Monte Plata City Hall Accused of Illegally Renting Private Property

Monte Plata, D.R.– The Law Office of Dr. Ángel Contreras, representing Mr. Aurelio Winston Contreras Jorge, filed a civil lawsuit for damages with the Land Court for RD$20 million against the City Council of Monte Plata and Mr. José Manuel Mateo Contreras.

The lawsuit arises after the signing of a lease agreement dated September 25, through which the City Council, represented by Ing. Héctor Figaris, ceded the use of 46.07 tareas of land, receiving in return a tax payment of just RD$12 per tarea per year.

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According to the plaintiff, said contract directly affects the private property of Aurelio Contreras, protected by Certificate of Title Registration No. 3000717200, issued by the Registry of Titles of Monte Plata. For this reason, the court is requested to declare the absolute nullity of the agreement signed by the City Hall. Dr. Contreras maintains that the contract lacks legal validity for three fundamental reasons:

1. Lack of quality of the lessor, as the City Council is not the legitimate owner of the land.
2. Lack of a certain object, because the contract does not define a legal or clearly determined object.
3. Absence of a lawful cause, since the lessee does not possess any valid possessory right. The land, he assures, has remained occupied for 27 years, since 1992, by three successive owners: Agustín Martínez, Santa Orquídea Brea and Aurelio Contreras.

The lawsuit also seeks to condemn the City Council to pay RD$20 million for moral and material damages, as well as the costs and legal fees of the process. The legal office claims that the actions of the City Council constitute an alleged conspiracy to deprive a citizen of their property, in violation of the Dominican Constitution, Law 108-05 on Real Estate Registration, and the Civil Code.

“Legal certainty cannot rest on authorities that act outside the law. We trust that the Judiciary will restore property rights and justice in this case,” said Dr. Contreras.