Bar Exam Questions - Mercantile Law

I
Briefly describe the following types of banks: (2% each)
A. universal bank
B. commercial bank
C. thrift bank
D. rural bank
E. cooperative bank
II
A. How do you characterize the legal relationship between a
commercial bank and its safety deposit box client? (2%)
B. Is a stipulation in the contract for the use of a safety deposit
box relieving the bank of liability in connection with the use
thereof valid? (2%)
C. Differentiate “bank deposits” from “deposit substitutes.”
(2%)
D. Why are banks required to maintain reserves against their
deposits and deposit substitutes? State one of three purposes
for these reserves. (2%)
III
Ozamis Paper Corporation secured loans from ABC
Universal Bank in the aggregate principal amount of P100 million,
evidenced by several promissory notes, and secured by a
continuing guaranty of its principal stockholder Menandro
Marquez; a pledge of Marquez’s shares in the corporation valued
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at P45 million; and a real estate mortgage over certain parcels of
land owned by Marquez.
The corporation defaulted and the bank extra-judicially
foreclosed on the real estate mortgage. The bank, which was the
sole bidder for P75 million, won the award.
A. Can the bank sue Marquez for the deficiency of P25 million?
Explain. (2%)
B. If the bank opts to file an action for collection against the
corporation, can it afterwards institute a real action to
foreclose the mortgage? Explain. (2%)
C. Can the bank foreclose on the pledged shares of Marquez
and recover the deficiency from the corporation? Explain.
(2%)
IV
Andante Realty, a marketing company that promotes and
facilitates sales of real property through leverage marketing,
solicits investors who are required to be a Business Center Owner
(BCO) by paying an enrollment fee of $250. The BCO is then
entitled to recruit two other investors who pay $250 each. The
BCO receives $90 from the $250 paid by each of his recruits and is
credited a certain amount for payments made by investors through
the initial efforts of his Business Center. Once the accumulated
amount reaches $5,000, the same is used as down payment for the
real property chosen by the BCO.
A. Does this multi-level marketing scheme constitute an
“investment contract” under the Securities Regulation Code?
Define an “investment contract.” (2%)
B. What procedure must be followed under the Securities
Regulation Code to authorize the sale or offer for sale or
distribution of an investment contract? (2%)
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C. What are the legal consequences of failure to follow this
procedure? (2%)
V
Venezia is a famous international fashion chain with outlets
in Makati, Ortigas, and Manila. It has complied with the
minimum capitalization required under the Retail Trade
Nationalization Act and carries on retail business worth more than
$3 million for each of its outlets. As its Manila outlet is not doing
very well, it decides to sell all of its business there consisting of
remaining inventory, furniture and fixtures and other assets to its
competitor.
A. Venezia’s Manila outlet constitutes one-third (1/3) of its total
business. Should it comply with the requirements of the Bulk
Sales Law? Why or why not? (2%)
B. If instead of selling its Manila outlet, Venezia merely
mortgages its assets there, would it need to comply with the
requirements of the Bulk Sales Law? (2%)
C. What are the legal consequences of a failure to comply with
the requirements of the Bulk Sales Law? (2%)
VI
A. What contractual stipulations are required in all technology
transfer agreements? (2%)
B. Enumerate three (3) stipulations that are prohibited in
technology transfer agreements. (3%)
C. Can an article of commerce serve as a trademark and at the
same time enjoy patent and copyright protection? Explain
and give an example. (2%)
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VII
Union Mines, Inc. has total assets of P60 million with 210
stockholders holding at least 100 shares each.
The company has two principal stockholders, ABC which
owns 60% of the shares of stock, and XYZ which owns 17%.
ABC in turn is owned to the extent of 21.31% by Acme, Inc.;
29.69% by Golden Boy, Inc.; 9% by XYZ; and the rest by
individual stockholders.
None of the parties is a publicly-listed company.
XYZ now proposes to buy Acme’s and Golden Boy’s shares
in ABC, which would give it direct control of ABC and indirect
control of Union Mines.
Is the proposed acquisition by XYZ subject to the mandatory
tender offer rule? Why or why not? What is a tender offer and
when is it mandatory? (5%)
VIII
Marlon deposited with LYRIC Bank a money market
placement of P1 million for a term of 31 days. On maturity date,
one claiming to be Marlon called up the LYRIC Bank account
officer and instructed him to give the manager’s check
representing the proceeds of the money market placement to
Marlon’s girlfriend Ingrid.
The check, which bore the forged signature of Marlon, was
deposited in Ingrid’s account with YAMAHA Bank. YAMAHA
Bank stamped a guaranty on the check reading: “All prior
endorsements and/or lack of endorsement guaranteed.”
Upon presentment of the check, LYRIC Bank funds the
check. Days later, Marlon goes to LYRIC Bank to collect his
money market placement and discovers the foregoing transactions.
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Marlon thereupon sues LYRIC Bank which in turn files a
third-party complaint against YAMAHA Bank. Discuss the
respective rights and liabilities of the two banks. (5%)
IX
Your client Dianne approaches you for legal advice on
putting up a medium-sized restaurant business that will specialize
in a novel type of cuisine. As Dianne feels that the business is a
little risky, she wonders whether she should use a corporation as
the business vehicle, or just run it as a single proprietorship. She
already has an existing corporation that is producing meat
products profitably and is also considering the alternative of
simply setting up the restaurant as a branch office of the existing
corporation.
A. Briefly explain to your client what you see as the legal
advantages and disadvantages of using a separate
corporation, a single proprietorship, or a branch of an
existing corporation for the proposed restaurant business.
