Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 137 - 136: Zhang Wei Becomes Public Enemy, Insurance Company Case Preliminary Hearing

Chapter 137: Chapter 136: Zhang Wei Becomes Public Enemy, Insurance Company Case Preliminary Hearing

Zhang Wei had no idea that a storm of conflict about to descend on the criminal division was defused in a few words by Bai Meiqi.

Moreover, this insurance claim case had also caught the attention of Boss Shen and Bai Meiqi.

He was now in his office, preparing for the upcoming pretrial.

Ding Ling Ling~

Tie Cuilan heard the telephone ring and immediately answered.

"Mm-hmm, okay, I’ll notify Lawyer Zhang right away!"

After hanging up the phone, she turned around and said, "The pretrial time has been set, tomorrow afternoon at 2:30, Courtroom 3C at the city courthouse."

"Tomorrow, that’s earlier than I expected, they’re not giving us a chance to prepare. And it’s in Courtroom 3C no less, this trial looks to be quite large in scale!"

Hearing Tie Cuilan’s words, Zhang Wei muttered to himself, sensing the situation might be somewhat unfavorable for them.

"Oh, and the court told me that the plaintiff has changed lawyers, and upon the new lawyer’s advice, the plaintiff has initiated a motion for an expedited trial, which the judge has also agreed to," she said.

"A new lawyer, sounds like Wang Meiyan is in play. Blackfoot isn’t giving us any breathing room, trying to make things harder by rushing us on time. As for this so-called motion, it must have been Wang Meiyan’s idea for the plaintiff Yao Liting to apply on grounds of deteriorating health. The judge couldn’t possibly deny a request from a seriously ill patient!"

Listening to Zhang Wei’s analysis, Tie Ruyun and Li Yueqin also felt the pressure.

"Hey Zhang Wei, do you have any counters?"

"Counters?"

Since the boss had asked, Zhang Wei naturally couldn’t keep his plans hidden.

"First, this is a civil lawsuit, meaning the jury consists of six members, and the plaintiff Yao Liting needs the support of five jurors to win the case."

"You mean..." Tie Ruyun, Li Yueqin, and Lin Yumeng looked at each other.

"It’s simple, I just need the support of more than two jurors, and we won’t lose the case. If we don’t lose, the insurance company doesn’t have to pay, and there’s no need to pay a huge sum of compensation – I win!"

"Master, the way you put it, you sound like a heartless person, huh?"

"My dear disciple, who are you calling heartless? Your master here is only thinking of the client. Aren’t we lawyers whose primary duty is to serve our clients diligently?"

Hearing his disciple’s words, Zhang Wei was the first to express his discontent.

Good Lord, here I am, planning on how to win the case for the client, and you all are knocking me down?

Is that fair?

Obviously, it’s not!

"But are you sure you can get the support of more than two jurors?"

Tie Ruyun was skeptical too, and mimicking Zhang Wei, raised a finger, "I bet you can’t even secure the support of a single juror?"

"Let me tell you, when the trial starts, on the plaintiffs’ bench there will be a couple living in poverty because of illness. The wife, Yao Liting, is a mother with a terminal disease, damaged liver, and not long for this world."

"Moreover, they have two children in kindergarten. As soon as the trial begins and those kids take a seat at the witnesses’ bench, if they start crying too, tell me, who is going to have sympathy for you?"

"Right, Zhang Wei, hearing you talk like this, do you expect the jurors you need to be as heartless as rocks, to ignore a dying mother in favor of trusting and sympathizing with you and the insurance company you represent?"

Tie Ruyun and Li Yueqin spoke again, delivering a double blow to Zhang Wei.

"My dear disciple, what do you think? Don’t tell me you don’t support your master either?"

Zhang Wei helplessly turned to look at Lin Yumeng, who had remained silent.

But today, she also seemed rather downcast, and hastily turned her head away upon Zhang Wei’s gaze.

Alright then, she was upset too, seeming to have quite an objection to Zhang Wei representing the insurance company.

"What’s the matter? Just for representing an insurance company, have I became the office’s public enemy?"

Zhang Wei looked at his colleagues’ expressions, also feeling downcast.

So just because of one case, all the prestige I had built up has vanished?

Not just Old Tie and Xiao Li, but even the well-behaved, sensible disciple too had complaints against me?

