10. Pioneer Insurance vs. De Dios, 406 SCRA 639 bear the conformity of Coyukiat.
The new counsel of
Coyukiat (who entered her appearance without Coyukiats conformity in substitution of the counsel of record) cannot FACTS: Respondents De Dios Transportation Co. (DDTC) reasonably expect that she will be allowed by the Court of and De Dios Marikina Transport Corporation (DMTC) as Appeals to withdraw the appeal on her own. This is especially so when even her substitution of the counsel of vendors, executed a Deed of Conditional Sale covering the record does not bear the conformity of the appellants. buses and their franchise in favor of Coyukiat and/or Goldfinger as vendees. Respondents delivered the buses to In order that there may be substitution of attorneys in a the vendees. The respondents were able to encash the given case, there must be (1) a written application for check for the downpayment of the purchase substitution; (2) the written consent of the client; (3) the price. However, before the respondents could deposit the written consent of the attorney substituted; and (4) in case first check for the remaining balance, the vendees stopped such written consent cannot be secured, there must be all payments, on their claim that, contrary to the filed with the application proof of service of notice of such representations of the respondents, some of the buses motion upon the attorney to be substituted, in the manner were not in good running condition. prescribed by the rules. Unless the foregoing formalities are complied with, substitution will not be permitted, and The vendees, through its counsel, the Padilla Reyes & De la the attorney who properly appeared last in the case, Torre Law Office, filed a complaint against the respondents before such application for substitution, will be regarded and Philbanking Corporation as defendants for rescission as the attorney of record and will be held responsible for of contract with a plea for a temporary restraining order the proper conduct of the case. or writ of preliminary injunction
Plaintiffs Coyukiat and Goldfinger alleged that the
respondents reneged on their obligation to deliver the buses in good running condition, which impelled them to stop the payments of the eleven remaining postdated checks.
RTC rendered a decision dismissing the complaint and
granting the counterclaims of the defendants,
Aggrieved, Coyukiat and Goldfinger filed their brief
through counsel Atty. Ronaldo Reyes with the Court of Appeals but before the adverse party can file their brief, Padilla Reyes and De la Torre Law office filed its withdrawal of appearance as counsel and on the same day Luis Q.U Uranza, Jr. and Associates filed its appearance as counsel for Coyukiat and Goldfinger.
However, the withdrawal of appearance of the Padilla
Reyes & De la Torre Law Office, the appearance of the Luis Q.U. Uranza, Jr. & Associates and the notice of withdrawal of appeal filed by Luis Q.U. Uranza, Jr. & Associates did not bear the conformity of the appellants.
Respondents contended that the filing of the withdrawal of
appeal through new counsel, but without the appellants written conformity to the substitution and to such withdrawal of appeal, was not self-executory.
ISSUE: Whether or not Luis Q.U Uranza, Jr. and Associates
as counsel failed to submit the proper substitution requirements.
RULING: Luis Q.U Uranza, Jr. and Associates as counsel
failed to submit the proper substitution requirements.
It is well-established that substitution of counsel is not
effective without the conformity of client. Moreover, well- entrenched is the rule that pleadings which have the effect of withdrawing the appeal should bear the conformity of the appellant.
Clearly therefore, the Withdrawal of Appeal filed on
September 14, 1999 was not effectual because it did not