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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Prescription in Insurance Claims: When Does the Clock Really Start Ticking
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when the prescriptive period for insurance claims begins, protecting policyholders from delayed denial.
Authenticating Evidence When Hearsay Testimony Undermines Insurance Claims
A Supreme Court ruling on hearsay and unauthenticated documents in a default judgment, and its impact on insurance claims.
Health Care Agreements vs Insurance Contracts: The Incontestability Clause Explained
The Supreme Court ruled that health care agreements are insurance contracts, so the incontestability clause applies to HMOs.
Execution Pending Appeal: Balancing Public Interest and Court Discretion in Insurance Claims
When can a winning party execute a judgment while the appeal is pending? The Supreme Court explains the "good reasons" standard in this insurance dispute.
Who Pays When Rebellion Sparks Insurance Claims: Burden of Proof on Insurers
When fire destroys insured property, who must prove the cause? The Supreme Court clarifies insurers' burden in rebellion-related claims.
Reforming Insurance Policies How Manifest Intent Prevails Over Technical Descriptions In Property Claims
A fire insurance dispute shows how courts prioritize the parties' true intent over technical misdescriptions in policies.
Upholding Insurance Claims Substantial Compliance AND Timely Payment Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on substantial compliance with insurance policy conditions and the insurer's duty to pay claims within prescribed periods.
Execution Pending Appeal When Urgency Justifies Immediate Enforcement
Explains when Philippine courts may allow execution pending appeal, using Standard Insurance v. Court of Appeals as a guide.
Surety Bond Liability Limits Under Philippine Insurance Law: The R & B Surety Case
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies surety bond liability caps under Insurance Code Section 176, limiting exposure to face value plus legal interest.
Protecting Your Insurance Claim Why Death Certificates Matter IN THE Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled that a death certificate is strong evidence in life insurance claims, and what this means for beneficiaries.
The Right to Litigate Must Be Exercised in Good Faith: Lessons from a Baseless Insurance Suit
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when filing a baseless lawsuit can expose a party to damages for bad faith litigation.
Life Insurance Contracts: When Does an Application Become a Binding Agreement
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a life insurance application becomes a binding contract, using Perez v. BF Lifeman as guide.
Honesty is the Best Policy: Understanding Concealment in Philippine Insurance Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when an insurer may deny a claim for concealment, and who may sue on a mortgage redemption insurance policy.
Unmasking Insurance Fraud: How Conspiracy and Falsification Lead to Conviction in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on insurance fraud, conspiracy, and falsification of documents, and what it means for criminal liability.
No Premium, No Policy: Philippine Insurance Law on Payment and Coverage
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that fire insurance policies require actual premium payment before coverage attaches, rejecting implied credit arrangements.
Protecting Loan Security: How Mortgagees Can Secure Insurance Claims in the Philippines
Learn how mortgagees can secure insurance proceeds under Philippine law, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. v. Goyu & Sons.
Deposit Insurance Claims When Banks Fail Are Your Deposits Protected
Learn how PDIC deposit insurance works when a bank fails, and why a certificate of time deposit does not guarantee payment.
When Is an Insurance Agent an Employee? The Carungcong Ruling on Independent Contractors
Insurance agents may be independent contractors, not employees. The Carungcong case explains the test and the role of contracts.
Insurable Interest: Can a Landlord Claim Insurance on a Tenant's Property?
Philippine Supreme Court rules a landlord cannot claim fire insurance proceeds on a tenant's merchandise without insurable interest. Learn the key principles.
Insurance Claims Understanding Time Limits AND ALL Risks Policies IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that all-risks insurance claims prescribe in 10 years, not the one-year COGSA limit for carriers.
Seaworthiness and Insurance Subrogation in Philippine Maritime Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on shipowner liability for unseaworthy vessels, insurer subrogation rights, and the limited liability rule.
Surety Bonds AND Agent Authority Protecting Yourself From Insurance Claim Denials
Third-Party Liability Insurance: Filing Claims and Solidary Liability in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts treat third-party liability insurance claims, the requirement to file written notice, and why insurers are not solidarily liable with tortfeasors.
Marine Insurance: When Arrest of a Vessel by Civil Authorities Is a Covered Risk
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when arrest of a vessel by judicial process is a covered risk under marine cargo insurance policies.