BASIC LEGAL ETHICS CASES:

Jayme v. Bualan, GR No. 37386, September 19, 1933

Facts of the case:

-Bagobo Bualan and companion hired Attorneys Juan A. Sarenas and Domingo
Braganza to represent them in a case against Ciriaco Lizado for the possession of land.
-The attorneys however appeared to have taken control of the land presumably to
protect their attorney’s fees.
-Because of such, Bagobo Bualan hired another attorney in the person of Attorney
Andres Jayme to recover the possession of land from the two former attorneys.
-Attorney Jayme was able to successfully recover the land of Bualan. That land was
approximately worth one hundred thousand pesos to the Bagobos.
-Atty Jayme wanted to be paid more apart from the P7,020 that was already paid to him
by the Bagobos.
Issue:
Whether or not it is appropriate that the Bagobos to pay complainant for more.
Held:
The elements to be considered in fixing a reasonable compensation for the services
rendered by a lawyer are generally: (1) The importance of the subject matter of the
controversy, (2) the extent of the services rendered, and (3) the professional standing of
the lawyer. (Code of Civil Procedure, sec. 29; Code of Legal Ethics, Canon No. 12)
In fixing fees, it should never be forgotten that the legal profession is a branch of the
administration of justice and not a mere money-making trade. (Code of Legal Ethics,
Canon No. 12.)
In consonance with the forgoing, the Supreme Court held that Bagobos should not be
made to pay anything more.