"Fine, since you all don’t have faith in me, then I’ll deal with this case on my own. You guys just wait in the office for my news..."

After saying that, Zhang Wei thought to himself, he couldn’t let his teammates off too easy, as that would be slacking off.

"Right, if the three of you aren’t coming to my trial, don’t sit idle either. Go and contact the person who wants to sue the cigar company. After this case, we’re taking his case too!"

"You really do want to take on any case, don’t you!"

Tie Ruyun commented, but still nodded to Li Yueqin and Lin Yumeng.

It was Zhang Wei who had picked this case too, and wanting to push for performance this month, he could only support it.

Li Yueqin and Lin Yumeng would go contact the plaintiff in that case and establish communication.

As for Zhang Wei, he began preparing for the trial, waiting for the pretrial to start tomorrow.

...

The next day, Tuesday.

p.m.

Zhang Wei left the law firm and headed to the city court.

At the same time, the news that Zhang Wei was representing an insurance company in a lawsuit against a mother with a terminal illness also spread rapidly.

Procuratorate Headquarters.

"Sister Baihe, Zhang Wei is going to court again!"

"Zhang Wei, who’s his opponent? Someone from our office?"

Upon hearing Tan Yingying’s reminder, Xiao Baihe immediately stood up.

"No, this case is a civil lawsuit—it’s Chengyi Insurance’s case."

"Oh, so Zhang Wei is representing the plaintiff, challenging the insurance company?"

Xiao Baihe was somewhat incredulous. Zhang Wei, as a criminal lawyer, was actually going to fight a civil lawsuit.

Although the guy was a bit of a scumbag, he did have high ethical standards as a lawyer. Filing a lawsuit for a mother with a terminal illness could indeed be considered a good deed.

"No, Sister Baihe, Zhang Wei is representing Chengyi Insurance. It’s a lawyer from Blackfoot who is representing the plaintiff mother!"

"What!"

Hearing Tan Yingying’s additional explanation, Xiao Baihe was shocked.

Zhang Wei representing the evil insurance company, Blackfoot representing the mother with a terminal illness?

Are you sure you got the script wrong?

Are you sure you didn’t misstate the identities of the parties?

Why does this storyline seem off?

Isn’t Blackfoot Law Firm known for doing anything for money, no matter how despicable it is?

Wasn’t Zhang Wei known for justice, daring to confront even the Procuratorate Headquarters? When did they ever change roles?

"I can’t, I need to process this news..."

Xiao Baihe sent Tan Yingying back to work and then sat down, resting her forehead on her hand, slowly opening her computer to start searching for the Chengyi Insurance case.

Soon, the webpage was flooded with messages—many media outlets were reporting on the lawsuit.

As for the headlines, they were very eye-catching.

"Who shattered the last hope of a mother with a terminal illness? The true face of the evil insurance company."

"Chengyi Insurance, the last straw that crushed the cancer-stricken mother!"

"Chengyi Insurance and Jincheng Law Firm, the struggle between big capital and the ordinary citizens, who will prevail?"

"Please support this mother, let us speak up for the hope of the people!"

Alright, after reading a few reports, Xiao Baihe immediately closed the webpage.

She admitted that after seeing the reports, she no longer planned to judge Zhang Wei.

Because she was afraid she couldn’t control herself and wanted to strangle him.

"This guy, he really threw away his conscience, suing for the insurance company. Go eat shit, trash, scum!"

Xiao Baihe swore, this was the first time she had cursed so harshly, simply because she couldn’t control herself...

Blacksmith Technology, Research and Development Department.

"Little Zhang has taken on another case recently, let me take a look..."

Zhao Qingyan’s computer in front of him had a search function for specific terms. When it found news he was interested in, it would automatically display.

Just now, one of those terms triggered a reminder, and it triggered multiple times.

This meant the case was hot enough to have many news stories retrieved.

"Chengyi Insurance, Zhang is representing... the insurance company!"

"His opponent is from Blackfoot Law Firm, Blackfoot is actually representing the underdog?"

"Wow, did they get the script mixed up?"

Anyone familiar with Zhang Wei and Blackfoot Law Firm would have such doubts upon seeing this news.

The reactions of Zhao Qingyan and Xiao Baihe could only be described as normal.

