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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Seafarers Disability: Prolonged Incapacity Trumps Fit-to-Work Certification
A company doctor's fit-to-work certification does not defeat a seafarer's permanent total disability claim when incapacity exceeds 120 days.
Seafarers Disability Timely Assessment IS KEY To Benefits Entitlement
A seafarer's disability claim hinges on the company doctor's timely assessment. Learn the 120/240-day rule from a Supreme Court case.
Protecting Seafarers: Upholding Disability Claims Despite Company Doctor's Assessment
Supreme Court rules seafarers can dispute company-designated physician's fitness assessment with independent medical evidence, protecting their disability claims.
Company Doctor's Assessment Prevails in Seafarer Disability Claims: Ison v. Crewserve
SC rules company-designated physician's fit-to-work assessment prevails over belated, unsupported certifications from seafarer's own doctors in disability claims.
Seafarer Disability Benefits: Company Doctor's Assessment Prevails Without Substantial Evidence
Supreme Court rules seafarer's brief psychotic disorder not work-related; company-designated physician's assessment prevails absent substantial evidence of work causation.
Seafarers Disability Claims: Weighing Company Doctor vs Independent Medical Opinion
Philippine Supreme Court rules on seafarer disability claims when company physicians and independent doctors disagree, favoring the worker's evidence.
Seafarer Disability Claims: When the Company Doctor's Fit-to-Work Assessment Prevails
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarer disability claims: the company-designated physician's fit-to-work certification controls absent a third-doctor review.
Seafarers Disability Defining Permanent Disability Beyond the Company Doctor's Assessment
Supreme Court ruling on seafarer disability claims: the company doctor's assessment is not conclusive, and inability to work for over 120 days may mean permanent disability.
Control Test and Regular Employment: When a Retainer Is Not an Employer-Employee Relationship
The Supreme Court explains when a company doctor under a retainer agreement is not a regular employee under the control test.