De La Salle University

COLLEGE OF LAW
Rufino Campus, Taguig City

CONFLICTS OF LAW
Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00pm
Class of Banuar Reuben A. Falcon

Textbook: Jorge R. Coquia & Elizabeth Aguiling-Pangalangan, Conflict of Laws (Quezon City:
Central Book Supply, Inc., 2003 reprint)

PART 1: INTRODUCTION

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PART 2: JURISDICTION AND CHOICE OF LAW

IV. Jurisdiction
A. Elements of Jurisdiction
1. Basis of exercise of judicial jurisdiction
a. In personam
b. In rem
c. Quasi in rem proceedings
2. Procedural due process
a. Jurisdiction over the person
b. Jurisdiction over the res
Case: Kawasaki Port Service Corp. v. Amores, G.R. No. 58340, July 16, 1991
3. Competence of the Court
Jurisdiction over the Subject Matter

B. Ways of Dealing with a Conflict of Laws Problem

1. Dismiss the case
Doctrine of forum non conveniens
Cases:
Bank of America v Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 120135, March 31, 2003
Raytheon v. Rouzie, Jr., G.R. No. 162894, February 26, 2008
Saudi Arabian Airlines v. Rebesencio, G.R. No. 198587, January 14, 2015
Philippine National Construction Corp. v. Asiavest Merchant Bankers (M)
Berhad, G.R. No. 172301, August 19, 2015
Continental Micronesia, Inc. v. Basso, G.R. Nos. 178382-83, September 23, 2015
2. Assume jurisdiction
V. Choice of Law
A. The Correlation between Jurisdiction and Choice of Law
B. Approaches to Choice of Law
1. Traditional approaches
2. Modern approaches

VI. The Problem of Characterization

A. Characterization and the Single Aspect Method
1. Subject matter characterization
2. Substance-Procedure characterization
Statute of Frauds
Statute of Limitations and borrowing statutes
Case: LWV Construction v. Dupo, G.R. No. 172342, July 13, 2009
B. Depeçage

VII. The Problem of Revoi

A. Definition
B. Ways of Dealing with Renvoi
C. Usefulness of Renvoi

VIII. Notice and Proof of Foreign Law

A. Extent of Judicial Notice
B. Proof of Foreign Law
Case: Nedlloyd Lijnen B.V. Rotterdam v. Glow Laks Enterprises, Ltd., G.R. No. 156330,
November 19, 2014
C. Exceptions to the Application of Foreign Law
1. The foreign law is contrary to an important public policy of the forum
Case: Del Socorro v. Van Wilsem, G.R. No. 193707, December 10, 2014
2. The foreign law is procedural in nature
3. The issues are related to property
4. The issue involved in the enforcement of a foreign claim is fiscal or administrative
5. The foreign law or judgment is contrary to good morals
6. The foreign law is penal in character
7. The application of the foreign law might endanger vital State interests

[cont.]