Rule 34 allows for judgment on the pleadings when an answer fails to tender an issue or admits all material allegations in the complaint. Judgment on the pleadings provides an expeditious way to resolve a civil case based on the pleadings alone, without the need for trial. However, it does not apply to actions for nullity or legal separation of marriage, or when damages are unliquidated, as these cases require evidence to be presented.
Rule 34 allows for judgment on the pleadings when an answer fails to tender an issue or admits all material allegations in the complaint. Judgment on the pleadings provides an expeditious way to resolve a civil case based on the pleadings alone, without the need for trial. However, it does not apply to actions for nullity or legal separation of marriage, or when damages are unliquidated, as these cases require evidence to be presented.
Rule 34 allows for judgment on the pleadings when an answer fails to tender an issue or admits all material allegations in the complaint. Judgment on the pleadings provides an expeditious way to resolve a civil case based on the pleadings alone, without the need for trial. However, it does not apply to actions for nullity or legal separation of marriage, or when damages are unliquidated, as these cases require evidence to be presented.
Rule 34 JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS SEC. 1. Judgment on the pleadings.- Where an an!er "a#l $% $en&er an #ue' %r %$her!#e a&(#$ $he (a$er#al alle)a$#%n %" $he a&*ere +ar$,- +lea&#n)' $he .%ur$ (a,' %n (%$#%n %" $ha$ +ar$,' &#re.$ /u&)(en$ %n u.h +lea&#n). H%!e*er' #n a.$#%n "%r &e.lara$#%n %" null#$, %r annul(en$ %" (arr#a)e %r "%r le)al e+ara$#%n' $he (a$er#al "a.$ alle)e& #n $he .%(+la#n$ hall al!a, 0e +r%*e&. 11a' R123 Judgment on the pleadings is an expeditious way of terminating a civil action. There is no more trial and judgment will be rendered based on what the plainti says in his pleadings. Illustration: PR!"#$%& Plainti 'les a complaint. (efendant 'les an answer. The answer contains what you call defenses ) negative* a+rmative defenses. ,ow* after the defendant 'les the answer* his issues are joined. ,ext step is pre-trial. .f the case is not terminated in pre-trial* next step is trial. That/s the procedure. "ut suppose . will 'le a complaint against you and you 'le your answer where you admitted everything that . said in my complaint. 0ll the allegations in the complaint are admitted and no defense was interposed by the defendant. 1o* meaning* the defendant 'led an answer which contains no defense at all. $verything is admitted. 1hould the case go to trial2 1hould the plainti prove his cause of action2 3hat is there to prove when you admitted everything2 1o* there is no more trial because everything is admitted by the defendant. 4& .n the above case* what should the plainti do2 0& The plainti will now apply Rule 34. 5e will 'le a motion in court which is 6nown as Judgment on the Pleadings. 5e will as6 the court to render judgment based on what the complaint says and what the answer says. ,o more evidence. $to ang sabi ng complaint* Oh! You borrowed money, and you did not pay. 1abi ng answer* admit! admit! admit! !h* ano pa2 3hat is there to be tried2 7ou admitted everything* so the court will now decide8 7ou can render a decision based on what the complaint says and what the answer says and the court will immediately render judgment for the plainti. 1o wala ng trial. Rule 34 is one of the procedures or remedies under the Rules of 9ourt for the prompt expeditious resolutions of civil actions ) one of the fastest ways of resolving a civil dispute because plainti 'les the complaint* defendant 'les his answer* plainti as6s for judgment and the case is decided. ,o more pre-trial* no more trial. 3hy2 There is nothing to try 6asi wala 6a mang depensa. $verything that . say in my complaint you admit. 4& :nder Rule 34* what are the grounds for Judgment on the Pleadings2 0& The following are the grounds& 1. 3hen an answer !ails to tender an issue; or ". 