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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Telegram Delay Philippine Supreme Court Clarifies Liability FOR Communication Service Failures
Philippine Supreme Court rules on telecom liability for delayed telegram delivery, clarifying breach of contract, quasi-delict, and moral damages.
Correcting Election Errors When Canvassers Reconvene After Proclamation
When can a board of canvassers reconvene to fix tally errors after a winner is proclaimed? The Supreme Court explains.
Sheriffs Must Execute Writs Ministerially Despite Third-Party Claims
Philippine Supreme Court rules sheriffs have ministerial duty to enforce writs; third-party claims require indemnity bond, not delay.
Clerk of Court Dismissed for Tampering Court Records and Concealing Ex Parte Proceedings
Supreme Court dismisses clerk of court for dishonesty after tampering with default orders and concealing ex parte proceedings in a civil case.
Equitable Mortgage vs Pacto de Retro Sale: Philippine Real Estate Security Rules
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a deed of sale with right to repurchase is actually an equitable mortgage, protecting borrowers from losing property.
Discretion in Government Bidding: When Courts Can Intervene
The Supreme Court explains the wide discretion of government agencies in bidding awards and the limits of judicial review.
Judicial Ethics and Procedural Rules: Lessons from Coca-Cola Bottlers v. Cabalo
A look at the Supreme Court's ruling on strict compliance with procedural rules in certiorari petitions and the importance of judicial ethics in the Philippines.
Employee vs Stockholder Status: When Managers Are Still Employees Under Philippine Labor Law
Supreme Court clarifies when a manager who may also be a stockholder remains an employee entitled to labor law protections.
Bouncing Checks and Lawyer Discipline: When Professional Ethics Extend Beyond Legal Practice
A lawyer who issues bouncing checks for his corporation can be disciplined. The Supreme Court explains why.
Integrity in Public Service: Consequences of Dishonest Civil Service Eligibility in the Philippines
Explore the Supreme Court ruling on dismissing a court employee for fraudulently obtaining civil service eligibility, and its implications for public servants.
The Limits of Judicial Discretion: Understanding Grave Abuse in Philippine Law
When is a judge's error "grave abuse of discretion"? The Supreme Court clarifies the doctrine and its limits in this 2006 ruling.
Management Committees in Philippine Corporate Disputes: When Courts May Intervene
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when courts may create management committees in intra-corporate disputes under the Interim Rules.
Construction Arbitration in the Philippines: Securing CIAC Jurisdiction Despite Contractual Clauses
How the Supreme Court affirmed CIAC's exclusive jurisdiction over construction disputes even when contracts name another forum or process.
Upholding Court Orders: Administrative Liability for Judicial Delay in the Philippines
A look at how the Supreme Court penalizes judges for failing to decide cases within the 90-day constitutional period.
Meeting of Minds in Property Sales: Why Price Agreement Is Key in Philippine Contracts
Philippine contract law requires a meeting of minds on price for property sales. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling on consent and judicial ethics.
Contract Termination and Forum Shopping: Lease Rights and Obligations Explained
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on lease contract termination, subleasing without consent, and forum shopping in Riesenbeck v. Maceren.
Clerk of Court's Duty: Why Proper Case Classification Matters in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling on a clerk's duty to classify cases correctly, and why the body of a pleading matters more than its caption.
Protecting Marital Property: Why Proof of Acquisition During Marriage Matters in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that the conjugal presumption requires proof the property was acquired during the marriage. Learn the rules.
When Court Employees Err: Administrative Liability for Simple Neglect of Duty
A Supreme Court ruling on when a court employee's error amounts to simple neglect of duty, not dishonesty or gross ignorance.
Intervention in Philippine Courts: Why Legal Interest Is Non-Negotiable
The Supreme Court explains why a woman who married a man whose foreign divorce was void in the Philippines cannot intervene in his annulment case.
Sheriff Misconduct and Illegal Demolition: Upholding Due Process in Philippine Law
When can a sheriff demolish structures not named in a writ? The Supreme Court clarifies due process limits on demolition orders.
When Valid Dismissal Means No Separation Pay: Serious Misconduct Under Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court rules on when validly dismissed employees lose separation pay due to serious misconduct under Article 282 of the Labor Code.
Unraveling Presumptions: How Philippine Courts Determine Marital Status and Inheritance Rights
Philippine courts rely on presumptions to decide marital status and inheritance. Learn how from a Supreme Court case on disputed marriages and heirs.
Sheriff Accountability: Why Mishandling Court Funds Can Lead to Disciplinary Action
Learn how sheriffs mishandling court funds face administrative liability, and what the Supreme Court's ruling means for public accountability.