Very normal...

But regardless of speculation from the outside world, Zhang Wei still arrived at the city court.

And at the entrance of the courthouse, there were already many media present.

"It’s that Zhang Wei!"

Some media personnel had sharp eyes and spotted Zhang Wei.

However, they all had an unspoken agreement and actually didn’t approach Zhang Wei to grab that scoop.

"Heh heh, I knew it, you media folks. After I won the Wang Yuqing case and scolded you all, you decided to join forces and banish me, right?"

"This time I’m on the strong side, helping the insurance company in the lawsuit. You must think I’m bound to lose, right? Let me guess, how many articles has each of you written, ten, twenty?"

Zhang Wei couldn’t help but joke, but all he got in return were rolls of the eyes.

The media looked at Zhang Wei with a mix of mockery and scorn, yet there was also a thick undertone of wariness.

Mostly because last year’s Wang Yuqing case saw Zhang Wei slapping their faces too hard.

So there was an unspoken rule among the media, which was not to provoke Zhang Wei too much, or else they could easily get their faces slapped again.

But this time, they also had a tacit understanding.

Your case, Zhang Wei, is undoubtedly a lost cause, and when you lose the lawsuit, we’ll trample over you however we like.

Once you lose, then we’ll settle scores after the fall!

As for now, they preferred to forgo the scoop just to keep some distance from Zhang Wei.

After all, to the media, Zhang Wei was considered a thorny figure to stay away from.

"Lawyer Wang from Blackfoot is here!"

Suddenly, a media person shouted, and everyone rushed to the other side.

This time Blackfoot was representing the underdog, and compared to the strong side, the underdog’s statements tend to get more attention, so the media people all rushed over, vying with each other.

"A bunch of wavering reeds!"

Zhang Wei sneered and strolled leisurely into the courthouse entrance.

Outside the court, Wang Meiyan very generously accepted an interview from the media.

"Lawyer Wang, as a lawyer from Blackfoot, why have you chosen to represent the plaintiff?"

"My media friend, so what if I’m a lawyer from Blackfoot? We at Blackfoot have always valued our reputation, helping the underprivileged. Isn’t that the duty of a lawyer?"

Hearing Wang Meiyan’s words, many media personnel couldn’t help but want to retort.

Isn’t Blackfoot notorious for taking money to handle cases without considering the person?

Don’t you take on any case as long as there’s money to be made, regardless of what the client has done?

Don’t you feel ashamed saying these things?

Of course, Wang Meiyan was not ashamed. Being a lawyer at Blackfoot meant having thick skin was essential.

"Lawyer Wang, I heard you’re the plaintiff’s recently changed lawyer. May I ask why the previous lawyer withdrew from this case?"

"My predecessor knew he was incapable, felt that he couldn’t secure the best interest for his client in this lawsuit, and hence recommended Blackfoot Law Firm, entrusting me to assist Ms. Yao Liting!"

Wang Meiyan spoke well, but inside she was grumbling, "Wasn’t it just because Blackfoot stepped in and a bit of ’friendly exchange’ happened, that the lawyer got cold feet and had to relinquish his spot in the lawsuit?"

"Lawyer Wang, your opponent this time is Jincheng Law Firm. Do you feel confident?"

"Of course. Even if it’s Jincheng Law Firm, what of it? Today, Blackfoot Law Firm represents justice, conscience, and hope..."

Watching Wang Meiyan being interviewed at the entrance and listening to her say those insincere words, Zhang Wei couldn’t help but admire how thick the skin of Blackfoot’s lawyers was.

They really had a way with scene-stealing statements.

"Forget it, I should head to the preparation room and wait for Cheng Liang and the others!"

Zhang Wei headed towards the third floor, to the preparation room for Courtroom 3C, and started waiting.

But outside the preparation room, he encountered someone unexpected.

"Lawyer Bai, what brings you here?"

The person waiting outside the preparation room turned out to be Bai Meiqi, the ace of Jincheng Litigation Department.

"Do you know who Chengyi Insurance initially wanted to get help from in this lawsuit?"

"Since Lawyer Bai has come all this way, the answer must be quite obvious, right?"

"You’re not wrong, but I turned down the case and then passed it to the Commercial group, and they rejected it too. What I didn’t expect was that you would end up picking it up."

