CONFLICT OF LAWS

Reference: Conflict of Laws, Coquia and Pangalangan, 2nd Ed., (2000)

Course Outline

Part 1: Course Overview and Introduction to Conflict of Laws

Hilton v Guyot 159 US 113 (1985)

Part 2: Definition

Part 3: Jurisdiction

Part 4: Characterization

Part 5: Choice of Law

Part 6: Personal Law

Part 7: Foreign Law

Part 8: Foreign Judgments

Part 1: Course Overview and Introduction to Conflict of Laws

Part 2: Definition

A. Definition

B. Distinction between Conflict of Laws and Public International Law

C. Scope

D. Sources

Part 3: Jurisdiction

A. Jurisdiction Over the Person

William Gemperle v Helen Schenker 19 SCRA 45 (1967)

B. Jurisdiction Over the Property

Pennoyer v Neff 95 US 714 (1878)

International Shoe Co. V Washington 326 US 310 (1945)

Mullane v Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co. 399 US 306 (1950)

Shaffer v Heitner 433 US 186 (1977)

C. Jurisdiction Over the Subject Matter

Idonah Perkins v Roxas 72 Phil 514 (1941)

D. Doctrine of forum non conveniens

Heine v New York Insurance Co. 45 F2d 426

In re: Union Carbide 634 F. Supp 842 (S.D.N.Y. 1986)

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 Wing On Company v Syyap 64 OG 8311

Fleumer v Hix 54 Phil 610 (1930)

Philippine Trust co. V Bohanan 106 Phil. 997 (1960)

Part 4: Characterization

A. Single Aspect Method

1. Subject Matter Characterization

Gibbs v Govt. of P.I. 59 Phil 293 (1993)

2. Substance v. Procedure Characterization

Grant v McAuliffe (1953)

Cadalin v POEA Administrator (1994)

B. Multi-Aspect Method: Dépeçage

Haumschild v Continental Casualty (1959)

Part 5: Choice of Law

A. Approaches

1. Traditional Approach

Gray v Gray 87 NH 82, 174 AH 508 (1934)

Alabama Great Southern RR Co. V Carroll, SC of Alabama 97 Ala.

126, 11 So. 803

2. Modern Approaches

a. Place of the Most Significant Relationship/Center of Gravity

Auten v Auten 308 NY 155, 124 NE 2d 99 (1954)

Haag v Barnes (1961)

b. Interest Analysis

Babcock v Jackson (1963)

c. Comparative Impairment

d. Functional Analysis

e. Choice Influencing Considerations

B. Limits

C. Renvoi

Aznar v Garcia 7 SCRA 95 (1963)

Annesley, Davidson v Annesley 95 LJ Ch. 404 (1926)

2
 University of Chicago v Dater (1936)

PFAU v Trent Aluminum Co. 55 NJ 511 (1970)

Bellis v Bellis 20 SCRA 359 (1968)

D. Application of Domestic or Internal Law

E. Application of Foreign Law

1. Theory of Comity

2. Vested-Rights Theory

3. Theory of Local Law

4. Theory of Harmony of Laws

5. Theory of Justice

F. Exceptions to Application of Foreign Law

Part 6: Personal Law

A. Citizenship

1. Natural-Born Citizens

Talaroc v Uy 92 Phil. 52 (1952)

Co v Electoral Tribunal of the HOR 199 SCRA 692 (1991)

2. Naturalized Citizens

Yu Kian Chie v Republic 13 SCRA 282 (1965)

Vivo v Cloribel 25 SCRA 616 (1968)

Moy Ya Lim Yao v Commissioner of Immigration 41 SCRA 292 (1971)

3. Loss of Philippine Citizenship

Frivaldo v COMELEC 174 SCRA 245 (1989)

Frivaldo v COMELEC 257 SCRA 727(1996)

Labo, Jr. v COMELEC 176 SCRA 1 (1989)

4. Repatriation

Aznar v COMELEC 185 SCRA 703 (1990)

Republic v Li Yao 214 SCRA 748 (1992)

5. Dual or Multiple Citizenship

Nottebohm Case, Liechtenstein v Guatemala 155 ICJ Rep 4 (1955)

Oh Hek How v Republic 29 SCRA (1969)

6. Statelessness

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 Kookooritchkin v Solicitor General 81 Phil 435 (1948)

B. Domicile

Caasi vs. CA 191 SCRA 229 (1990)

