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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Abuse of Rights Under Article 19: When Cutting Off Water Supply Without Notice Becomes a Legal Wrong
Supreme Court rules that cutting off a water connection without notice violates Article 19 of the Civil Code, entitling the affected party to damages.
Abuse of Rights When Public Works Infringe on Private Water Connections
When public works projects cut private water lines without notice, abuse of rights under Article 19 can trigger liability for damages.
The High Cost of Homicide: Establishing Liability in Robbery With Homicide Cases
A look at how Philippine courts convict in robbery with homicide, from proving intent to the price of damages.
Procedural Lapses in Filing Fees Do Not Erase Civil Liability in Swindling Cases
Supreme Court clarifies that underpayment of docket fees based on clerk assessment does not bar recovery of damages in estafa cases.
Investment House Liable to Investor for Money Market Placement Default
Supreme Court holds investment house liable to investor for defaulted money market placement, clarifying lender-borrower relationship and damages.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding Justice in Statutory Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, clarifying the relative nature of force and increasing damages awarded to minor victims.
Protecting Children Moral Ascendancy AND Criminal Liability FOR Sexual Abuse IN THE Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms robbery with rape conviction, clarifying out-of-court identification rules and damages for sexual abuse victims.
When Legal Interest Begins on Construction Claims: Lessons from Yamauchi v. Suñiga
The Supreme Court clarifies when 6% legal interest accrues on construction damage awards and how courts determine temperate damages.
How Philippine Courts Assess Credibility and Consent in Rape Cases
A look at how the Supreme Court evaluates witness credibility, consent, and damages in rape convictions, using People v. Bugna.
Rape Conviction Hinges on Proof of Force: Victim Testimony and Rights in Child Abuse Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on rape conviction clarifies victim testimony standards, force requirements, and damages in child abuse cases.
Constructive Dismissal Employers Burden TO Prove Fair Treatment AND Contractual Obligations
Learn the requisites for preliminary injunction in the Philippines and why disputed rights and compensable damages defeat the remedy.
The State's Obligation to Pay Interest on Delayed Just Compensation in Agrarian Reform
When the government delays paying just compensation for agrarian reform lands, landowners are entitled to legal interest as damages.
Sovereign Immunity Prevails: City Not Liable for Closure Order Without Consent
Supreme Court rules a city cannot be sued for damages over a closure order without its consent, affirming sovereign immunity principles.
Libel LAW Prioritizing Fines Over Imprisonment AND Just Compensation FOR Damages
Extinguishment of Criminal Liability: How Death Before Final Judgment Impacts Guilt and Civil Obligations
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how an accused's death before final judgment extinguishes criminal liability and affects civil damages.
Proving Lost Earnings After Wrongful Death: Testimony Can Suffice, Says Supreme Court
The Supreme Court ruled that credible testimonial evidence alone can prove a deceased person's income for lost earning capacity damages.
Electrical Utility Liability: Negligence in Infrastructure Management
When an electric utility's haphazardly relocated posts and wires cause a fire, the utility—not the property owner—bears liability for damages.
Reinstatement Without Backwages: Balancing Employee Rights and Employer Prerogatives in Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when a business closure is valid, when procedural lapses only merit nominal damages, and when corporate veils may be pierced.
Chain of Custody and Damages: Lessons from the Sprite Bottle Case
A Supreme Court ruling on product liability, chain of custody of evidence, and when moral and exemplary damages may be awarded in quasi-delict cases.
Just Compensation for Easement of Right of Way: Key Lessons from NPC v. Marasigan
When the government takes an easement over private land, what must it pay? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on just compensation, valuation date, and consequential damages.
Minor Witness Testimony in Rape Cases: Credibility and Its Impact on Justice
How courts assess a minor rape victim's testimony, why it can sustain a conviction, and the rules on alibi, force, and damages.
Self-Defense Claims in Homicide Cases: What the Supreme Court Requires
The Supreme Court explains why a self-defense plea failed in a fatal shooting, and clarifies the rules on unlawful aggression and damages.
Statutory Rape Conviction Upheld: RA 7610 and Child Testimony Explained
The Supreme Court affirms a triple statutory rape conviction, clarifying RA 7610, child testimony, and damages for child victims.
Maritime Accidents and Shared Fault: When Contributory Negligence Affects Damage Claims
A Supreme Court ruling on maritime allision shows how contributory negligence can reduce damages even when another vessel caused the accident.