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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Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Parent Companies Can Be Held Liable for Franchise Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts may disregard corporate fiction and hold companies liable for obligations of related entities.
PCGG v. Sandiganbayan: When Delay and Inaction Create a Cause of Action
A look at the Supreme Court ruling that government inaction on requests can itself create a cause of action, and when foreign court rulings do not bar local suits.
Bail Without Court Order: When a Clerk of Court May Refuse Cash Bond
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a clerk of court may refuse a cash bond and the consequences for lawyers who file baseless administrative complaints.
Bouncing Checks and Hearsay: BP 22 Conviction Upheld Despite Evidentiary Challenges
The Supreme Court explains when hearsay testimony may be admitted in a Bouncing Checks case, and why a BP 22 conviction can stand.
DARAB Jurisdiction Over Emancipation Patent Cancellation Cases Explained
When can DARAB cancel an emancipation patent? The Supreme Court clarifies DARAB's exclusive jurisdiction over agrarian reform land disputes.
Acting Appointments vs Security of Tenure: Clarifying Employment Rights in Philippine Schools
Understand the Supreme Court ruling on acting appointments in schools—when temporary positions do not ripen into permanent tenure.
Reconstitution of Lost Land Titles: Supreme Court Clarifies Evidence Rules in Faustino Co Shu Kiam v. Republic
Supreme Court clarifies evidence requirements for reconstituting lost land titles under Republic Act No. 26, reversing the Court of Appeals.
Judge Dismissed for Gross Immorality: Ethical Standards in the Judiciary
Supreme Court dismisses a judge for an extramarital affair and suspends him from law practice, reaffirming strict ethical standards for the judiciary.
Corporate Veil and Jurisdiction in Ill-Gotten Wealth Cases: UBC v. Sandiganbayan
When a company is merely the res of an ill-gotten wealth case, it need not be impleaded, and the Sandiganbayan retains jurisdiction over it.
Flood Damage Liability: Who Pays When Nature and Development Collide
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on developer liability for flood damage when surrounding developments and government inaction cause the flooding.
Prescription vs Possession: Quieting Title and Indefeasibility in Land Disputes
Explore how prescription, possession, and indefeasibility of title interact in land disputes, and what the Supreme Court ruled on jurisdiction.
Willful Failure to Pay Just Debts: A Court Employee's Suspension and the Standard for Judicial Personnel
A Supreme Court employee's suspension for failing to pay a just debt shows how private conduct can affect public office and judicial integrity.
Ombudsman's Supervisory Power Over Special Prosecutor in Graft Cases
Supreme Court clarifies Ombudsman's authority to reverse Special Prosecutor's dismissal recommendation in public official graft cases.
Dismissal for Failure to File Pre-Trial Brief: The Mandatory Nature of Procedural Rules in Civil Cases
Failure to file a pre-trial brief is a ground for dismissal with prejudice, as the Supreme Court reaffirmed in Vera v. Rigor.
Court Employee Fined P3,000 for Delayed Case Transmittal to Appellate Court
The Supreme Court fined an OIC-Clerk of Court P3,000 for transmitting appeal records 74 days late, reaffirming accountability in the judiciary.
Voluntary Resignation vs Illegal Dismissal: What the Supreme Court Said
When is a resignation voluntary and not forced? The Supreme Court explains the difference in Globe Telecom v. Crisologo.
Rape and Intimidation: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Stepdaughter Abuse Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a stepfather's rape conviction, explaining how intimidation and threats can establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Navigating Corporate Disputes: The Boundaries of Forum Shopping and Litis Pendentia in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when two corporate cases are not forum shopping or litis pendentia, using the Taningco dispute as a guide.
Bail and Conspiracy: Delineating Liability in Plunder Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies how conspiracy affects bail in plunder cases, ruling that an accused is liable only for predicate acts he allegedly committed.
Dishonesty IN Public Service Falsification OF Official Documents Leads TO Dismissal
Amending Complaints: Balancing Procedural Rules and the Pursuit of Justice in the Philippines
Explore how Philippine courts balance strict procedural rules with substantive justice, as shown in Ogalisco v. Holy Trinity College.
Immoral Conduct and Due Process in Termination Cases: Balancing Employer Rights and Employee Protection
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal clarifies labor arbiter jurisdiction, just cause requirements, and due process in termination disputes.
Venue Stipulations When Contractual Agreements Don't Cover ALL Claims
When a contract names an exclusive venue, does it bind claims outside that contract? The Supreme Court explains when it doesn't.
Upholding Property Rights: Finality of Court Decisions and Easement Disputes
A court cannot create a right-of-way through an execution order that contradicts its final and executory decision dismissing the case.