Uytengsu vs. Republic 95 Phil 890 (1954)
Romualdez-Marcos vs. COMELEC 248 SCRA 300 (1995)
Ujano vs. Republic 17 SCRA 147 (1966)
In re Dorrance’s Estate 39 Pa. 303 (1932)
Velilla vs. Posadas 62 Phil 624 (1935)
White vs. Tennant 8 SE 596 (1888)
Caraballo vs. Republic 4 SCRA 1055 (1962)
Go Chen and Go Lek vs. Collector of Customs 56 Phil 550 (1932)
De La Vina vs. Villareal and Geopano 41 Phil 13 (1920)

C. Personality

Recto v Hardens 100 Phil 427 (1959)

Barnuevo v Fuster 29 Phil 606 (1913)

D. Age of Majority

Insular Government v Frank 13 Phil 236 (1909)

E. Absence

F. Name

Part 7. Choice of Law in Family Relations

1. Extrinsic Validity

Adong v. Cheong Seng Gee 43 Phil 43 (1992)

People v. Mora Dumpo 62 Phil 146 (1935)
Wong Woo Yu v. Vivo 13 SCRA 552 (1965)
Apt v. Apt (1947)

2. Intrinsic Validity

Sottomayor v. de Barros (1877)

In re May’s Estate 185 NYS 284 (1920)

3. Personal Relations

4. Divorce

Tenchavez v. Escaño 15 SCRA 335 (1965)

Van Dorn v. Romillo 139 SCRA 139 (1985)
Pilapil v. Ibay Somera 174 SCRA 653 (1989)

Quita v. Court of Appeals 300 SCRA 406 (1998)

Republic v Manalo G.R. No. 221029 (2018)

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 5. Parental Relations

6. Adoption

Read: Domestic Adoption Act

Inter-Country Adoption

Republic of the Philippines v. CA 227 SCRA 401 (1993)

Uggi Lindamand Therkelsen v. Republic 12 SCRA 400
(1964)
Ng Hian v. Collector of Customs 34 Phil 248 (1916)

Park v Judge Liwanag G.R. No. 248035 (2019)

Part 8. Choice of Law in Property

1. Nature of the property

2. Capacity to transfer and acquire property

3. Lex Situs Rule

Llantino v. Co Liong Chong 188 SCRA 592 (1990)

Cheesman v. Intermediate Appellate Court 193 SCRA 93 (1991)

Liljedahl v. Glasgow 190 Iowa 827 NW 870 (1921)

Asiatic Petrolium v. Co Quico 69 Phil. 433 (1940)

Harris v. Falk (1905)
Collector of Internal Revenue v. Anglo California National Bank 106
Phil. 903 (1960)
Philips Exports B.V. v. Court of Appeals 206 SCRA 457 (1992)
Emerald Garment Manufacturing Corporation v. Court of Appeals 206
SCRA 457 (1992)

Part 9. Choice of Law in Contracts

1. Extrinsic Validity

2. Intrinsic Validity

a. lex loci contractus

b. lex loci solutionis

Macmillan and Bloedel v. TH Valderama and Sons 61 OG

1696 (1964)

c. lex loci intentionis

3. Capacity to enter into contracts

4. Choice of Forum Clause

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 Compagnie de Commercr v. Hamburg Amerika 36 Phil 590 (1917)
King Mau v. Sycip 94 Phil 784 (1954)
Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporatuon v. Sherman 176 SCRA
331 (1980)

5. Arbitration Clause

Puromines, Inc. v. Court of Appeals 220 SCRA 281 (1993)

The Bremen, et al. v. Zapata Off-shore Company 407 US 1 (1972)

Korea Technologies v Lerma G.R. No. 143581 (2008)

Mabuhay v Sembcorp G.R. 212734 (2018)

6. Contracts of Adhesion

Pan Am World Airways v. Rapadas 209 SCRA 67 (1992)

Philippine Airlines v. Court of Appeals 255 SCRA 48 (1996)

7. Contracts of Carriage

American President Lines, Ltd. v. Klepper 110 Phil 243 (1960)

Lopez v. Pan Am 16 SCRA 431 (1965)
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines v. Court of Appeals 65 SCRA 237 (1975)
Santos III v. Northwest Orient Airlines 210 SCRA 256 (1992)

Part 10. Choice of Law in Succession

1. Extrinsic Validity

In re Estate of Johnson 39 Phil 156 (1918)

Babcock Templeton v. Rider Babcock 52 Phil 130 (1928)

2. Intrinsic Validity

Cayetano v. Leonidas 129 SCRA 522 (1984)

