Canon11.

Alawyershallobserveandmaintaintherespectduetothecourtsandtojudicial
officersandshouldinsistonsimilarconductbyothers.
Rule11.03.Alawyershallabstainfromscandalous,offensiveormenacinglanguageorbehavior
beforetheCourts.
Theuseofabusivelanguagebycounselagainsttheopposingcounselconstitutesatthesame
timeadisrespecttothedignityofthecourtjustice.
Except:stronglanguagetodrivehomeapoint.
Note:TheCourtdoesnotcloseitselftocommentsandcriticismssolongastheyarefairand
dignified.Thecardinalconditionofallsuchcriticismisthatitshallbebonafide,andshallnot
spilloverthewallofdecencyandpropriety.
OnLawyersFreedomofSpeechrestrictedbytheirethicaldutiestogiveduerespecttothe
courtandupholdpublicsfaithtothelegalsystem.
Canon12:Alawyershallexerteveryeffortandconsiderithisdutytoassistinthespeedy
andefficientadministrationofjustice.
Inadequatepreparationofalawyermayresultto:
1. postponementofthecase
2. judgemayconsidertheclientnonsuitedorindefault
3. prejudicialtotheclient
Rule12.02.Alawyershallnotfilemultipleactionsarisingfromthesamecause.
Delayingjusticepunishment:
1. appropriatedisciplinaryaction
2. renderhimliableforthecostsoflitigation.
Thesubmissionofafalsecertificationornoncomplianceinacertificationofnoforum
shopping
(1) Shallconstituteindirectcontemptofcourt
(2) Withoutprejudicetothecorrespondingadministrativeandcriminalactions
Iftheactsofthepartyorhiscounselclearlyconstitutewillfulanddeliberateforum
shopping,thesameshallbe:
(1)
Groundforsummarydismissalwithprejudice;
(2) Andshallconstitutedirectcontempt;
(3) Causeforadministrativesanctions

Thelawyerwhopresentedawitnessknowinghimtobeafalsewitnessiscriminallyliablefor
OfferingFalseTestimonyInEvidence.Thelawyerisbothcriminallyandadministratively
liable.
Alawyershallavoidtestifyinginbehalfofhisclient,except:
(a) onformalmatters,suchasthemailing,authenticationorcustodyofaninstrument
(b) onsubstantialmatters,incaseswherehistestimonyisessentialtotheendsof
justice
Canon13.Alawyershallrelyuponthemeritsofhiscauseandrefrainfromany
improprietywhichtendstoinfluenceorgivestheappearanceofinfluencingthecourt.
NATUREOFATTORNEYCLIENTRELATIONSHIP

(1) StrictlyPersonal
(2) Highlyconfidential
(3) Fiduciary
RequisitesofPrivilegedCommunication
1. Thereisanattorneyclientrelationship
2. Thecommunicationwasmadebytheclienttothelawyerinthecourseofthelawyers
professionalemployment;
3. Thecommunicationmustbeintendedtobeconfidential.
Exceptionstoprivilege
1) Whenalawyerisaccusedbytheclientandheneedstorevealinformationtodefend
himself
2) Whentheclientdisclosestheintentiontocommitacrimeorunlawfulact.(Futurecrime)
Teststodetermineconflictofinterest
(1) Whenthereareconflictingduties
(2) Whentheacceptanceofthenewrelationsinvitesor actuallyleadtounfaithfulnessor
doubledealingtoanotherclient
(3) Whentheattorneywillbecalledupontouseagainsthisfirstclientanyknowledge
acquiredinthepreviousemployment
Article1491isnotapplicable:prohibitionoflawyerstopurchasepropertyinlitigation
(1) Whenattorneyisnotcounselincaseinvolvingthesamepropertyatthetimeof
acquisition.

(2) Whenpurchaserisacorporation,eveniftheattorneywasanofficer
(3) Whensaletookplaceafterterminationoflitigation
(4) Wherepropertyinquestionisstipulatedaspartofattorneysfees,
Retaininglien
Arightmerelytoretainthefunds,documentsandpapersofhisclientwhichhave
lawfullycomeintohispossessionandmayretainthesameuntilhislawfulfeesand
disbursementshavebeenpaid.
Therequisitesforvalidityofaretaininglien.
1. Attorneyclientrelationship
2. Lawfulpossessionbylawyeroftheclientsfunds,documentsandpapersinhis
professionalcapacity
3. Unsatisfiedclaimforattorneysfeesordisbursements
Charginglien
Anequitablerighttohavethefeesandlawfuldisbursementsduealawyerforhis
services,securedtohimoutofamoneyjudgment.
Therequisitesforvalidityofacharginglien.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Attorneyclientrelationship
Attorneyhasrenderedservices
Moneyjudgmentfavorabletotheclienthasbeensecuredintheaction
Attorneyhasaclaimforattorneysfeesoradvancesstatementofhisclaimhasbeenduly
recordedinthecasewithnoticeservedupontheclientandadverseparty

Factorsindetermininghisfees:
1. Timespentandtheextentoftheservicesrendered
2. Importanceofthesubjectmatter
3. Difficultyofthequestionsinvolved;
4. Skilldemanded
5. Probabilityoflosingotheremploymentasaresultofacceptance
6. Professionalstandingofthelawyer
7. Amountinvolvedinthecontroversy
8. CustomarychargesforsimilarservicesandfeesoftheIBPChartertowhichhebelongs
9. Contingencyorcertaintyofcompensation
10. Characteroftheemployment,whetheroccasionalorestablished
11. Capacityoftheclienttopay.
QuantumMeruitisauthorizedinthefollowinginstances

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Thereisnoexpresscontractforattorneysfeesagreedupon
Thestipulatedfeesarefoundunreasonablebythecourt;
Whenthecontractforattorneysfeesisvoidduetodefectsofexecution;
Wasnotabletofinishthecasetoitsconclusion;
Whenlawyerandclientdisregardthecontractofattorneysfees
Whenthereisacontractbutnostipulationofthefees

GuidesinDeterminingAttorneysFeesinQuantumMeruitBasis.
(1) TimespentandExtentoftheServicesRendered
(2)
ImportanceofSubjectMatter
(3) NoveltyandDifficultyofQuestionsInvolved
(4) SkilldemandedoftheLawyer
ChampertousContract
Thelawyerstipulateswithhisclienttheprosecutionofthecasethathewillbearalltheexpenses
fortherecoveryofthingsorpropertybeingclaimed,andthelatterpaysonlyuponsuccessful
litigation.Voidforbeingagainstpublicpolicy.
ContingentContract
Itisanagreementinwhichthelawyersfee,usuallyafixedpercentageofwhatmaybe
recoveredintheaction,ismadetodependuponthesuccessintheefforttoenforceordefendthe
clientsright.Itisavalidagreement.
Judicialactionstorecoverattorneysfees
1. Fileanappropriatepetitionasanincidentinthemainactionwhereherenderedlegal
services;
2. Fileaseparatecivilactionforcollectionofattorneysfees.
Alawyershallnotrevealtheconfidenceorsecretsofhisclientexcept:
(a) Whenauthorizedbytheclientafteracquaintinghimoftheconsequencesofthe
disclosure;
(b)
Whenrequiredbylaw;
(c) Whennecessarytocollecthisfeesortodefendhimself,hisemployeesorassociatesorby
judicialaction.