General Jurisdiction & CivPro Flashcards
(406 cards)
What is an exception to Rule 45 of the Rules of Court that only questions of law may be raised in a petition for review on certiorari as the Court is not a trier of facts?
The issue of the existence of relationship, whether that of an employer-employee or a partnership, is ultimately a question of fact.
However, by way of exception, when there is a conflict among the factual findings of the LA and the CA as opposed to that of the NLRC, it is proper, in the exercise of the Court’s equity jurisdiction, to review and re-evaluate the factual issues and to look into the records of the case and re-examine the questioned findings.
What is Rule 45 of the Rules of Court ?
It circumscribes that only questions of law may be raised in a petition for review on certiorari as the Court is not a trier of facts.
Non-payment of Docket fees
Is the failure to pay the appellate court docket fees within the reglementary period warrants dismissal of the appeal?
No.
the failure to pay the appellate court docket fees within the reglementary period warrants only a DISCRETIONARY DISMISSAL of the appeal AND NOT AUTOMATIC DISMISSAL. Furthermore, the Court shall exercise its power to dismiss in accordance with justice and fair play and with great consideration of all circumstances.
Ligaya vs Court of Appeals
What is the doctrine of Res Judicata?
The doctrine of Res Juricata requires that stability be accorded to judgments lest there would be endless controversies.
The relitigation of issues already settled burdens the courts and the taxpayers, creates uneasiness and confusion and waste valuable time and energy that could be devoted to worthier causes.
Differentiate Substantive Law vs. Adjective Law
Substantive law is that part of the law which
creates, defines and regulates rights, or which
give rise to a cause of action; as opposed to
adjective or remedial law, which prescribes the
method of enforcing rights or obtains redress for
their invasion. (Bustos v. Lucero, G.R. No. L2068)
What is the Rule-Making Power of the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court has the power to promulgate
rules concerning the protection and
enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts, the
admission to the practice of law, the Integrated
Bar, and legal assistance to the underprivileged.
The Supreme Court has the sole prerogative to
amend, repeal, or even establish (ARE) new
rules for a more simplified and inexpensive
process, and the speedy disposition of cases.
(Neypes v. CA, G.R. No. 141524)
What are there Limitations on the Rule-Making Power of the Supreme Court?
Sim In Sp Un
Rules shal not DIM substantive rights.
Such rules shall provide a simplified and inexpensive procedure for the speedy
disposition of cases, shall be uniform for all courts of the same grade, and shall not diminish, increase, or modify substantive rights.
What is Doctrine of Hierarchy of Courts?
The doctrine of hierarchy of courts requires
that recourse must first be obtained from lower
courts sharing concurrent jurisdiction with a higher court. This is to ensure that the Supreme Court remains a court of last resort as to satisfactorily perform the functions assigned to it by the fundamental charter and immemorial tradition. (Provincial Bus Operators Association
of the Philippines v. DOLE, 836 Phil. 205, 2018
Are there exception to the doctrine of hierarchy of Courts?
XPN:
The Supreme Court may disregard
hierarchy of courts if warranted by the following, which are allegations of “serious and important reasons”.
Gen-Trans-1st-Bet-Rev-No PSA-PuWe
What is the rationale of the Hierarchy of Court?
To prevent BOD
- Inordinate demands upon the Court’s time
and attention which are better devoted to those
matters within its exclusive jurisdiction; - Further over-crowding of the Court’s docket;
and - Inevitable and resultant delay, intended or
otherwise, in the adjudication of cases, which in some instances had to be remanded or referred to the lower court as the proper forum under the rules of procedure, or as better equipped to
resolve the issues because this Court is not a trier
of facts (✮ Knutson v. Sarmient-flores [ G.R. No.
239215, 2022, as penned by J. MV Lopez).
What is the Doctrine of Non-Interference and Judicial Stability?
No court can interfere by injunction with the
judgments or orders of another court of
concurrent jurisdiction having the power to
grant the relief sought by the injunction.
: a court that acquires
jurisdiction over the case and renders judgment
therein has jurisdiction over its judgment, to the
exclusion of all other coordinate courts, for its
execution and over all its incidents, and to control, in furtherance of justice, the conduct of ministerial officers acting in connection with this
judgment. (Mañalac v. Hon. Gellada, AM No.
RTJ-18-2535, 2018)
What is the nature of Suppletory Application of the Rules of Court in Administrative
Bodies?
The provisions of the Rules of Court may be
applied suppletorily to the rules of procedure of
administrative bodies exercising quasi-judicial
powers, UNLESS otherwise provided by law or the
rules of procedure of the administrative agency
concerned.
How are the Rules of Court construed?
Ju Sp In
The Rules of Court shall be liberally construed in
order to promote their objective of securing a
just, speedy and inexpensive disposition of every action and proceeding.
Aspects of Jurisdiction
What is Jurisdiction Over the Subject Matter?
Jurisdiction over the subject matter is the power to hear and determine the general class to which the proceedings in question belong; it is conferred by law and not by the consent or acquiescence of any or all of the parties or by
erroneous belief of the court that it exists. Thus,
when a court has no jurisdiction over the subject matter, the only power it has is to dismiss the action. (Bilag v. Ay-ay, G.R. No. 189950, 2017)
What is the nature of a Motion to dismiss as a prohibited motion;
exception?
As a general rule, a motion to dismiss is a prohibited motion under Sec. 12, Rule 15 of the amended Rules.
One of the exceptions provided is the ground of lack of jurisdiction over the
subject matter of the claim.
Lack of jurisdiction
over the subject matter is also an affirmative
defense which can be raised in a defendant’s
answer (Sec. 12(d), Rule 8 in rel. to Sec. 5(b), Rule
6)
How is Jurisdiction over the subject matter determined?
