February 27, 1907
Ponente: Carson, J.
FACTS
Sometime between February and March 1905, B. H. Macke and W. H. Chandler -- partners doing business under the firm name of Macke, Chandler & Company -- sold to Jose Camps and delivered at the latter's place of business known as "Washington Cafe" (a hotel with a bar and restaurant) various bills of goods amounting to P351.50.
Macke and Chandler alleged that Ricardo Flores, who was Camps' agent and business manager of Washington Cafe, acknowledged the receipt of said goods and made various payments thereon amounting to P174. Flores told them he would have to wait for the return of his principal Camps, who was away visiting provinces at the time, before he can settle the remaining balance of P177.50.
Soon, a demand for payment of the balance was made by Macke and Chandler upon Camps, who subsequently failed and refused to pay. Camps insisted that he was not responsible for the balance because Flores was not his agent, and that he did not receive any of the goods for which payment was demanded.
The trial court held for Macke and Chandler. Hence, the instant petition.
RULING
Petition denied. Trial court ruling affirmed.
Whether Flores was Camps' agent. – YES.
A written contract dated May 25, 1904, was introduced in evidence, from which it appears that Galmes, the former owner of Washington Cafe, subrented the building to Camps for a year, under the condition that Camps was not to sublet or subrent the building/business without the consent of Galmes. This contract was signed by Camps and witnessed by Flores, with the words "managing agent" (el manejante encargado) immediately following the latter's name.
In the absence of proof to the contrary, the SC held that this evidence was sufficient establish that Flores was the agent of Camps in the management of the bar of the Washington Cafe with authority to bind Camps, his principal, for the payment of the goods mentioned in the complaint.
Flores was apparently in charge of the business, performing the duties usually entrusted to managing agent. This left little room for doubt that he was there as authorized agent of Camps. One who clothes another apparent authority as his agent, and holds him out to the public as such, cannot be permitted to deny the authority of such person to act as his agent, to the prejudice of innocent third parties dealing with such person in good faith.
Whenever a party has, by his own declaration, act, or omission, intentionally and deliberately led another to believe a particular thing true, and to act upon such belief, he can not, in any litigation arising out such declaration, act, or omission, be permitted to falsify it; and unless the contrary appears, the authority of an agent must be presumed to include all the necessary and usual means of carrying his agency into effect.
That Flores, as managing agent of the Washington Cafe, had authority to buy such reasonable quantities of supplies as might from time to time be necessary in carrying on the business of the hotel bar may fairly be presumed from the nature of the business, especially in view of the fact that his principal appeared to have left him in charge during more or less prolonged periods of absence.
Petition denied. Trial court ruling affirmed.
DOCTRINE
One who clothes another apparent authority as his agent,
and holds him out to the public as such, cannot be permitted to deny
the authority of such person to act as his agent.
