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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False Claims Real Consequences Falsification OF Public Documents AND THE Erosion OF Public Trust
Learn how Philippine courts treat falsification of public documents and why it erodes public trust in official records.
Trademark Rights vs Registration: Resolving Unfair Competition Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies how trademark registration and actual use affect unfair competition claims under the Intellectual Property Code.
How Philippine Courts Compute the Two-Year Tax Refund Period
The Supreme Court clarifies how to compute the two-year prescriptive period for tax refund claims under the National Internal Revenue Code.
Computing Prescriptive Periods: Calendar Months vs Fixed Days in Tax Refund Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies how to compute the two-year prescriptive period for tax refund claims under the National Internal Revenue Code.
Misrepresentation and Due Process in Seafarer Medical Claims: De Jesus v. POMI
The Supreme Court ruled that a seafarer's concealment of a prior ulcer did not bar medical claims, and that dismissal requires the contract's disciplinary procedure.
Unlawful Detainer: Proving Possession and Ownership Claims in Ejectment Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on unlawful detainer cases, possession vs. ownership claims, and evidence rules in ejectment proceedings.
Venue Stipulations When Contractual Agreements Don't Cover ALL Claims
When a contract names an exclusive venue, does it bind claims outside that contract? The Supreme Court explains when it doesn't.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Force, Not Consent, Decides Gang Rape Case
Supreme Court affirms gang rape convictions, ruling that force was present despite defense claims of consent and victim's reputation.
Tax Refund Claims Strict Compliance Prevails Over Liberal Interpretation
The Supreme Court affirms that tax refund claims require strict compliance with the written claim requirement, rejecting liberal interpretation.
Reversion of Land Titles: Public Domain vs Private Claims in the Philippines
Supreme Court ruling on when certificates of title over public domain land, including timberlands, are void and subject to reversion.
Labor Arbiter Jurisdiction Over Employee Claims: Incon Industrial Corp. Case
When do labor claims belong to the Labor Arbiter, not the RTC? The Supreme Court clarifies jurisdictional boundaries in Incon Industrial Corp.
When a Sale Is Valid Despite Defective Notarization: Lessons from a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains when a notarized deed remains valid despite defects, and how courts view claims of forgery and lack of consideration.
Corporate Liquidation Claims: When an Investor Becomes an Ordinary Creditor
An investor whose shares were sold without consent by a corporate liquidator becomes an ordinary creditor, not preferred, in SEC liquidation proceedings.
Dismissal Disputes: Protecting Depositors From Illegal Dismissal Claims in Corporate Crises
The Supreme Court shields depositors who temporarily manage a distressed bank from personal liability for illegal dismissal claims, clarifying employer-employee relationships.
Rehabilitation Proceedings Suspension of Claims Against Corporations
Philippine Airlines v. PALEA clarifies how corporate rehabilitation automatically suspends all claims, including labor disputes, under PD 902-A.
Breach of Promise or Employment Contract: Who Has Jurisdiction Over Damage Claims?
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a damage claim for breach of employment promise belongs to regular courts, not the NLRC.
Jurisdictional Thresholds Determining Court Competence Over Monetary Claims
Upholding Contractual Obligations: Enforceability of Sales Invoices Despite Claims of Discrepancies
Supreme Court affirms that signed sales invoices are binding evidence of delivery and payment obligations, even when a buyer later claims short deliveries.
Proving Negligence in Vehicular Accidents: Lessons from a Quasi-Delict Case
A look at how Philippine courts determine negligence in vehicular accidents, based on a recent Supreme Court ruling on quasi-delict claims.
Independent Damage Claims in Forcible Entry: Separating Possession From Subsequent Harm
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when damages from forcible entry may be claimed in a separate ordinary action rather than the ejectment case.
Ballot Integrity and Fair Elections: Lessons from Juan v. COMELEC on Post-Election Tampering
How the Supreme Court handled claims of post-election tampering and marked ballots in a barangay election protest, and what it means for ballot integrity.
Piercing the Sole Proprietorship Veil: Personal Liability for Business Debts in Illegal Dismissal Cases
Learn when Philippine courts hold sole proprietors personally liable for business debts, including illegal dismissal claims, and how to protect personal assets.
Redundancy and Release: Examining the Validity of Dismissal and Waiver in Philippine Labor Law
A look at when redundancy dismissals are valid and when quitclaims bar illegal dismissal claims, based on a PLDT case.
Line of Duty vs Personal Grudge: When Employee Death Claims Are Compensable
Supreme Court rules on compensability of employee death from personal grudge attacks, clarifying intoxication defense and line of duty standards.