Legal Insights

Carrier Liability for Passenger Safety: Extraordinary Diligence in Public Transportation

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies common carrier liability, extraordinary diligence, and delivery standards in breach of contract cases.

Extraordinary Diligence in Cargo Delivery: Common Carrier Responsibilities and Liabilities

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies common carrier extraordinary diligence standards in cargo delivery disputes, balancing shipper protections with carrier defenses.

Equitable Mortgage vs Pacto de Retro Sale: Property Rights in the Philippines

Philippine Supreme Court explains the difference between equitable mortgage and pacto de retro sale, and why mortgagees cannot simply consolidate ownership.

Judicial Overreach Limits on Notarial Authority of Judges in the Philippines

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies limits on judges' notarial authority under Circular No. 1-90, penalizing unauthorized notarization of private documents.

Substantial Compliance With Attestation Requirements in Will Probate

Philippine Supreme Court explains when defects in a will's attestation clause may still allow probate under the substantial compliance rule.

Mortgage in Good Faith: How Registered Mortgages Protect Lenders Despite Title Defects

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how registered mortgages protect lenders in good faith, even when prior unregistered sales exist.

Upholding Due Process in Execution Sales: Ensuring Fair Notice and Proportionality

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies sheriffs must follow Rule 141 procedures for execution expenses, ensuring due process and fair notice in levying properties.

Reckless Imprudence in Vehicle Collisions: How Courts Determine Fault

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts determine fault in reckless imprudence cases involving vehicle collisions under Article 365.

Reckless Imprudence in Philippine Traffic Accidents: What Veneracion v. People Teaches Drivers

Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies reckless imprudence liability in traffic accidents, emphasizing driver precautions and evidentiary standards.

Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Officers Face Personal Liability

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers may be held personally liable for contractual obligations, explaining the limits of piercing the corporate veil.

Preliminary Injunctions Preserve Status Quo, Not Final Judgments — Key Rules

Philippine Supreme Court explains why preliminary injunction orders are interlocutory, unappealable, and need not state full facts and law.

Sheriffs Duty Enforcing Writs With DUE Notice AND Jurisdictional Respect

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on sheriffs' duty to give notice and coordinate with local sheriffs when enforcing writs outside their jurisdiction.

Lost Deeds, Lost Claims: Proving Real Property Donations in the Philippines

Philippine Supreme Court explains why a lost deed of donation cannot be proven by testimony alone, and the formal requirements for valid real property donations.

Upholding Due Process: Employees' Right to Notice in Termination Cases

Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that resignation does not shield court employees from administrative liability for dishonesty and grave misconduct.

Due Process in Administrative Cases: Suspension, Not Dismissal, for First-Time Inefficiency

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that first-time inefficiency in public service warrants suspension, not dismissal, under Civil Service rules.

Prescription of Penalties: Imprisonment Must Begin Before Evasion Can Trigger Prescriptive Period

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that prescription of penalties under Article 93 RPC only runs when a convict escapes during actual imprisonment, not while at large.

Unlawful Detainer and Estate Possession: Lessons from Umpoc v. Mercado

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on unlawful detainer, estate administrators' possessory rights, and unregistered deeds in ejectment cases.

When Does Prescription of Penalties Begin? The Doctrine of Evasion of Sentence

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that prescription of penalties under Article 93 RPC only runs when a convict escapes while serving imprisonment.

Tenant's Right of Redemption: Protecting Farmers When Land Is Sold Without Notice

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on agricultural lessees' right to redeem land sold without notice under RA 3844.

Reconveyance Actions Protecting Land Ownership Despite Title Indefeasibility

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that Torrens titles become indefeasible after one year, but reconveyance actions remain available to true owners.

When Promises Corrupt Justice: Ethical Boundaries for Court Sheriffs in the Philippines

Philippine Supreme Court ruling on sheriffs' ethical duties, corruption, and the consequences of overstepping authority in court proceedings.

When Possession Does Not Equal Ownership: Land Registration and the Alienable and Disposable Requirement

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when possession of public land can ripen into ownership for registration under the Property Registration Decree.

Compromise Agreements in Philippine Courts: When Settlements End Litigation

Philippine Supreme Court explains when compromise agreements are valid and binding, ending protracted litigation between parties.

Tuition Fee Increases and Employee Benefits: Ensuring Fair Allocation of Incremental Proceeds

Philippine Supreme Court rules on how to compute incremental proceeds from tuition fee increases for employee benefits under RA 6728.