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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Docket Fees and Jurisdiction: The David Lu Case on Actions Incapable of Pecuniary Estimation
Learn how the Supreme Court's David Lu ruling clarifies docket fees and jurisdiction for actions incapable of pecuniary estimation in Philippine courts.
Understanding Novation in Philippine Contract Law: When Can Agreements Be Modified
Learn when a new contract can replace an old one under Philippine law, based on a 2011 Supreme Court ruling on novation.
When Words Are Not Libel: Understanding Defamation in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that insulting or offensive words are not automatically libel; defamation requires imputation of a crime, vice, or defect.
Expiration of Lease Agreements: Understanding Ejectment Rights in the Philippines
When a month-to-month lease expires, can a lessor eject the tenant? The Supreme Court explains the rules on ejectment and lease expiration.
Mortgage Priority Good Faith Trumps Subsequent Attachment In Property Disputes
Supreme Court ruling on mortgage priority, good faith, and why unregistered attachments don't defeat prior real estate mortgages.
Contractual Obligations and Attorneys Fees: Liability in Lease Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when attorneys fees are recoverable in lease disputes and how courts determine contractual liability.
Double Sale of Property: Understanding Legal Ownership and Good Faith in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies double sale rules under Article 1544, emphasizing possession in good faith determines ownership when no registration occurs.
Proving Actual Damages: The Standard for Compensation in Philippine Contract Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the strict standard for proving actual damages in contract disputes, requiring clear and convincing documentary evidence.
Foreclosure Sales in the Philippines: The Legal Weight of Notice and Publication
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the requirements for notice and publication in extrajudicial foreclosure sales under Act No. 3135.
Redundancy Dismissal in the Philippines: When Is It Legal? The Culili v. ETPI Case
The Supreme Court explains when redundancy dismissal is valid, what employers must prove, and the cost of missing procedural due process.
The Fresh Period Rule for Appeals in Philippine Criminal Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court applied the fresh period rule to criminal appeals, giving accused persons a full 15 days from denial of post-judgment motions.
Fresh Period Rule in Criminal Appeals: Understanding the Limits of Judicial Overreach
The Supreme Court clarifies that the Neypes fresh period rule applies to criminal appeals, ensuring uniform treatment for accused persons.
The Fresh Period Rule: Reconciling Procedure and Justice in Appeals
The Supreme Court extends the Neypes fresh period rule to criminal appeals, ensuring uniform 15-day appeal periods and protecting the accused's right to appeal.
When Public Use Fails: Reclaiming Expropriated Land in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when former owners can reclaim expropriated property after the public purpose is abandoned.
Forfeiture of Conversion Fees: Understanding Government Contracts and Bidding Rules in the Philippines
When can the government forfeit a bidder's payment? The Supreme Court explains bidding rules, forfeiture clauses, and government contract obligations.
Eyewitness Reliability Scrutinizing Identification in Criminal Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms murder convictions based on a lone eyewitness, clarifying standards for witness credibility and identification in criminal cases.
Plagiarism in Judicial Decisions: What the Del Castillo Resolution Means
The Supreme Court clarifies that plagiarism in judicial decisions requires malicious intent, distinguishing judicial writing from academic standards.
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.
Entrapment and the Chain of Custody: Safeguarding Rights in Drug Cases
A look at how the Supreme Court balances police entrapment operations with the chain of custody rule in drug cases under RA 9165.
Finality of Judgment in Illegal Dismissal Cases: Solidary Liability and Employer-Employee Relationship
Explore the Supreme Court ruling on finality of judgment, solidary liability, and employer-employee relationships in illegal dismissal cases.
Client Responsibility Prevails: The Binding Effect of Counsel's Negligence in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a client is bound by counsel's negligence, and the duty to monitor one's case.
Lateral and Subjacent Support: Excavation Limits for Adjacent Landowners in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the legal easement of lateral and subjacent support between adjacent landowners and its effect on property titles.
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.
Intervention Denied: Protecting Court Efficiency in Property Disputes
Supreme Court clarifies when intervention in property cases is improper, emphasizing court efficiency and the need for direct legal interests.