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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Forum Shopping One Bite at the Apple in Philippine Courts
Learn how the Supreme Court barred a co-owner's legal redemption claim for being filed seven years after actual knowledge of the sale, applying laches and the relaxed written notice rule.
Co-Owner Redemption Rights: When Actual Knowledge Overrides Written Notice
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on legal redemption rights of co-owners, actual knowledge vs written notice, and laches in property sales.
Corporate Officer Liability When Signing Loan Documents Leads to Criminal Charges in the Philippines
Learn when signing loan documents as a corporate officer can trigger criminal liability in the Philippines, based on Supreme Court rulings.
Constructive Dismissal: When Employer Actions Create Unbearable Working Conditions
Constructive dismissal happens when an employer makes continued work unbearable, forcing an employee to resign. Learn how Philippine law and the Supreme Court treat it.
Upholding Intellectual Property Rights: The Supreme Court's Stance on Jurisdiction and Special Courts
The Supreme Court affirms RTC jurisdiction over IP violations and the validity of administrative orders designating special intellectual property courts.
Administrative Accountability: When Can You File a Complaint Against a Philippine Court Employee
Learn when a complaint against court personnel prospers or fails, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Mikrostar Industrial Corporation v. Mabalot.
Attorney's Fees and Ethical Obligations in Disputes Over Legal Services
A Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal shows why courts award attorney's fees and how evidence must support claims for legal costs.
Understanding Contempt of Court When Persistence Crosses the Line
When does relentless filing become punishable contempt? The Supreme Court explains the limits of persistence in Alcantara v. Ponce.
Certification of Non-Forum Shopping: Why One Signature May Not Be Enough in Collective Labor Claims
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that in collective claims, a certification against forum shopping signed by only one petitioner is insufficient unless expressly authorized.
Res Ipsa Loquitur: When Negligence Speaks for Itself in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains how the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur allows accident victims to prove negligence through circumstantial evidence.
Tax Refund vs Tax Credit: Understanding the Irrevocability of Choices in Philippine Tax Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a tax refund or tax credit choice becomes irrevocable under the National Internal Revenue Code.
Upholding Ethical Boundaries: Attorney-Client Privilege and Conflict of Interest in Disbarment Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when lawyers may be disciplined for representing conflicting interests, even across different cases and clients.
Religious Freedom and Workplace Rules: The Ramadan Office Hours Ruling for Muslim Employees
The Supreme Court explains when religious accommodation in government workplaces is required by law and when it needs legislation.
Balancing Employer Rights AND Employee DUE Process IN Termination Cases
A supervisor’s dismissal for abuse of authority upheld: the Supreme Court clarifies the twin requirements of valid termination under Philippine labor law.
When Supervisors Abuse Authority: Labor Code Grounds for Valid Dismissal
A supervisor who made subordinates work at his house and lent money at high interest was validly dismissed for breach of trust under Article 282 of the Labor Code.
Breach of Trust and Loss of Confidence as Grounds for Employee Dismissal in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when loss of trust and confidence justifies dismissing a supervisor or managerial employee under the Labor Code.
Navigating Forum Shopping in the Philippines: Avoiding Multiple Lawsuits for the Same Issue
Learn what constitutes forum shopping in the Philippines and how courts determine if multiple lawsuits violate the rule, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Eminent Domain and Injunction: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
Explore how the Supreme Court protected a registered landowner's rights against the government's expropriation claim in Federated Realty v. Republic.
Judicial Accountability: A Judge's Duty to Decide Cases on Time and the Penalty for Delay
Philippine Supreme Court ruling shows judges must decide cases within 90 days or face administrative sanctions, as illustrated by a 2005 case.
Upholding Client Loyalty: Employee Dismissed for Conflict of Interest in Unauthorized Work
Supreme Court affirms dismissal of Maynilad employee who did unauthorized paid repair work for a customer, ruling it was serious misconduct and conflict of interest.
Environmental Law Protecting Watersheds and Enforcing Local Government Authority
Supreme Court ruling on watershed protection, local government authority, and the permanent closure of the San Mateo landfill.
Civil Service Eligibility Requirements for Government Positions in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified civil service eligibility rules for government appointments, using the Nazi v. Calingin case as a guide.
Can a Bank Reverse Its Acknowledgment of Full Payment? Philippine Law Explained
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a bank can correct a mistaken acknowledgment of full loan payment and demand the balance.
Fair Prosecution and Due Process: The Prosecutor's Role in Criminal Trials
When a judge allowed defense witnesses to testify without the prosecutor present, the Supreme Court reminded courts that the State is also entitled to due process.