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Domingo Neypes, Et Al.: - Versus
Domingo Neypes, Et Al.: - Versus
Domingo Neypes, Et Al.: - Versus
ISSUES:
(1) Whether or not receipt of a final order triggers the start of the 15day reglementary period to appeal, the February 12, 1998 order
dismissing the complaint or the July 1, 1998 order dismissing the
Motion for Reconsideration.
(2) Whether or not petitioners file their notice of appeal on time.
HELD:
(1) The July 1, 1998 order dismissing the motion for reconsideration
should be deemed as the final order. In the case of Quelnan v. VHF
Philippines, Inc., the trial court declared petitioner non-suited and
accordingly dismissed his complaint. Upon receipt of the order of
dismissal, he filed an omnibus motion to set it aside. When the
omnibus motion was filed, 12 days of the 15-day period to appeal the
order had lapsed. He later on received another order, this time
dismissing his omnibus motion. He then filed his notice of appeal.
But this was likewise dismissed for having been filed out of time.
The court a quo ruled that petitioner should have appealed within 15
days after the dismissal of his complaint since this was the final order
that was appealable under the Rules. The SC reversed the trial court
and declared that it was the denial of the motion for reconsideration
of an order of dismissal of a complaint which constituted the final
order as it was what ended the issues raised there. This
pronouncement was reiterated in the more recent case of Apuyan v.
Haldeman et al. where the SC again considered the order denying
petitioners motion for reconsideration as the final order which finally
disposed of the issues involved in the case. Based on the
aforementioned cases, the SC sustained petitioners view that the
order dated July 1, 1998 denying their motion for reconsideration was
the final order contemplated in the Rules.
(2) YES. To standardize the appeal periods provided in the Rules
and to afford litigants fair opportunity to appeal their cases, the Court
deems it practical to allow a fresh period of 15 days within which to
file the notice of appeal in the RTC, counted from receipt of the order
dismissing a motion for a new trial or motion for reconsideration.
Henceforth, this fresh period rule shall also apply to Rule 40, Rule
42, Rule 43 and Rule 45. The new rule aims to regiment or make the
appeal period uniform, to be counted from receipt of the order