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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Breach of Contract: When Is a Hotel Liable for Wedding Reception Mishaps
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when hotels face liability for wedding reception mishaps under Philippine contract law.
Currency Exchange Rates in Philippine Contracts: Avoiding Disputes and Ensuring Fair Payment
How Philippine courts determine the applicable exchange rate when contracts lack clear currency terms, and lessons from a Supreme Court ruling.
Upholding Arbitration Separability Doctrine in Contract Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that a party's repudiation of a main contract does not invalidate its arbitration clause, reinforcing the separability doctrine.
Breach OF Construction Contract When CAN YOU Terminate AND What ARE THE Consequences
Employee vs Independent Contractor: Key Factors in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the control test distinguishing employees from independent contractors, using an insurance agent case as guide.
Contract to Sell vs Dacion en Pago: Protecting Subdivision Lot Buyers in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains how PD 957 protects subdivision lot buyers even when a developer transfers the property to a bank through dacion en pago.
Judicial Ethics and Public Trust: When Government Cannot Hide Behind State Immunity
Supreme Court ruling on state immunity, quantum meruit, and why government contractors deserve payment for completed public works.
Option Contract vs. Right of First Refusal: Key Differences Under Philippine Law
Learn the difference between an option contract and a right of first refusal in Philippine real estate, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Tuazon v. Del Rosario-Suarez.
When a Demand Letter Does Not Create a Cause of Action: Lessons from Ilusorio
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a creditor's demand letter constitutes harassment or simply an exercise of contractual rights.
Contractual Obligations Prevail: Upholding the Christmas Bonus in Collective Bargaining Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that employers cannot bypass a valid CBA by negotiating with a splinter union.
Perfected Contract of Sale: Consent and Price Agreement in Elevator Maintenance
When is a contract of sale perfected? The Supreme Court explains consent and price requirements in Hyatt Elevators v. Cathedral Heights.
Seafarers Disability When Standard Contracts Limit Compensation For Illnesses
SC rules basketball injury on board is work-related under the Bunkhouse Rule, entitling seafarer to disability benefits.
Surety Bonds Solidary Liability Despite Contract Rescission
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on surety bonds: rescission of the principal contract does not automatically release the surety from liability.
Piercing THE Corporate Veil When A Surviving Corporation Inherits Contractual Obligations
Change Orders Without Written Consent: Contractual Obligations in Construction Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on change orders, written consent, and contractual obligations in construction disputes under Article 1724.
Compromise Agreements in Labor Cases: Upholding Freedom to Contract and Settling Disputes
The Supreme Court affirms a compromise agreement ending a long-running illegal dismissal case, underscoring the validity of amicable settlements in labor disputes.
Construction Defects Contractors Liability and Owners Rights Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on contractor liability for construction defects, waterproofing failures, and owner rights under construction contracts.
When Outsourcing Obscures Employment: Labor-Only Contracting in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when a contractor is merely a labor-only contractor, making the principal the true employer. Learn the rules.
Bank Not Liable for Employee's Promise to Seller: Relativity of Contracts in Loan Proceeds Release
Supreme Court rules bank not subsidiarily liable for employee's alleged promise to pay seller directly from loan proceeds, citing relativity of contracts.
Bank Liability for Loan Proceeds: Third Party Beneficiaries and Breach of Contract
When is a bank liable to a third party for loan proceeds? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of bank liability and third-party beneficiary claims.
Death Benefits FOR Seafarers Contract Expiration VS Time OF Demise
Breach of Construction Contract: Establishing Liability and Damages in Philippine Law
Learn how Philippine courts determine liability and damages in construction contract breaches, including key rules and practical guidance.
When Intent Trumps Words: Resolving Contractual Ambiguity in Land Disputes
Learn how Philippine courts resolve ambiguous land contracts by examining intent over literal words, with key lessons from a Supreme Court ruling.
Contract to Sell Default: When Sellers Can Cancel and Keep the Property Off the Market
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a buyer's failure to pay installments in a contract to sell justifies cancellation by the seller.