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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Can a Foreign Corporation Sue for Unfair Competition in the Philippines?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a foreign corporation not doing business locally can pursue unfair competition claims.
When Government Delays Just Compensation: Property Return After Unreasonable Delay
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: government must pay just compensation promptly or risk losing expropriated property back to its owner.
Sublease Rent Claims: Why Lessors Must Sue the Lessee First
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that lessors cannot directly sue sublessees for unpaid rent without first obtaining judgment against the lessee.
Corporate Assets and Execution: Exemptions for Juridical Entities in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why corporations cannot claim execution exemptions meant for natural persons.
Attorney Accountability Understanding Lawyer Neglect of Duty in the Philippines
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lawyer neglect of duty, abandonment of clients, and the ethical obligations of attorneys.
Moral Turpitude and Public Service: How a Criminal Conviction Affects Government Employees
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a B.P. 22 conviction means dismissal for government employees, even with probation.
When Loss of Trust Can Lead to Termination: Employee Rights Explained
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on constructive dismissal, loss of trust, and due process in employee termination cases.
Venue Stipulations in Contracts: Limits on Exclusive Venue Clauses
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when exclusive venue stipulations in contracts apply, and when they cannot restrict access to courts.
Sheriffs and Public Trust: When a Court Officer Stands By and Does Nothing
A Supreme Court ruling shows that a sheriff's silence during an irregular demolition was neglect of duty, not innocence, and that court officers must act above suspicion.
Rescission of Contract: Balancing Forfeiture Clauses With the Duty to Reimburse
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how rescission under Article 1191 requires mutual restitution, even when forfeiture clauses exist.
Agent Liability in Insurance Contracts: The Pandiman Philippines Ruling
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when an insurance agent can be held liable for claims, and who bears responsibility for overseas workers' death benefits.
Upholding Finality When Failure to Prosecute Leads to Dismissal on the Merits
Learn how skipping an administrative appeal and a motion for reconsideration can prove fatal to a case, as shown in this Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies in PNP Administrative Cases: Mendoza v. NAPOLCOM
Supreme Court ruling on why PNP members must exhaust administrative remedies before going to court in dismissal cases.
Authority Matters: Why Verbal Assurances From Bank Clerks Can't Seal Property Deals in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why verbal assurances from bank clerks cannot validate property transactions, and the importance of proper authority.
Due Process and Property Rights: When Notice of Legal Action Is Crucial
A Supreme Court ruling on administrative due process, notice, and property rights in tax declaration cancellations.
When a Bank's Oversight Triggers a Land Ownership Dispute: Davao New Town v. COSLAP
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when COSLAP lacks jurisdiction over private land disputes and the limits of agrarian reform adjudication.
Conditional Sales of Land: Upholding Contractual Obligations in Real Estate Transactions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on foreclosure, redemption rights, and the consequences of failing to prosecute a case for injunction.
Property Rights vs Self-Help: Landowners Cannot Evict Holdover Tenants Without Due Process
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on accion reinvindicatoria, property identification, and the limits of self-help in land disputes.
Burden of Proof in Loan Obligations: Debtor Must Prove Payment Despite Creditor's Claim of Non-Payment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who bears the burden of proving payment in loan and mortgage obligations, and when contract rescission is proper.
Judicial Discretion vs Abuse: When Judges Overstep in Issuing Restraining Orders
Explore the Supreme Court ruling on when a judge's issuance of a TRO without bond or application constitutes grave abuse of discretion.
Untangling Land Titles, Prescription, and the Rights of Heirs in Property Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when heirs can recover property sold without their consent, and how prescription applies to constructive trusts.
Unlawful Detainer: Actual Possession vs. Representation in Ejectment Suits
Learn when an ejectment suit must target the actual occupant versus the lessee they represent, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Due Process in Motion Hearings: When a Judgment Cannot Bind a Non-Party
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that courts cannot bind non-parties to judgments, even in motion hearings, without due process.
Perfecting Appeals in Labor Cases: The Indispensable Role of Appeal Bonds
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why posting an appeal bond on time is mandatory for perfecting an employer's appeal from a Labor Arbiter decision.