Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Moral damages; purpose of - G.R. No. 189647

G.R. No. 189647

"x x x.

Moral damages are not intended to enrich the complainant at the expense of the defendant. Rather, these are awarded only to enable the injured party to obtain “means, diversions or amusements” that will serve to alleviate the moral suffering that resulted by reason of the defendant’s culpable action. The purpose of such damages is essentially indemnity or reparation, not punishment or correction. In other words, the award thereof is aimed at a restoration within the limits of the possible, of the spiritual status quo ante;therefore, it must always reasonably approximate the extent of injury and be proportional to the wrong committed.[17]

x x x."