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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Appeal Bonds in Labor Cases: Timely Filing Is Key to Perfecting Appeals
Learn why a late or invalid appeal bond fails to perfect an employer's labor appeal, and what this means for employee claims.
Final Judgments and Set-Off Claims: Manila Banking Corp. v. Rabina
Supreme Court ruling on final judgments, set-off claims, and HLURB jurisdiction over subdivision mortgage disputes.
Heirship Rights vs. Execution Sales: Protecting Inherited Property in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court protects heirs' rights when inherited property faces competing claims, and what the Dela Cruz ruling means for Filipino families.
Protecting the Family Home When Courts Must Investigate Exemption Claims
The Supreme Court voids a writ of execution where the trial court ignored claims that the property was an exempt family home.
Fraudulent Inducement and Preliminary Attachment: Protecting Sureties From Unsubstantiated Claims
A bank's general fraud allegations cannot justify preliminary attachment against sureties who did not participate in the loan transaction.
Seafarer Compensation Rights: Work-Related Injury Claims and Pre-Existing Conditions in Philippine Maritime La
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarer compensation for work-related injuries despite pre-existing conditions, and the legal standards for disability claims.
Solidary Liability of Recruitment Agencies: Protecting Overseas Workers' Right to Fair Compensation
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on recruitment agencies' solidary liability for overseas workers' unpaid wages and the prescriptive period for money claims.
Medical Negligence: The Duty to Consider Existing Conditions During Treatment
Philippine Supreme Court rules on seafarer disability claims, company-designated physician assessments, and the duty to consider pre-existing conditions.
Resignation vs Termination: When a Resignation Letter Is Not Enough in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a resignation is not voluntary and how employers must prove it to defeat illegal dismissal claims.
Seafarers Disability Claims: The Binding Authority of Company-Designated Physicians
Learn how Philippine courts weigh company-designated physician assessments against seafarer second opinions in disability claims, and what this means for your case.
Public Office Ethics Improper Firearm Discharge AND Limits OF Misconduct Claims
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on constructive dismissal, retirement age, and limits of employer misconduct claims.
Tax Refund Claims and the Commissioner's Investigative Duty: A Philippine Legal Guide
Learn how Philippine courts handle tax refund claims, the Commissioner's investigative duty, and why substantiating claims with income tax returns is crucial.
Seafarer Disability Claims: When the Company Doctor's Fit-to-Work Assessment Prevails
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarer disability claims: the company-designated physician's fit-to-work certification controls absent a third-doctor review.
Lessor's Lien vs Chattel Mortgage: Rights Over Leased Property After Default
When a lessor takes a tenant's property for unpaid rent and a lender later claims the same items under a chattel mortgage, who wins? The Supreme Court clarifies.
Union Security vs. Employee Rights: Navigating Unfair Labor Practice Claims in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when an employer's compliance with a union security clause is valid and what constitutes unfair labor practice.
Cause of Action Ruling Protects Employee Benefit Claims Despite Procedural Labeling
Supreme Court rules employee benefit claims stand on complaint allegations, not procedural labels, protecting workers' rights to statutory compensation.
Seafarers Disability Defining Permanent Disability Beyond the Company Doctor's Assessment
Supreme Court ruling on seafarer disability claims: the company doctor's assessment is not conclusive, and inability to work for over 120 days may mean permanent disability.
Breach of Contract and Tortious Interference: Proving a Valid Contractual Right
Learn when tortious interference claims fail: a valid contract must exist before third-party interference can be actionable under Philippine law.
Res Judicata Bars Estate's Claim Over Properties Redeemed by Heir
Supreme Court explains when prior final judgments bar new claims over the same properties, applying res judicata to estate disputes.
Possession Disputes HOW Foreclosure Affects Third Party Property Claims
Writ of Possession and Third-Party Claims: When Foreclosure Buyers Get Possession
Learn when a court must issue a writ of possession after foreclosure and how third-party claims affect the process, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Proving Land Ownership: Why Possession Since 1945 Needs More Than Claims
Learn what Philippine courts require to prove land ownership through possession since 1945, from the Arbias v. Republic case.
Adverse Claims and Good Faith: Protecting Prior Rights in Property Sales
When an adverse claim annotated on a title protects a prior buyer against a later attaching creditor, and why good faith matters.
Voluntary Resignation vs Illegal Dismissal: When a Separation Package Waives Claims
Philippine Supreme Court rules on when accepting a separation package during reorganization bars a later illegal dismissal claim.