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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Temperate Damages in Construction Breach: When Proof of Loss Falls Short
Philippine Supreme Court explains when courts award temperate damages instead of actual damages in construction contract breaches.
Eyewitness Testimony and the Sanity Presumption in Murder Convictions
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction based on eyewitness identification, rejects insanity defense, and clarifies damages rules.
Reckless Driving and Vicarious Liability: When Insurers Can Recover Damages
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on quasi-delict, negligence, and owner liability for vehicle accidents in the Philippines.
Equitable Reduction of Liquidated Damages in Construction Delays: Balancing Contractual Obligations and Fairne
Philippine Supreme Court explains when courts may reduce liquidated damages in construction delay cases, balancing contract terms with equity.
Just Compensation in Expropriation: When the Government Takes Property Without Filing a Case
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on just compensation, consequential damages, and attorney's fees when government takes private property without expropriation proceedings.
Breach of Contract and Damages: Airline's Duty to Honor Ticket Terms
The Supreme Court held an airline liable for breach of contract and damages after it refused to honor the rebooking terms printed on a passenger's ticket.
Due Process vs Abandonment: Balancing Employee Rights in Termination Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that valid dismissal for abandonment still requires due process; employers must pay nominal damages for notice violations.
Abandonment of Work and Due Process: When Dismissal Is Valid but Still Costs the Employer
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that abandoning work is a just cause for dismissal, but employers who skip the two-notice rule still pay nominal damages.
Breach of Contract and Delay Damages in Construction Projects: Uy v. Public Estates Authority
A Supreme Court ruling on contractor claims for delay damages, standby equipment costs, and the strict written-change-order rule under Article 1724.
U-Turn Negligence: When a Sudden Maneuver Establishes Fault in Vehicle Collisions
A sudden U-turn without signal lights can establish negligence and proximate cause in a vehicle collision, making the driver and employer liable for damages.
Actual Malice and Media Responsibility in Reporting on Public Figures
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that public figures must prove actual malice to claim damages for false news reports.
Filing a Baseless Suit Does Not Automatically Mean Paying Damages: Delos Santos v. Papa
The Supreme Court clarifies that losing a lawsuit does not automatically entitle the winning party to moral and exemplary damages.
Just Cause vs Due Process: What Bacolod-Talisay Realty Teaches About Employee Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on dismissal with just cause but defective procedure, explaining nominal damages for employees.
Upholding Due Process in Termination: Nominal Damages for Procedural Lapses
When dismissal has just cause but lacks due process, employers pay nominal damages. Learn the twin notice rule.
Supreme Court Upholds Ejectment for Lease Violation Despite Late Position Paper
SC rules on unlawful detainer, late position papers under summary procedure, and damages recoverable in ejectment cases.
Demolishing a Leased Property Without Consent: Ejectment and Damages in Philippine Law
A lessee who demolished a leased house without the lessor's consent was validly ejected. Learn the rules on lease violations, damages, and summary procedure.
Murder Conviction Upheld: Treachery, Voluntary Surrender, and Damages Rules Clarified
SC clarifies treachery, voluntary surrender, and damages in murder cases, affirming reclusion perpetua for a bolo attack.
Shared Intent, Shared Liability: Understanding Conspiracy in Philippine Murder Cases
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on murder, treachery, and voluntary surrender shows how intent and circumstance shape criminal liability and damages.
Deceptive Recruitment: When Promises of Overseas Jobs Lead to Criminal Liability
The Supreme Court holds recruitment agencies liable for moral damages when they abandon distressed OFWs and make baseless claims of suicide.
OFW Death Liability: Protecting Overseas Workers and Ensuring Accountability
Supreme Court ruling holds recruitment agencies solidarily liable for OFW deaths, imposing moral and exemplary damages for abandoning workers in distress.
Quasi-Delict Liability in Vehicular Accidents: What the Supreme Court Ruling Means
Learn how the Supreme Court applied quasi-delict rules in a vehicular accident case, clarifying negligence, vicarious liability, and damages.
Proving Conspiracy in Civil Cases: Dutch Boy Philippines v. Seniel
A look at Dutch Boy Philippines v. Seniel on the burden of proving conspiracy in civil cases and the rules on damages awards.
Breach of Contract and Bad Faith: Airlines' Liability for Downgraded Seats
Philippine Airlines held liable for downgrading a passenger's business class seat to economy, with the Supreme Court affirming damages for breach of contract in bad faith.
Forum Shopping in Mortgage Disputes: When Causes of Action Differ
Supreme Court clarifies when simultaneous mortgage foreclosure and damages suits do not constitute forum shopping, explaining the test for identity of causes of action.