Practice question
An individual party cannot personally attend a small-claims hearing for a valid cause. She sends a nonlawyer representative with an SPA authorizing only receipt of notices, expressly withholding authority to settle or make admissions. Is the representative’s authority adequate under Rule IV, Section 17?
- Yes, because nonlawyer status is the only condition
- Yes, because any SPA is sufficient regardless of its contents
- Yes, because the opposing party can supply settlement authority
- No; the required authority includes amicable settlement and stipulations or admissions of facts and documentary exhibits
- No; all representation is absolutely forbidden even for a valid cause
Legal references
- https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/assets/pdf/journals/Collation_and_Codification_of_SC_Issuance_DIGITAL.pdf — A.M. 08-8-7-SC, March 1, 2022, Rules on Expedited Procedures in the First Level Courts, Rule IV, Sections 17–18, printed pages 2035–2036.
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