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.
Sheriffs Must Follow Execution Procedures Exactly or Face Administrative Liability
A sheriff who skipped the demand step before garnishing and levying property was suspended for simple misconduct by the Supreme Court.
Judicial Accountability Balancing Discretion AND Duty IN Search Warrant Issuance
A Supreme Court ruling on administrative liability clarifies the balance between judicial discretion in search warrants and accountability for neglect.
Protecting Contractors: Quantum Meruit and COA Disallowances in Government Projects
Supreme Court clarifies when contractors may recover from void government contracts under quantum meruit, and the limits of COA's audit powers.
Withholding Tax Obligations: When Final Withholding Tax Becomes Due
Learn when final withholding tax obligations arise under Philippine tax law, based on a Supreme Court ruling on interest payments.
Striking a Balance: Upholding Agrarian Justice Without Sacrificing Procedural Rules
The Supreme Court reminds appellate courts that minor procedural lapses should not defeat the right to appeal, especially in agrarian cases involving social justice.
Due Process Rights and Fair Notice in Administrative Cases: The Iglesias Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies that administrative due process requires fair notice of charges, but valid original allegations can still support dismissal.
Disbarment for Deceit and Unauthorized Notarization: Ethical Standards for Lawyers
Supreme Court affirms suspension and notarial disqualification for a lawyer who used falsified documents and notarized outside his jurisdiction.
Trademark vs Copyright: Protecting Business Names in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the difference between trademarks and copyrights in business name disputes under Philippine IP law.
Lawyer Suspended for Calling Opposing Party a Swindler: Ethics Lessons from Buenviaje v. Magdamo
A lawyer's three-month suspension for malicious name-calling in a notice to a bank underscores the ethical limits of client zeal.
Falsification of Public Documents: Duty, Damage, and the Limits of Reliance
When does altering a date on a purchase order become falsification? The Supreme Court explains the limits of good-faith reliance for public officers.
Partnership vs Estafa: When a Partner's Misappropriation Becomes a Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies when a partner's failure to account for funds crosses from civil liability to criminal estafa under Philippine law.
Supreme Court Upholds Judicial Power Over Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court strikes down Section 23 of RA 9165 as unconstitutional, affirming exclusive judicial authority over plea bargaining rules.
Regular Employment vs Independent Contractor: The Control Test in Philippine Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when construction workers are regular employees, not independent contractors, using the four-fold test and control test.
Dying Declarations and Abuse of Superior Strength: Homicide, Not Murder, in People v. Santillan
The Supreme Court clarifies when a dying declaration is admissible and when numerical superiority does not amount to abuse of superior strength.
Weighing Medical Opinions: Company Doctors vs Private Physicians in Seafarer Disability Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies when a company-designated physician's findings prevail over a private doctor's assessment in seafarer disability claims.
Seafarers' Disability Claims: Proving Work-Relatedness and Compensability
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between work-relatedness and compensability in seafarers' disability claims under the 2000 POEA-SEC.
Just Compensation and Landowner Rights Beyond DAR Valuation in Agrarian Reform
The Supreme Court clarifies that courts, not administrative agencies, have final say on just compensation for agrarian reform lands.
Curfew Laws and Minors' Rights: Balancing State Protection and Individual Freedoms
The Supreme Court upholds juvenile curfew ordinances in Quezon City, Manila, and Navotas, balancing state protection with minors' rights.
Prior Possession Prevails in Forcible Entry: Key Lessons from Spouses Fahrenbach v. Pangilinan
The Supreme Court explains why prior physical possession, not ownership, decides forcible entry cases, and why tacking possession does not apply.
Compromised Chain of Custody Safeguarding Rights in Drug Cases
When police break the chain of custody in drug cases, the Supreme Court will acquit. Learn the rules from People v. Ceralde.
Barangay Conciliation Residency Requirements FOR Filing Court Cases IN THE Philippines
Understand the residency requirements for barangay conciliation before filing court cases in the Philippines, explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Insurance Subrogation: Establishing Insurer's Rights Against Third-Party Carriers
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when insurers can recover from carriers via subrogation, and when presenting the insurance policy is required.
Sheriff's Duty to Properly Handle and Liquidate Funds in Court-Ordered Actions
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies sheriffs must deposit execution expenses with the Clerk of Court, not receive direct payments.
Breach of Contract of Carriage: When Moral Damages Require Fraud or Bad Faith
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when injured bus passengers may recover moral damages for breach of contract of carriage—only upon proof of fraud or bad faith.