Question

Subject: Effect and Application of Laws

Topic: Duty to Render Judgment (Civil Code, Art. 9)

In a civil case involving a contractual dispute, the trial court rendered a decision in favor of the plaintiff. The defendant, however, was dissatisfied with the decision and filed a motion for reconsideration. Before the trial court could act on the motion, the presiding judge retired and was replaced by a new judge. The new judge took over the case but did not render a judgment within the prescribed period. As a result, the defendant's motion for reconsideration remained pending for an unreasonably long time.

Based on the given scenario, please answer the following questions:

1. What is the duty of the trial court to render judgment in civil cases under Article 9 of the Civil Code?
2. What is the effect of the trial court's failure to render judgment within the prescribed period?
3. What remedies are available to the parties affected by the trial court's delay in rendering judgment?