3. Interpretation of wills

4. Revocation

5. Probate

Suntay v. Suntay 95 Phil 500 (1954)

Vda. De Perez v. Tolete 232 SCRA 722 (1994)

6. Administration of Estates

Tayag v. Benguet Consolidated Inc. 26 SCRA 242 (1968)

Part 11. Choice of Law in Torts

1. Lex loci delicti commissi

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 Loucks v. Standard Oil Co. 224 NY 99 (1913)

2. Most Significant Relationship Theory

Saudi Arabian Airlines v. CA 297 SCRA 469 (1998)

3. Interest Analysis

4. Cavers’ Principle of Preference

Schmidt v. Driscoll Hotel 249 Minn. 376 (1957)

5. Foreign Tort Claims

Asahi Metal Industry v. Superior Court of California 480 US 102

(1987)

Worldwide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson 444 US 286 (1980)

Hilao v. Estate of Ferdinand Marcos (1996)

Filartiga v. Pena-Irala 639 Fed 2d 876 (1980)

Guinto v Marcos 654 F. Supp. 276 (SC Cal 1986)

Time, Inc. v. Reyes 39 SCRA 303 (1971)

Part 12. Choice of Law in Crimes

1. Lex loci delicti

Liang (Huefeng) v. People GR No. 125865 (2000)

2. Exceptions to Territorial Rule

a. State immunity

b. Foreign vessel – Article 27 UNCLOS

c. National interest – Article 2 Revised Penal Code

US v. Fowler 1 Phil 614

People v. Wong Cheng 46 Phil 729 (1922)

US v. Look Chaw 18 Phil 573 (1910)

Part 13. Choice of Law for Corporations

1. Incorporation Test

ME Gray vs. Insular Lumber Co. 67 Phil 139 (1939)

Bank of Augusta vs. Earle 38 US (13 Pet) 519 (1839)

2. Exceptions to Incorporation Test

Pedro Palting vs. San Jose Petroleum 18 SCRA 924 (1966)

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 Filipinas Compania de Seguros vs. Christern, Huenfeld, Co.,
Inc. 89 Phil. 54 (1951)

State Investment House vs. Citibank 203 SCRA 9 (1991)

3. Domicile of Foreign Corporations

Home Insurance Co. vs. Eastern Shipping Lines 123 SCRA 424
(1983)

Atlantic Mutual Insurance vs. Cebu Stevedoring 17 SCRA

1037 (1966)

Eastboard Navigation vs. Ysmael & Co. 102 Phil 1 (1957)

Leviton Industries vs. Salvador 114 SCRA 420 (1982)

Hang Lung Bank vs. Saulog 201 SCRA 137 (1991)

Phil. Columbia Enterprises vs. Lantin 39 SCRA 376 (1971)

Wang Laboratories vs. Mendoza 156 SCRA 44 (1987)

CIR vs. Japan Air Lines 202 SCRA 450

Merrill Lynch Futures vs CA 211 SCRA 824 (1992)

Granger vs. Microwave Systems 189 SCRA 631 (1990)

Part 14: Foreign Law

A. Proof of Foreign Law

PCIB v Escolin 56 SCRA 266 (1974)

I In re: Estate of Johnson 39 Phil. 156 (1918)

B. Processual Presumption of Law

Walton v Arabian American Oil Co. 233 F. 2nd F4 (1956)

Leary v Gledhill (1951)

Zalamea v CA 228 SCRA 27 (1993)

Miciano v Brimo 50 Phil. 867 (1924)

Suntay v Suntay 95 Phil 500 (1952)

CIR v Fisher 1 SCRA 93 (1961)

Board of Commissioners (CID) v Dela Rosa 197 SCRA 858 (1991)

Pakistan International Airlines Corp. V Ople 190 SCRA 90 (1990)

Part 15. Foreign Judgment

A. Requisites for Recognition or Enforcement of Foreign Judgment

Godard v Gray LR 6 QB 139 (1870)

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 Northwest Orient Airlines, Inc. v CA 241 SCRA 192 (1995)
Boudaed v Tait 67 Phil 170 (1939)
Ramirez v Gmur 42 Phil 855 (1918)
Borthwick v Castro 152 SCRA 229 (1987)
Nouvion v Freeman 59 LJ Ch 337 (1889)
Cowans, et al. V Teconderoga Pulp 219 NYS 284
(1927)
Querubin v Querubin 87 Phil 124 (1950)

B. Procedure for Enforcement

Ingenohl v Olsen & Co. 273 US 541
C. Grounds for Non-Recognition