Decision summaries
What each Supreme Court decision decided, in a sentence or two. Open one and use its Summary tab for the facts, issue and ruling in plain language or lawyer mode. These are study aids, not legal advice. Check the decision itself before you rely on it.
- G.R. 254695Dec 2023Nelfa Delfin Trinidad, Jon Wilfred D. Trinidad and Timothy Mark D. Trinidad v. Salvador G. Trinidad, Wenceslao Roy G. Trinidad, Anna Maria Natividad G. Trinidad-Kump, Gregorio G. Trinidad and Patricia Maria G. TrinidadWhen a father's will gives his first-marriage children only a condominium unit that he did not actually own, they are left with nothing and are preterited, but the will is not thrown out entirely because its other gifts stay valid as long as they do not cut into those children's legitime.
- A.C. 7619Dec 2023Babe Mae Villafuerte v. Atty. Cezar R. TajanlangitA lawyer who borrows money from a client commits unethical conduct and can be suspended, even if the loan was later paid back.
- G.R. 222105Dec 2023Theresa Avelau Isturis-rebuelta v. Peter P. Rebuelta Mark Baltazar Mabasa Vs. Peter P. RebueltaA judge cannot throw out a criminal case for lack of probable cause just because the prosecution has not shown proof good enough to convict, and a private complainant can challenge such a dismissal by certiorari in his own name.
- G.R. 235569Dec 2023South Cotabato Integrated Port Services, Incorporated (Scipsi), and/or Gabriel Munasque as General Manager v. Officer-in-Charge Romeo Montefalco, Jr., and Maria Consuelo S. Bacay in Their Capacities as Oic of Bureau of Labor Relations, Med Arbiter Jasmine M. Demetillo and Makar Port Labor Organization, Represented by Its President, Mario C. MarigonWhen an employer withholds union dues it collected under a check-off provision, that is an unfair labor practice to be heard by a Labor Arbiter, not a Med-Arbiter.
- DecisionDec 2023G.r. No. 217411* Philippine Bank of Communications, Petitioner, Vs. Ria de Guzman Rivera, Respondent.A bank cannot enforce a late stop payment order and take back money it already credited to a depositor from an ON-US check, and doing so makes the bank liable for damages.
- G.R. 195636Nov 2023Spouses Dante Sj. Manzana and Sonia R. Manzana v. Republic of the PhilippinesA new law shortened the possession needed to register public land, so the Supreme Court sent this land registration case back to the trial court to apply the 20-year rule.
- G.R. 223270Nov 2023Lacoste S.a. v. Crocodile International Pte LtdLacoste's crocodile logo and Crocodile International's crocodile-and-word logo are different enough that the Supreme Court allowed Crocodile's trademark to be registered.
- G.R. 229190Nov 2023Manuel G. Suniga, Jr. and Anastacia D. Suniga v. Rolando Molina, Ma. Ritchialyn Leodones, Leonardo de Guzman, and Froilan AlejandriaA criminal case for large scale illegal recruitment must be dismissed when the government takes more than twelve years to file it after the complaints, violating the accused's right to a speedy disposition of their case.
- G.R. 259832Nov 2023Rodco Consultancy and Maritime Services Corporation Herein Represented by Froilan G. Clemente, Jr. v. Floserfino G. Ross and Antonia T. RossA company that funds a seafarer's claim in exchange for a share of the proceeds, with no fixed amount, makes a void champertous agreement and cannot collect on it.
- G.R. 265272Nov 2023People of Philippines v. ZzzA child victim's clear and consistent testimony, backed by other evidence, can convict a father of raping and sexually abusing his daughter, and small differences between her affidavit and her court testimony do not make her unbelievable.
- G.R. 254248Nov 2023Virgilio a. Taok v. Supremido Conde and Raul CondeA buyer who does not pay the price of land for over two years commits a serious breach, and a claim of a verbal change to a written deal cannot be used unless it is properly raised in the pleadings.
- G.R. 252186Nov 2023Auxilia, Inc. v. Nelyn Carpio MesinaA company cannot call a worker a corporate officer, and so avoid the labor courts, unless it proves she was actually elected to an office created by the law or its by-laws.
- G.R. 227932Nov 2023Mindanao II Geothermal Partnership v. Commissioner of Internal RevenueA dissolving partnership that has stopped operating can claim a refund of excess withheld income tax without first filing a short period tax return or getting a tax clearance.
- G.R. 257235Nov 2023Urduja Ortiz-Aquino v. Letecia* Ortillo, Lisette Ortillo, and Sheriff of the Office of the Provincial Sheriff of Lingayen, PangasinanA family home cannot be built on land owned by someone else, and the family home exemption protects only against sale to pay money debts, not against a final order to give back possession of land.
- G.R. 253355Nov 2023Davidson Go v. Spouses Henry and Janet KoPeople who bought a property but have not yet put the title in their name can still redeem it after a tax auction by paying within one year, even without showing proof of ownership to the treasurer.
- G.R. 242489Nov 2023Asian Transmission Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Commissioner of Internal Revenue Vs. Asian Transmission CorporationWhen the tax bureau cannot identify which employees received unreported pay, it must use the company's effective tax rate rather than the top 32% rate, and a compromise penalty cannot be imposed on a taxpayer who never agreed to one.
- G.R. 256393Nov 2023Nueva Ecija II Electric Coop., Inc. (Neeco Area II), Represented by Its General Manager, Ramon M. de Vera v. Wilfredo S. PalmaA regular court cannot stop a labor arbiter's levy on property through a petition for declaratory relief; the property buyer must file a third-party claim with the labor arbiter.
- A.C. 11428Nov 2023Maria Brozas-Garri,* v. Atty. Lorenzo a. ReagoA lawyer who notarizes a document without the signer being present, especially one bearing a forged signature, can be suspended and barred from being a notary public.
- G.R. 259877Nov 2023Arturo Peralta y Villanueva v. People of the PhilippinesA court sheriff who demands money from a person before returning his car, as a condition of carrying out a court order, commits robbery by intimidation.
- G.R. 259868Nov 2023Manis Shipping Pte. Ltd. v. Century Peak CorporationA foreign company that wants Philippine courts to enforce an arbitral award must attach an authentic or original copy of the arbitration agreement and the award, and without them the court has no power to act on the petition.