(3%)
B. If you advise your client to use a corporation, what officer
positions must the corporation at least have? (2%)
C. What particular qualifications, if any, are these officers
legally required to possess under the Corporation Code?
(2%)
X
To secure a loan of P10 million, Mario mortgaged his
building to Armando. In accordance with the loan arrangements,
Mario had the building insured with First Insurance Company for
P10 million, designating Armando as the beneficiary.
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Armando also took an insurance on the building upon his
own interest with Second Insurance Company for P5 million.
The building was totally destroyed by fire, a peril insured
against under both insurance policies. It was subsequently
determined that the fire had been intentionally started by Mario
and that in violation of the loan agreement, he had been storing
inflammable materials in the building.
A. How much, if any, can Armando recover from either or both
insurance companies? (2%)
B. What happens to the P10 million debt of Mario to Armando?
Explain. (3%)
XI
Enrique obtained from Seguro Insurance Company a
comprehensive motor vehicle insurance to cover his top of the line
Aston Martin. The policy was issued on March 31, 2010 and, on
even date, Enrique paid the premium with a personal check
postdated April 6, 2010.
On April 5, 2010, the car was involved in an accident that
resulted in its total loss.
On April 10, 2010, the drawee bank returned Enrique’s check
with the notation “Insufficient Funds.” Upon notification, Enrique
immediately deposited additional funds with the bank and asked
the insurer to redeposit the check.
Enrique thereupon claimed indemnity from the insurer. Is
the insurer liable under the insurance coverage? Why or why
not? (3%)
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XII
AA entered into a contract with BB for the latter to transport
ladies wear from Manila to France with transhipment via Taiwan.
Somehow the goods were not loaded in Taiwan on time, hence,
these arrived in France “off-season.” AA was only paid for onehalf
(1/2) the value by the buyer.
AA claimed damages from BB. BB invoked prescription as a
defense under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act. Considering the
“loss of value” of the ladies wear as claimed by AA, is BB’s
defense tenable? Explain. (3%)
XIII
Paolo, the owner of an ocean-going vessel, offered to
transport the logs of Constantino from Manila to Nagoya.
Constantino accepted the offer, not knowing that the vessel was
manned by an irresponsible crew with deep-seated resentments
against Paolo, their employer.
Constantino insured the cargo of logs against both perils of
the sea and barratry. The logs were improperly loaded on one side,
thereby causing the vessel to tilt on one side. On the way to
Nagoya, the crew unbolted the sea valves of the vessel causing
water to flood the ship hold. The vessel sank.
Constantino tried to collect from the insurance company
which denied liability, given the unworthiness of both the vessel
and its crew.
Constantino countered that he was not the owner of the
vessel and he could therefore not be responsible for conditions
about which he was innocent.
A. Is the insurance company liable? Why or why not? (3%)
B. What is “barratry” in marine insurance? (2%)
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XIV
When OCCIDENTAL Bank folded up due to insolvency,
Manuel had the following separate deposits in his name: P200,000
in savings deposit; P250,000 in time deposit; P50,000 in a current
account; P1 million in a trust account; and P3 million in money
market placement. Under the Philippine Deposit Insurance
Corporation Act, how much could Manuel recover? Explain.
(2%)
XV
While vacationing in Boracay, Valentino surreptitiously took
photographs of his girlfriend Monaliza in her skimpy bikini. Two
weeks later, her photographs appeared in the Internet and in a
national celebrity magazine.
Monaliza found out that Valentino had sold the photographs
to the magazine and, adding insult to injury, uploaded them to his
personal blog on the Internet.
A. Monaliza filed a complaint against Valentino for damages
based on, among other grounds, violation of her intellectual
property rights. Does she have any cause of action? Explain.
(2%)
B. Valentino’s friend Francesco stole the photographs and
duplicated them and sold them to a magazine publication.
Valentino sued Francesco for infringement and damages.
Does Valentino have any cause of action? Explain. (2%)
C. Does Monaliza have any cause of action against Francesco?
Explain. (2%)
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XVI
An importer of Christmas toys loaded 100 boxes of Santa
Claus talking dolls aboard a ship in Korea bound for Manila.
With the intention of smuggling one-half of his cargo, he took a
bill of lading for only 50 boxes. On the voyage to Manila, 50
boxes were jettisoned to save the more precious cargo.
A. Is the importer entitled to receive any indemnity for average?
Explain. (2%)
B. What are the types of averages in marine commerce? (3%)
XVII
The Supreme Court has held that fraud is an exception to the
“independence principle” governing letters of credit. Explain this
principle and give an example of how fraud can be an exception.
(3%)
XVIII
For years, Y has been engaged in the parallel importation of
famous brands, including shoes carrying the foreign brand
MAGIC. Exclusive distributor X demands that Y cease
importation because of his appointment as exclusive distributor of
MAGIC shoes in the Philippines.
Y counters that the trademark MAGIC is not registered with
the Intellectual Property Office as a trademark and therefore no
one has the right to prevent its parallel importation.
A. Who is correct? Why? (2%)
B. Suppose the shoes are covered by a Philippine patent issued
to the brand owner, what would your answer be? Explain.
(2%)
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XIX
Dr. Nobel discovered a new method of treating Alzheimer’s
involving a special method of diagnosing the disease, treating it
with a new medicine that has been discovered after long
experimentation and field testing, and novel mental isometric
exercises. He comes to you for advice on how he can have his
discoveries protected.
Can he legally protect his new method of diagnosis, the new
medicine, and the new method of treatment? If no, why? If yes,
how? (4%)
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