Friday, December 2, 2011

Retaining Lien

An attorney's retaining lien is fully recognized if the presence of the following elements concur: (1) lawyer-client relationship; (2) lawful possession of the client's funds, documents and papers; and (3) unsatisfied claim for attorney's fees (Valentin C. Miranda Vs. Atty. Macario D. Carpio, A.C. No. 6281. September 21, 2011).

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Carnapping

The elements of carnapping as defined and penalized under the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972 are the following:

1. That there is an actual taking of the vehicle;

2. That the vehicle belongs to a person other than the offender himself;

3. That the taking is without the consent of the owner thereof; or that the taking was committed by means of violence against or intimidation of persons, or by using force upon things; and

4. That the offender intends to gain from the taking of the vehicle (People of the Philippines Vs. Renato Lagat y Gawan, a.k.a. Renat Gawan and James Palalay y Villarosa, G.R. No. 187044. September 14, 2011).

Accretion

We have held that for Article 457 to apply the following requisites must concur: (1) that the deposit be gradual and imperceptible; (2) that it be made through the effects of the current of the water; and (3) that the land where accretion takes place is adjacent to the banks of rivers (Jose Fernando, Jr. et al. Vs. Leon Acuña, et al., G.R. No. 161030. September 14, 2011).

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Bigamy

1. That the offender has been legally married.

2. That the marriage has not been legally dissolved or, in case his or her spouse is absent, the absent spouse could not yet be presumed dead according to the Civil Code.

3. That he contracts a second or subsequent marriage.

4. That the second or subsequent marriage has all the essential requisites for validity (Atilano O. Nollora, Jr. Vs. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 191425. September 7, 2011).

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention

The crime has the following elements: (1) the offender is a private individual; (2) he kidnaps or detains another, or in any manner deprives the latter of his liberty; (3) the act of detention or kidnapping is illegal; and (4) in the commission of the offense, any of the following circumstances is present: (a) the kidnapping or detention lasts for more than three days; (b) it is committed by simulating public authority; (c) any serious physical injuries are inflicted upon the person kidnapped or detained or threats to kill him are made; or (d) the person kidnapped or detained is a minor, female or a public official (People v. Jacalne, G.R. No.168552, October 3, 2011).