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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Default Judgments and Proper Appeals: Navigating Procedural Errors in Philippine Law
Learn how the Supreme Court treats default judgments, appeal errors, and legal redemption deadlines in Philippine civil procedure.
Dismissal Denied: Why Properly Stating Your Cause of Action Matters in Philippine Courts
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on constructive dismissal in a security guard's case and why precise legal claims are crucial.
Breach of Trust When Public Office Becomes A Vehicle For Deception
When can an employer validly dismiss a managerial employee for loss of trust and confidence? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on breach of trust in Wah Yuen Restaurant v. Jayona.
Customs Jurisdiction Prevails Challenging Seizure AND Forfeiture Powers OF THE Bureau OF Customs
Landmark ruling clarifies that RTCs cannot interfere with Bureau of Customs seizure and forfeiture proceedings, even if the warrant appears defective.
Constructive Dismissal: When Employer Actions Create Unbearable Working Conditions
Constructive dismissal happens when an employer makes continued work unbearable, forcing an employee to resign. Learn how Philippine law and the Supreme Court treat it.
Probate of Wills in the Philippines: Burden of Proof and Testamentary Capacity Explained
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proof in will probate and the test for testamentary capacity under the Civil Code.
Trust Betrayed: Understanding Illegal Dismissal Based on Loss of Confidence in the Philippines
When can an employer validly dismiss a managerial employee for loss of confidence? The Supreme Court explains the rules and limits in Wah Yuen Restaurant v. Jayona.
Mootness in Preliminary Injunctions: When Does a Case Become Irrelevant
Learn when a case becomes moot and how Philippine courts treat preliminary injunctions in this plain-language guide to civil procedure.
Co-Owner Redemption Rights: When Actual Knowledge Overrides Written Notice
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on legal redemption rights of co-owners, actual knowledge vs written notice, and laches in property sales.
Court Stenographer Fees in the Philippines: What Rule 141 Allows
Learn the legal rates court stenographers may charge for transcripts under Rule 141, and why overcharging is administrative misconduct.
Estafa Liability and the Need for Pre-Existing Fraudulent Intent in Business Dealings
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that estafa requires false pretenses made before or simultaneously with the fraud, not mere subsequent breach.
Good Faith in Property Sales: Protecting Buyers From Fraudulent Land Titles
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on void reconstituted titles and the rights of innocent purchasers for value in property sales.
Fresh Period Rule Clarifying Timelines FOR Filing Certiorari Petitions IN Labor Disputes
Agricultural Leasehold Contracts: When Are They Void? Land Ownership and Tenancy Rights Explained
Learn when agricultural leasehold contracts are void under Philippine law, and how land ownership and DARAB jurisdiction affect tenancy rights.
Sheriff’s Duties and the Boundaries of Conduct in Foreclosure Sales
A sheriff’s fee demand before an auction can breach decorum. The Court fines a sheriff for conduct that put the judiciary in a compromising light.
Corporate Officer Liability When Signing Loan Documents Leads to Criminal Charges in the Philippines
Learn when signing loan documents as a corporate officer can trigger criminal liability in the Philippines, based on Supreme Court rulings.
Forum Shopping One Bite at the Apple in Philippine Courts
Learn how the Supreme Court barred a co-owner's legal redemption claim for being filed seven years after actual knowledge of the sale, applying laches and the relaxed written notice rule.
Illegal Dismissal vs Abandonment: What Philippine Employees Must Know
Understand the difference between illegal dismissal and abandonment of work in the Philippines, and learn what employers must prove.
Upholding Intellectual Property Rights: The Supreme Court's Stance on Jurisdiction and Special Courts
The Supreme Court affirms RTC jurisdiction over IP violations and the validity of administrative orders designating special intellectual property courts.
Understanding Contempt of Court When Persistence Crosses the Line
When does relentless filing become punishable contempt? The Supreme Court explains the limits of persistence in Alcantara v. Ponce.
Attorney's Fees and Ethical Obligations in Disputes Over Legal Services
A Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal shows why courts award attorney's fees and how evidence must support claims for legal costs.
Administrative Accountability: When Can You File a Complaint Against a Philippine Court Employee
Learn when a complaint against court personnel prospers or fails, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Mikrostar Industrial Corporation v. Mabalot.
Certification of Non-Forum Shopping: Why One Signature May Not Be Enough in Collective Labor Claims
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that in collective claims, a certification against forum shopping signed by only one petitioner is insufficient unless expressly authorized.