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DOLORES D. PARIÑAS v. ATTY. OSCAR P. PAGUINTO

This case has been cited 5 times or more.

	AC. NO. 2591 2006-09-08	LETICIA ADRIMISIN v. ATTY. ROLANDO S. JAVIER CARPIO, J.
Complainant demanded for the return of the P500 but respondent kept on insisting that complainant seek refund from Alberto. Respondent has the duty to account for the money entrusted to him by complainant. In Pariñas v. Paguinto,[25] we held that "a lawyer shall account for all money or property collected from the client. Money entrusted to a lawyer for a specific purpose, such as for filing fee, but not used for failure to file the case must immediately be returned to the client on demand." In the present case, money for the payment of the bond's premium was not used for the purpose intended. Hence, respondent must return the amount to complainant upon demand.
	AC. NO. 5542 2006-07-20	DAYAN STA. ANA CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION v. ATTY. NAPOLEON A. ESPIRITU CALLEJO, SR., J.
Rule 16.01 of Canon 16 of the Code of Professional Responsibility provides that a lawyer shall account for all money or property collected or received for or from his client. A lawyer should be scrupulously careful in handling money entrusted to him in his professional capacity, because a high degree of fidelity and good faith on his part is exacted.[14] In Pariñas v. Paguinto,[15] the Court had the occasion to state that "money entrusted to a lawyer for a specific purpose, such as for filing fee, but not used for failure to file the case must immediately be returned to the client on demand."[16] Indeed, a lawyer has no right to unilaterally appropriate his or her client's money.[17]
	AC. NO. 4285 2006-05-02	FLORENCIA M. SOMOSOT v. ATTY. ELIAS A. PONTEVEDRA QUISUMBING, J.
We remind respondent that by taking a client's cause, he covenants that he will exert all effort for its prosecution until its final resolution.[14] As we held in Pariñas v. Paguinto,[15] a lawyer should give adequate attention, care and time to his client's case. Once he agrees to handle a case, he should undertake the task with dedication and care. It is not enough that a lawyer possesses the qualification to handle the legal matter. He must also give adequate attention to his legal work.[16] Utmost fidelity is demanded once counsel agrees to take the cudgels for his client's cause.[17]
	AC. NO. 5302 2005-02-18	MARCIAL L. ABIERO v. ATTY. BERNARDO G. JUANINO YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.
We observed in Pariñas v. Atty. Paguinto[25] that a lawyer should give adequate attention, care and time to his client's case. Once he agrees to handle a case, he should undertake the task with dedication and care. If he fails in this duty, he is not true to his oath as a lawyer. Thus, a lawyer should accept only as much cases as he can efficiently handle in order to sufficiently protect his clients' interests. It is not enough that a lawyer possesses the qualification to handle the legal matter; he must also give adequate attention to his legal work. Utmost fidelity is demanded once counsel agrees to take the cudgels for his client's cause.
	AC. NO. 3523 2005-01-17	RASMUS G. ANDERSON v. ATTY. REYNALDO A. CARDEÑO AZCUNA, J.
These imperatives were pointedly explained in Pariñas v. Atty. Oscar P. Paguinto:[6]