Industrial Timber v. Ababon, March 30, 2006

Facts:
On January 25, 2006, the Court rendered judgment reinstating the decision of the NLRC finding the closure or cessation of ITC’s business valid, however with the MODIFICATIONS that ITC is ordered to pay separation pay equivalent to one month pay or at least one-half month pay for every year of service, whichever is higher, and P50,000.00 as nominal damages to each employee.
 
Industrial Timber filed a Motion for Partial Reconsideration seeking to delete or reduce the nominal damages awarded to each employee, considering that since August 17, 1990 it had ceased operation of its business and that the award involves a huge amount considering that there are 97 workers.
 
Issue:
Whether or not  a nominal damages already awarded be modified where its execution is impossible.

​Held:
The Court explains that, in instances where the execution of a decision becomes impossible, unjust, or too burdensome, modification of the decision becomes necessary in order to harmonize the disposition with the prevailing circumstances.
 
In the determination of the amount of nominal damages which is addressed to the sound discretion of the court, several factors are taken into account: (1) the authorized cause invoked, whether it was a retrenchment or a closure or cessation of operation of the establishment due to serious business losses or financial reverses or otherwise; (2) the number of employees to be awarded; (3) the capacity of the employers to satisfy the awards, taken into account their prevailing financial status as borne by the records; (4) the employer’s grant of other termination benefits in favor of the employees; and (5) whether there was a bona fide attempt to comply with the notice requirements as opposed to giving no notice at all.
 
In the case at bar, there was valid authorized cause considering the closure or cessation of ITC’s business which was done in good faith and due to circumstances beyond ITC’s control. Moreover, ITC had ceased to generate any income since its closure on August 17, 1990. Several months prior to the closure, ITC experienced diminished income due to high production costs, erratic supply of raw materials, depressed prices, and poor market conditions for its wood products. It appears that ITC had given its employees all benefits in accord with the CBA upon their termination.
Thus, considering the circumstances obtaining in the case at bar, we deem it wise and just to reduce the amount of nominal damages to be awarded for each employee to P10,000.00 each instead of P50,000.00 each.