MICHELLE YAP v. ATTY. GRACE C.

BURI
[ AC. No.11156, Mar 19, 2018 ]

Facts:
The instant case stemmed from the complaint of Michelle Yap against respondent Atty.
Grace C. Buri for refusing to pay her monetary obligation and for filing a criminal case of
Estafa against her based on false accusations.

Michelle Yap was the vendor in a contract of sale for a condominium unit, while Atty. Buri
was the vendee. Atty. Buri made an offer to purchase the property at a reduced price of
P1,200,000 from P1,500,000. Atty. Buri paid P1,000,000 and the P200,000 remains
unpaid. She insisted she would pay the balance in monthly installments without specifying
the amount to be paid on each installment. Due to their relationship, Atty. Buri being a
close friend and her daughter’s godmother, Yap trusted her and she gave Atty. Buri the
full and immediate possession of the condo unit. When Yap finally asked for the remaining
balance, Buri said pay it in a monthly installment of P5,000 until fully paid. Yap disagreed
and Atty. Buri said she would cancel the sale. Thereafter, Buri also started threatening
her through text messages and later filed an estafa case, alleging that Yap failed to return
the money. When the courts asked for her answer, she failed to comply. The IBR
recommended her suspension.

Issue:
Whether or Not the IBR was correct in their suspension of Atty. Buri

Ruling:
Yes, there is no sufficient reason to overturn the recommendation of the IBR. Atty. Buri,
instead of paying Yap the remaining balance, she opted to threaten her and file a criminal
case against her as a strategy of intimidation. She took advantage of her knowledge of
the law and clearly resorted to threats and intimidation in order to get away with what she
wanted, constituting a gross violation of professional ethics and a betrayal of public
confidence in the legal profession.