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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Good Faith Payments and Prior Satisfaction as Grounds for Acquittal in BP 22 Cases
Supreme Court acquits corporate officer in BP 22 case where the dishonored check was fully paid two years before charges were filed.
Breach of Contract to Sell in the Philippines: When Can a Buyer Claim Damages?
Full payment of a lot does not automatically entitle a buyer to moral damages. The Supreme Court explains what must be proven, and what can be recovered.
Brokers Commission Rights When Can a Seller Evade Payment After a Sale
Can a seller evade paying a broker's commission after a sale closes? This case explains when fees remain due.
Lawyer Fees and Client Property: What Ramos v. Ngaseo Teaches About the Limits of Fee Collection
The Supreme Court reprimanded a lawyer who demanded his client's land as payment, clarifying when the Civil Code ban on acquiring litigated property applies.
Attorney's Fees and Ethical Boundaries: Can Lawyers Demand Property as Payment?
A lawyer who demands litigated property as fees after the case ends may still face discipline for conduct unbecoming the legal profession.
Partial Payment and Fulfillment of Obligations: Creditor Rights Under B.P. 22
When does partial payment satisfy a debt? The Supreme Court clarifies creditor rights and the Bouncing Checks Law in Alonto v. People.
Full Customs Duty Payment Bars Forfeiture Despite Procedural Lapses
Supreme Court rules that full payment of customs duties and taxes terminates importation, preventing forfeiture despite procedural irregularities in shipment transfer.
Docket Fees and Dismissal: Perfecting Appeals in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on late payment of appellate docket fees and dismissal of appeals under Rule 41.
Perfecting Appeals: Timely Payment of Appeal Fees as a Jurisdictional Requirement in Philippine Election Law
Learn how timely payment of appeal fees is a jurisdictional requirement in Philippine election law, based on Supreme Court rulings.
Dismissal for Late Docket Fee Payment: Strict Timelines in Certiorari Petitions
Learn how late docket fee payment and wrong remedy choices can doom certiorari petitions, based on Mercado v. Court of Appeals.
Upholding Banks Right TO Withhold Benefits FOR Employee Misconduct A Case OF DUE Process AND Corporate Ethics
Supreme Court clarifies separation pay rules for business closures, quitclaim validity, and payment by check under Philippine labor law.
When Payment Defaults Threaten Property Rights: Understanding Rescission in Real Estate Sales
A buyer's failure to pay the full purchase price can lead to contract rescission, even after years of partial payments. Learn the rules.
Estafa vs. Breach of Contract: When a Failed Deal Is Not a Crime
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when failure to deliver goods after advance payment is civil breach, not criminal estafa.
Surety Reimbursement Rights: When Partial Payment Does Not Trigger Indemnity
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when co-sureties can demand reimbursement and foreclose pledged shares under indemnity agreements.
Balancing Technical Rules and Justice: The Discretion to Reinstate Appeals Despite Late Docket Fees
The Supreme Court clarifies when late payment of appellate docket fees may justify dismissal, and when courts may relax procedural rules.
Dismissal for Untimely Filing: Understanding Procedural Rules in Philippine Appeals
Learn why the Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of an appeal due to late docket fee payment, and what this means for litigants.
Proof of Payment: Why Vouchers Aren't Receipts Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies why disbursement vouchers are not receipts and what actually proves payment in civil cases.
Vouchers vs Receipts: Proving Payment in Philippine Labor and Civil Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies why vouchers are not receipts and how to prove payment in collection cases under Rule 45.
Guarantors' Reimbursement Rights When Premature Payment Nullifies Recourse
When a guarantor pays before the debtor's default is established, it may lose the right to reimbursement from the principal debtor.
Wage Differentials Employees Must Demonstrate Underpayment FOR Claims TO Succeed
MSU Liable for Official Actions: Contractual Obligations and University Presidents
Supreme Court rules Mindanao State University bound by official acts of its presidents, estopped from denying contract payments to contractor.
When Can a Lessee Stop Paying Rent? Peaceful Enjoyment Rules Explained
Learn when Philippine law allows a lessee to suspend rent payments and what "peaceful enjoyment" really means under Civil Code Articles 1654 and 1658.
Withdrawal of Tolerance: The Decisive Factor in Unlawful Detainer Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that withdrawal of tolerance, not non-payment of rent, determines jurisdiction in unlawful detainer cases.
Perfecting Appeals: Why Timely Docket Fees Matter in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts require timely payment of appellate docket fees to perfect an appeal. Learn the rules and practical lessons from Navarro v. Metrobank.