Wassmer vs. Velez FACTS: Beatriz Wassmer and Francisco Velez were set to be married.

They have already obtained a marriage license, have already set the date, bought the necessary clothes and dresses, invitations were already distributed etc. In short, all was set up for the wedding. However, two days before the wedding date, Velez sent Wassmer a message saying that they have to postpose the wedding because his mother opposes it. The next day, he sent another message and said that nothing will change and the she will hear from him again. However, this was not the case as she never heard from him again. Wassmer filed a case against him for the breach of the promised marriage and won because Velez was treated as default as he did not file an answer to the complaint. Wassmer was granted by the lower court to exact exemplary damages from him. He assails the said decision and thus this case. ISSUES: Whether or not he can be sued for the breach of the promise of marriage HELD and RATIO: Yes. Though technically, one cannot be sued by merely not fulfilling a promise to marry, the facts of the case are different. The wedding is all set and the groom-to-be did not appear to the said wedding causing humiliation and damages to the bride-to-be. This is contrary to good morals and public policy and specifically to Article 21 of the Civil Code. Thus, Velez could be sued for damages on a court. The decision of the SC though was to lower the damages due to Wassmer by Velez.