Roxas v. Marcos

969 P.2d 1209 (1998)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Roxas (P) was a treasure hunter who is alleged to have found the Yamashita Treasure, which consisted of a golden Buddha Statue, gold bars, and diamonds. D, then president of the Philippines raided P’s home and took the treasure as well as what remained on site. P was arrested and tortured at various times for a number of years. P died of natural causes in 1993. D had fled the Philippines and was in exile in the United States. P’s estate and his corporation sued Ds in part for false imprisonment, battery, and conversion. The jury returned a special verdict in favor of the P and against D on the claims of battery and false imprisonment and awarding damages in the amount of $6,000,000.00. The jury further found in favor of P on the conversion claim, itemizing the value and quantity of property converted, 'on the date of the conversion,' on the verdict form as follows: (1) one golden Buddha, valued at $1,300,000.00; (2) seventeen gold bars, valued at $100,000.00; (3) one coin collection, valued at $5,000.00; (3) '3 handfuls' of diamonds, of unknown value; and (4) 'one storage area' of gold bullion, valued at $22,000,000,000.00. The jury found in favor of Imelda, in her individual capacity, and against P on its conversion claim against her. Everyone appealed. D contends that there was insufficient evidence to support the jury's award of $22,000,000,000.00, representing the supposed value of the boxes of gold purportedly found by P in the Baguio City tunnel.