3hen an answer otherwise admits all the material allegations of the adverse party/s pleading. 4& 3hen does an answer fails to tender an issue2 0& 0n answer fails to tender an issue& <.= when it neither admits nor denies the allegations in the complaint; .t neither admits nor denies. 1o* you cannot do that. $ither you admit or you deny the allegations in the complaint. 7ou cannot say* #e!endant does not admit, he does not also deny the allegation. %eaning you are trying to be evasive. That is not allowed. >.= when all the denials in the answer are general denials and not speci'c. 0 denial is general if the pleader does not state the facts relied upon in support of his denial ) #e!endant denies the allegations in paragraphs 1, ", $, %, &, ', ( and ). That is an answer which does not tender an issue because all the denials are general* or no 6nowledge or information su+cient to form a belief. Just li6e what happened in the case of *+PI,O- .O,O/0 1s. Y+23,. 1o if an answer contains evasive allegations* denials which are general* it does not also tender any issue aside from the fact that it also admits the law. 9onsider it as an admission of the material allegations of the complaint. Therefore plainti will now move for an immediate judgment in his favor. That is why it is called judgment on the pleadings. ,ow* judgment on the pleadings has already been mentioned in the previous rule that we too6 up. #et/s go bac6 to pre-trial in Rule <? because there is a mention there on judgment on the pleadings. 1ection >* Rule <?& SEC. 4. 4ature and purpose. - The +re-$r#al # (an&a$%r,. The .%ur$ hall .%n#&er5 666 )3 The +r%+r#e$, %" ren&er#n) /u&)(en$ %n $he +lea&#n)' %r u((ar, /u&)(en$' %r %" &#(##n) $he a.$#%n h%ul& a *al#& )r%un& $here"%r 0e "%un& $% e6#$. 666 ><3 Civil Procedure Rule 34 Judgment on the Pleadings .n other words* during the pre-trial* the defendant there and based on his pleadings* meron siyang defense. "ut during the pre-trial* he ma6es now an admission, +5tually, your honor, wala a6ong depensa ba. I ha1e no de!ense. 9ourt& +h, wala 6a ba7 O6ay. Judgment on the pleadings! ) tapos8 !r* another example& 9ollection case. 0ccording to the defendant in his answer the obligation is paid. 0nd then during the trial* the court as6s the defendant, +re you serious that the obligation is paid7 (efendant& +5tually your honor, wala pa. 8indi pa bayad. 9ourt: 9anoon ba7 O plainti:, what do you say7 Plainti& I mo1e !or ;udgment on the pleadings. Tapos8 The case is 'nished because the admission is made in the course of the pre-trial that he has no valid defense. $@9$PT.!,1 T! T5$ R:#$ !, J:(A%$,T !, T5$ P#$0(.,A1 4& Aive the exceptions to the rule on judgment on the pleadings. 0& Judgment on the pleadings does not apply& 1. in actions for declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage; or ". in actions for legal separation; $. when the issue is the amount of unliBuidated damages because there must always be evidence to prove such amount CRule ?* 1ection <<=; %. when only conclusions of law are being alleged. 1o* judgment on the pleading is not allowed on actions for nullity of marriage or for legal separation. .t cannot be resolved based only on what the complaint and what the answer says. !therwise* if we will allow Rule 34 in that 6ind of action* then it is very easy for husbands and wives to have their marriages annulled or in obtaining a legal separation. 1o* the husband and the wife* they Buarrel and they decide& O, sige. I<admit mo lahat para ;udgment on the pleadings na! =h, di tapos! %y golly8 The court will never allow that to succeed simply because the other party admitted everything. That would be a license for collusion. .t/s not as easy as that. 3alang judgment on the pleading sa marriage. .n other words* no allegation is deemed admitted even if the other party admits. 7ou still have to prove or disprove. 1o* the premise is similar to Rule D on (efaults. There is no default judgment in actions for legal separation based on the same principle eh8 .t is a one-sided story and collusion or connivance between the parties is possible. -o!o- ><4