Torres v. Díaz
Torres v. Díaz
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The plaintiff and appellee, José Abraham Torres, asks ns to dismiss this appeal, taken by the defendant from an order of the District Conrt of Mayagüez adjudging said de-‘ fendant to pay the amount of $400 for attorney’s fees, and $29 .for costs and disbursements. The plaintiff nrges that the notice of appeal is addressed to Mr. Oscar Sonffront, who is not the appellee in the proceedings, and to the clerk of the court, without specifying to which clerk of conrt it is addressed.
As clearly shown by the record, Mr. Sonffront is the attorney for the plaintiff. He appeared in behalf of the plaintiff before the lower court, and before this conrt to argue the appeal. Section 296 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that the notice of appeal should he served on the adverse party or his attorney. Mr. Sonffront acknowledged service in his capacity as attorney for the plaintiff. There can be no better or clearer evidence to prove that the statutory requirements have been complied with.
The plaintiff further urges that the appeal should be dismissed as frivolous.
The defendant states in his brief that the District Court of Mayagfiez erred in allowing $400 for attorney’s fees, because said amount was excessive in relation to the degree of obstinacy attributed to the defendant-appellant. Judgment was rendered in the instant case in favor of the plaintiff for $850. The sum of $400 was granted as attorney’s fees, and $29 for costs and disbursements. The appellant urges that appellee’s cause of action was based on the third paragraph of section 1803 of the Civil Code of Puerto Rico (1930 ed.). The appellant further states that he.was not present at the time of the accident, and that he does not know from personal knowledge how the facts occurred; and he argues that although the pronouncement of costs made by the lower court was affirmed on appeal, he has a right to discuss the degree of obstinacy attributed to the defendant with reference to the amount granted, which he considers excessive.
We are of opinion that the dismissal of the appeal on the ground that it is frivolous, does not lie.
The plaintiff-appellee suggests that if from the foregoing arguments this court believes that a reduction in the amount
The motion to dismiss the appeal must be denied.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.