Basic as a hornbook principle is that jurisdiction
over the subject matter of a case is determined
by the ALLEGATIONS in the complaint which
comprise a concise statement of the ultimate
facts constituting the plaintiff’s cause of action.
What it meant by ”Jurisdiction is conferred by law”?
It CANNOT be:
a. Conferred by voluntary act or agreement of
the parties,
b. Acquired, waived, enlarged, or diminished by
any act or omission of the parties, or
c. Conferred by the acquiescence of the courts,
d. Conferred by administrative policy of any court, or
e. Conferred by a court’s unilateral assumption
of jurisdiction.
The nature of an action, as well as which court or
body has jurisdiction over it, is determined based
on the allegations contained in the complaint of the plaintiff, irrespective of whether or not the
plaintiff is entitled to recover upon all or some
of the claims asserted therein.
The allegations in the body of the complaint
define the cause of action. The caption or title of
the cause of action is not controlling (Dela Cruz
over the subject matter of a case is determined
by the allegations in the complaint which
comprise a concise statement of the ultimate
facts constituting the plaintiff’s cause of
It cannot be:
a. Conferred by voluntary act or agreement of
the parties,
b. Acquired, waived, enlarged, or diminished by
any act or omission of the parties, or
c. Conferred by the acquiescence of the courts,
d. Conferred by administrative policy of any
court, or
e. Conferred by a court’s unilateral assumption
of jurisdiction.
The nature of an action, as well as which court or
body has jurisdiction over it, is determined based
on the allegations contained in the complaint of
the plaintiff, irrespective of whether or not the
plaintiff is entitled to recover upon all or some
of the claims asserted therein. The averments in
the complaint and the character of the relief
sought are the ones to be consulted. Once
vested by the allegations in the complaint,
jurisdiction also remains vested irrespective of
whether or not the plaintiff is entitled to recover
upon all or some of the claims asserted therein.
(Padlan v. Dinglasan, G.R. No. 180321, 2013)
The allegations in the body of the complaint
define the cause of action. The caption or title of
the cause of action is not controlling (Dela Cruz
v. CA, G.R. No. 13944, 2006)
What is the rule on Estoppel in raising Lack of Jurisdiction?
GR: Lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter
may be raised at ANY STAGE of the proceedings,
even for the first time on appeal (Asiatrust
Development Bank v. First Aikka Development,
Inc., G.R. No. 179558, 2011
XPN: Tijam v. Sibonghanoy (G.R. No. L-21450
(1968) laid the doctrine of estoppel by laches,
where the SC ruled that a party may be barred
from questioning a court’s jurisdiction after
invoking the court’s authority in order to secure
affirmative relief against its opponent, when
laches would prevent the issue of lack of
jurisdiction from being raised for the first time
on appeal by a litigant whose purpose is to annul
everything done in a trial in which it has actively
participated.
In Tijam v. Sibonghanoy, the matter had been
unresolved for 15 years, and the defendant appellant only brought up the issue of
jurisdiction after the Court issued an unfavorable
decision.
As such, Tijam v. Sibonghanoy must be construed as an exception to the general rule and applied only IN MOST EXCEPTIONAL CASES cases where the factual milieu is similar to that in the said case (Figueroa v. People, G.R. No. 147406, 2008).
What is Jurisdiction over the parties?
Jurisdiction over the parties is the power of the
court to make decisions that are binding on the
parties. (People’s General Insurance Corp. v.
Guansing, G.R. No. 204759, 2018)
Jurisdiction over the parties is an element of due process that is essential in all actions, civil or criminal, except in actions in rem or quasi in rem
(Guy v. Gacott, G.R. No. 206147, 2016).
How is jurisdiction over the PLAINTIFF is acquired in Civil and Criminal Cases?
in CIvil Case:
Upon filing of the
complaint/petition
and timely payment
of the correct docket
fees.
Payment in full of
docket fees within the
prescribed period is
not only mandatory,
but also jurisdictional. It is an essential requirement, without which, the decision
appealed from would
become final and
executory as if no
appeal has been filed.
(St. Louis University
vs. Cobarrubias, G.R.
No. 187104, 2010).
In Criminal:
It does not have to
acquire jurisdiction
over the plaintiff
because it is the
same party (People
of the Philippines)
How is jurisdiction over the DEFENDANT is acquired in Civil and Criminal Cases?
CIVIL:
1. By his voluntary
appearance in court
and his submission to
its authority, or (VA)
2. By service of
summons. (SOS)
(Sec. 23, Rule 14;
Macasaet v. Co, G.R.
No. 156759, 2013).
CRIMINAL:
The court acquires
jurisdiction over the
person of the
accused upon:
1.Lawful arrest or
2.Voluntary
surrender. (Rule 113)
How is jurisdiction acquired in Special Proceeding Cases?
The court acquires jurisdiction over the case and over the petitioner upon publication. The
requirement of SPECIAL SERVICES in a special
proceeding is NOT generally jurisdictional, as a general rule, they are only in compliance with
the due process clause of the Constitution.
What is Jurisdiction over the issue?
Jurisdiction over the issue is the power of the
court to try and decide the issues RAISED in PLEADINGS of the parties.
(Bernabe v. Vergara,
G.R. No. 48652. 1942)
Jurisdiction over the issues may be conferred by
either the express or implied consent of the
parties. (Rule 17, sec. 4, Rules of Court)
How is Jurisdiction over the issues is determined in Civil and Criminal Case?
Civil:
Jurisdiction over the
issues is determined
by the ALLEGATIONS in
the pleading. Thus, if
not alleged in the
pleadings, the court
does not acquire
jurisdiction.
Criminal:
Jurisdiction over the
issues is acquired
upon arraignment
(Rule 116)