What Is Cause of Action?

[1] A cause of action is the act or omission by which a party (defendant) violates the rights of another (plaintiff). It is the delict or wrongful act or omission committed by the defendant in violation of the primary rights of the plaintiff (Chua vs. Metrobank).
[2] It is the delict or wrong by which the defendant violates the right or rights of the plaintiff (Ma-ao Sugar Central v. Barrios). [3] The determination of the nature of an action or proceeding is controlled by the averments and character of the relief sought in the complaint or petition (Vda. De Manalo vs. CA]). The designation given by the parties to their own pleadings does not necessarily bind the courts to treat it according to the said designation. Rather thatn rely on a defective caption, courts are guided by the substantive averments of the pleadings (Montañer vs. Shari‘a District Court).