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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Determining Damages in Wrongful Death: Balancing Compensation and Proof
How the Supreme Court balances compensation and proof in wrongful death cases, and what heirs must prove to recover damages.
When a Fake Lawyer Represented the Accused: Due Process and the Right to Counsel
The Supreme Court voids a conviction where the accused was represented by a non-lawyer, reaffirming the absolute right to counsel.
Right to Counsel in Criminal Cases: Conviction Void When "Lawyer" Is Not a Bar Member
When a criminal defendant is represented by someone who is not a lawyer, the conviction violates due process and must be set aside.
Right to Counsel in Criminal Cases: When a Fake Lawyer Means Denial of Due Process
The Supreme Court ruled that conviction is void when an accused is represented by a non-lawyer, as it violates the constitutional right to counsel.
When a "Lawyer" Is Not a Lawyer: Due Process and the Right to Counsel in Criminal Cases
The Supreme Court voids a conviction where the accused was represented by a fake lawyer, stressing the absolute right to counsel.
When a Father's Duty Becomes a Crime: The Law on Incestuous Rape in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of a father for raping his 12-year-old daughter, clarifying the rules on qualified rape, sexual assault, and damages.
Probable Cause and Customs Seizure: Protecting Due Process in Forfeiture Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that probable cause must precede customs seizure and forfeiture, protecting claimants from arbitrary government action.
Piercing the Corporate Veil to Protect Workers' Right to Collective Bargaining
The Supreme Court pierces the corporate veil when sister companies use separate personalities to defeat workers' right to collective bargaining.
NTC Primary Jurisdiction Over Access Charge Disputes: PT&T v. Smart Communications
When do courts yield to the NTC on telecom access charge disputes? The Supreme Court clarifies the doctrine of primary jurisdiction.
Tax Assessments Invalid Notices and Taxpayer Due Process in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on invalid tax assessment notices and taxpayer due process rights explained in plain language.
NTC Primary Jurisdiction Over Access Charges in Interconnection Agreements
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling that the NTC has primary jurisdiction over access charges in interconnection agreements, and why courts must defer.
Appeal Bonds and Due Process in Labor Dismissal Cases: Key Lessons from the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court clarifies when defective appeal bonds may be excused and how courts may rule on unassigned errors in illegal dismissal cases.
Due Process in Government Action: The City Advertising Ventures Case on Billboards and Signages
When government dismantles advertising signages, it must follow its own rules and respect due process, as this case shows.
Insubordination vs Due Process: Employee Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when a lawyer may buy a client's property without violating ethics, and what this means for employee rights.
Due Process in Club Membership Suspensions: The Ching v. QCSC Ruling
When can a club suspend a member without a hearing? The Supreme Court clarifies due process rules in Ching v. Quezon City Sports Club.
Union Officers Dismissed for Instigating Work Slowdown: What Labor Law Says
The Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of union officers who instigated a work slowdown. Learn the legal rules on illegal concerted activities and due process.
Due Process and Co-Ownership Rights in Non-Profit Organizations and Corporate Asset Transfers
Supreme Court ruling on void mortgages over deceased co-owner's share, good faith purchasers, and co-ownership rights in property transfers.
Upholding Respect for Court Orders: An Attorney's Duty and the Consequences of Disregard
A lawyer's failure to obey court orders is a serious ethical breach, as shown in this disciplinary case against Atty. Winston B. Intong.
Stockholder Inspection Rights Corporations Cannot Enjoin Access Preemptively
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: corporations cannot use injunction to preemptively block stockholders' statutory right to inspect corporate books and records.
Upholding Notarial Duties Negligence AND Misrepresentation IN Legal Practice
A lawyer's failure to secure notarial paraphernalia and unauthorized court appearances lead to suspension and notarial disqualification.
Lis Pendens and Ill-Gotten Wealth: Protecting Public Interest Through Property Notices
The Supreme Court reinstates a notice of lis pendens on Marcos property, clarifying how procedural rules serve, not defeat, the recovery of ill-gotten wealth.
Piercing the Corporate Veil When Labor Rights Trump Corporate Fiction in Illegal Dismissal Cases
When a contractor is a labor-only scheme, the principal becomes the true employer. The Supreme Court pierces the corporate veil to protect workers' rights.
Finality of Judgment in Disbarment Cases: Lessons from Bihag v. Era
A disbarred lawyer's attempt to revive his case fails; the Supreme Court enforces finality and cites indirect contempt.
Challenging Real Property Tax Ordinances: The Iloilo Case and the Rule on Exhaustion of Remedies
The Supreme Court dismissed a direct challenge to Iloilo City's real property tax ordinance, reaffirming that taxpayers must first exhaust administrative remedies before going to court.