)
(Paras, 2013 and NCC, Art. 1556).
The sale is void if animal is:
Inapplicability of rescission 1. Suffering from contagious diseases; or
2. Unfit for the use or service for which they
GR: Rescission is not a remedy in case of eviction were purchased as indicated in the
because rescission contemplates that the one contract.
demanding it is able to return whatever he has
received under the contract. Since the vendee can Responsibility of a vendor for hidden defects
no longer restore the subject matter of the sale to
the vendor, rescission cannot be carried out (NCC, If the hidden defects which the thing sold may
Art. 1385). have:
1. Render it unfit for the use for which it is
XPN: The buyer may demand rescission in case of intended; or
partial eviction, because there still remains a 2. Diminish its fitness for such use to such
portion of the thing sold (De Leon, 2009). an extent that had the vendee been aware
thereof, he would not have acquired it or
WARRANTY AGAINST HIDDEN DEFECT would have given a lower price for it
(NCC, Art. 1561).
Hidden defect (NCC, Art.1561)
Extent of warranty by the seller against hidden
One which is unknown or could not have been defects
known to the buyer (Diaz, 2006.)
The seller is responsible to the vendee for any
NOTE: Seller does not warrant patent defect. hidden faults or defects in the thing sold, even
Reason: caveat emptor (buyer beware). though he was not aware thereof.
463
CIVIL LAW
1. If the thing should be lost in consequence of the REMEDIES IN CASE OF BREACH OF WARRANTY
hidden faults, and seller was aware of them –
he shall: Remedies of the buyer in case of breach of
a. bear the loss; warranty
b. return the price; and
c. refund the expenses of the contract 1. Accept goods and set up breach of warranty
with damages. by way of recoupment in diminution or
extinction or the price;
2. If the thing is lost and seller was not aware of 2. Accept goods and maintain action against
the hidden faults – he shall: seller for damages;
a. return the price and interest; and 3. Refuse to accept goods and maintain action
b. reimburse the expenses of the against seller for damages; or
contract which the buyer might have 4. Rescind contract of sale and refuse to receive
paid, but not for damages (Villanueva, goods/return them when already received.
2004).
Remedies of the buyer in case of breach of
Prescriptive period: six (6) months from date of warranty NOT absolute
the delivery of the thing sold (NCC, Art. 1571).
The vendee's remedies against a vendor with
Remedies of the buyer in case of sale of things respect to the warranties against hidden defects
with hidden defects (NCC, Art. 1567) or encumbrances upon the thing sold, in the case
of Arts. 1561, 1562, 1564, 1565 and 1566 of the
The vendee may elect between: Civil Code, may either be to withdraw from the
1. Withdrawing from the contract, or contract or demand a proportionate reduction of
2. Demanding a proportionate reduction of the price, with damages in either case.
the price, with damages in either case.
The vendee may also ask for the annulment of the
Waiver of warranty against eviction contract upon proof of error or fraud, in which
case the ordinary rule on obligations shall be
There is waiver of warranty against eviction when applicable; responsibility arising from fraud is
the lessee has inspected the premises and decides demandable in all obligations and any waiver of
to consummate the contract based on such an action for future fraud is void. Responsibility
inspection. Under Arts. 1561 and 1653 of the Civil arising from negligence is also demandable in any
Code, the lessor is responsible for warranty obligation, but such liability may be regulated by
against hidden defects, but he is not answerable the courts, according to the circumstances.
for patent defects or those, which are visible, and
which can be seen upon inspection (Jon and The vendor could likewise be liable for quasi-delict
Marissa De Ysasi v. Arturo and Estela Arceo, G.R. under Article 2176 of the Civil Code, and an action
No. 136586, November 22, 2001). based thereon may be brought by the vendee
(Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. v. CA, G.R. No.
Specific implied warranties in sale of goods 110295, October 18, 1993).
(NCC, Art. 1562)
Instances when the buyer cannot rescind the
1. Warranty of fitness sale in case there is a breach of warranty
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