Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Finality of Judgment: Clarification vs. Modification of Court Orders
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a final judgment may be clarified without violating the doctrine of immutability of judgments.
Easement by Prescription: Why Permissive Use Never Ripens Into a Right-of-Way
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why tolerated use of land cannot create an easement by prescription, and when prescriptive periods for compensation begin.
Landlord Rights Prevail Recovering Possession Despite Ownership Claims
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when tenants cannot appeal denial of new trial and how counsel's errors bind clients.
Bill of Lading Value Limits Carrier Liability for Lost Cargo
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how bill of lading value declarations cap a common carrier's liability for lost goods, even when insurance paid more.
Dismissal for Gross Incompetence and Lingering Inefficiency Despite Warnings Justifies Termination
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on dismissing a court employee for gross incompetence and inefficiency despite repeated warnings and prior sanctions.
Compulsory vs Permissive Counterclaims: When Court Fees Are Not Required in Loan Disputes
Learn when a counterclaim in a loan dispute is compulsory and exempt from docket fees, based on a 2003 Supreme Court ruling.
Judicial Accountability: Fines for Delayed Case Resolutions and Disregarding Court Directives
Supreme Court ruling on judge fined P20,000 for delayed decisions and ignoring directives, reinforcing judicial accountability.
Conspiracy and Homicide: Determining Individual Liability in Group Crimes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conspiracy in group crimes, and why a conviction for murder was reduced to homicide.
Guilt Beyond Silence: How Confessions to Friends Can Seal Your Fate in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling shows that admitting a crime to a friend can be used as evidence against you in Philippine courts.
Corporate Officers' Apparent Authority and Breach of Warranties in Stock Sales
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on corporate president's apparent authority to bind company and breach of warranty claims in stock purchase agreements.
Self-Defense Claims and Witness Credibility: Proving Murder Beyond Reasonable Doubt
A look at how Philippine courts weigh self-defense claims, witness credibility, and treachery in murder cases, explained through a 2003 Supreme Court ruling.
Conspiracy and Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt: Direct Evidence in Robbery With Homicide Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conspiracy, hearsay, and extrajudicial confessions in robbery with homicide cases, explaining why the accused was acquitted.
Upholding Judicial Accountability When Refusal to Execute a Final Judgment Constitutes Gross Misconduct
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling holds that a judge's deliberate refusal to execute a final judgment is gross misconduct, not mere ignorance of the law.
Balancing Technical Rules and Substantial Justice in Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on liberal construction of verification and non-forum shopping rules in labor cases.
Upholding Ethical Standards in Court Liability for Discourtesy, Negligence, and Premature Judgments
A Supreme Court ruling on judicial misconduct in issuing TROs over customs seizure cases, reinforcing ethical standards for judges.
Deposit Insurance Coverage and the Usual Course of Business Rule in Bank Transactions
Supreme Court ruling on PDIC coverage for deposits made before a bank's closure, defining "usual course of business."
Rape Information Defects and Statutory Rape Convictions in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on defective rape informations, statutory rape elements, and penalties for common-law stepfathers.
Betrayal of Trust: Rethinking Penalties for a Father's Rape of His Daughter
Supreme Court ruling on father raping daughter highlights proof requirements for death penalty in qualified rape cases.
Civil Law Leases and Tenant Rights: Clarifying Landowner Control in Agrarian Reform
Supreme Court ruling on when civil law lessees may install tenants, and the limits of landowner control under agrarian reform laws.
Land Registration Rights vs Government Reservation: Balancing Private Claims and Public Welfare
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on res judicata in land disputes involving government reconveyance, private contracts, and public interest.
When Advertising Costs Become Capital Expenditures: Lessons from CIR v. General Foods
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when large advertising expenses are deductible business costs or capital outlays for goodwill.
Right to Counsel and Due Process: The High Cost of Delay in Drug Offenses
A Supreme Court ruling shows how procedural lapses and missing evidence can unravel drug convictions, underscoring the need for airtight cases.
When Advertising Costs Become Capital Expenditures: Lessons from Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. General F
Supreme Court ruling on when media advertising expenses are deductible business expenses or capital outlays for goodwill.
Instigation Is Not a Defense Against Valid Employee Dismissal for Drug Use
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether instigation by an employer can shield an employee from dismissal for using prohibited drugs at work.