ZULUETA v.

COURT OF APPEALS
G.R. No. 107383, February 20, 1996

FACTS
Petitioner Cecilia Zulueta and her husband, private respondent Alfredo Martin, are
involved in a dispute. On March 26, 1982, Cecilia entered her husband's clinic without his
knowledge and consent. Cecilia forcibly opened the drawers and cabinet in the clinic and took
157 documents and papers. The seized documents included private correspondence between
Dr. Martin and his alleged paramours, greeting cards, cancelled checks, diaries, Dr. Martin's
passport, and photographs. Cecilia seized these documents to use as evidence in a case for
legal separation and disqualification from the practice of medicine that she had filed against her
husband. Dr. Martin filed a case for recovery of the documents and papers and for damages
against Cecilia.

ISSUE
Whether the documents and papers seized by Cecilia from her husband's clinic without his
knowledge and consent should be returned to him and declared inadmissible in evidence.

RULING
The court ruled in favor of Dr. Martin. Cecilia was ordered to immediately return the
documents and papers to him. The court declared the documents and papers as properties of
Dr. Martin. Cecilia was enjoined from using them as evidence. The Court of Appeals affirmed
the decision of the trial court.