"Is Lawyer Bai at the courthouse to cheer me on?"

"You wish. I just want to see how you handle a case that even I deemed unwinnable."

Bai Meiqi waved at Zhang Wei, then headed towards the courtroom. "I’ll be in the gallery. I look forward to seeing how a criminal lawyer like you wins a civil lawsuit. I hope you can enlighten me!"

"An ace coming to watch the battle?"

Zhang Wei touched his nose, feeling a tickle there.

To be honest, he was surprised that Bai Meiqi had turned up, but he wasn’t afraid of losing this time.

While in everyone’s eyes this case was unwinnable, Zhang Wei saw he still had a chance.

"Old Tie and the others might not come, but given their performance yesterday, even if they did come, I guess they wouldn’t meet with my client..."

Muttering to himself, Zhang Wei walked into the preparation room.

Soon, the client arrived.

The representative from the insurance company, Cheng Liang, and the company’s legal advisor, Sister Yang.

As for the financial staffer Xiao Fang, her only responsibility was to sign the contract on Monday; once the contract was signed, she was no longer involved.

This time the defendant’s representative in court was Cheng Liang, with Sister Yang as the legal advisor, and Zhang Wei as the legal attorney, responsible for litigation.

...

2:20 PM.

The pre-trial conference was about to start, and Zhang Wei, Cheng Liang, and Sister Yang together took their seats at the defendant’s bench.

Across at the plaintiff’s bench, Wang Meiyan gave Zhang Wei her trademark venomous smile.

Beside her was a woman with a yellowish complexion who looked extremely weak.

It was obvious that this woman was the plaintiff, Yao Liting.

"Hurry, say hello to mommy!"

In the first row of the spectator seats, a man waved to the plaintiff’s bench with two children.

The man was her husband, Ding Chuntian, and the children were naturally her sons.

Yao Liting felt something and turned around, giving the children and the man a faint smile.

However, this smile, in the eyes of everyone in the courtroom, was filled with pathos, especially considering her physical condition, which likely made everyone’s sympathy overflow.

"Lawyer Zhang, I have a bad feeling about this," Cheng Liang leaned over to Zhang Wei and whispered.

"What are you saying, it’s obvious. Looking at the plaintiff, my heart can’t help but soften, it would be the same for anyone. Look at the jury..."

Zhang Wei pointed at the jury while he spoke.

All the prospective jurors had their eyes fixed on Yao Liting.

A few jurors also glanced at Cheng Liang, but most of their gazes were filled with animosity, some even showing tangible hostility.

"Lawyer Zhang, I’m counting on you for everything in the courtroom!"

Feeling the hostility from the jury, Cheng Liang was somewhat uncomfortable.

Although he had been involved in many lawsuits before, as the insurance company was often sued by clients, he had never felt as much pressure as he did today.

Moreover, this lawsuit could very well determine the fate of Chengyi Insurance.

Because he had also heard that the Blackfoot Law Firm was in contact with many former clients of Chengyi Insurance, planning to initiate a class action lawsuit.

They had even bribed the media to issue a public call, seeking former clients who had been denied claims by Chengyi Insurance.

If Chengyi Insurance lost this case, the consequences could be a hefty compensation payout followed by the onslaught of Blackfoot’s class action lawsuit.

By then, Chengyi Insurance could be bankrupted by the enormous compensation!

So, at this moment, Cheng Liang was under tremendous stress.

This was a matter concerning his job and the very survival of the company!

"All rise, please welcome Judge Ni to the bench!"

Under the announcement of the court guard, a middle-aged woman wearing a black robe with a stern face ascended to the bench.

"It’s Judge Ni Qiuping!"

Seeing the incoming figure, Cheng Liang’s eyes widened and he began to sweat on his back.

"Is this judge famous?"

Observing the serious-faced judge who looked as if she were in the throes of menopause, Zhang Wei asked softly.

Primarily because he had previously been active in the criminal courts, he was unfamiliar with the civil court judges.

"This Judge Ni, how to put it, she’s a bit..."

Cheng Liang struggled to describe her, but his grim expression told Zhang Wei that the judge was a tough one.

Similarly, Wang Meiyan also noticed the judge.

"It’s actually Judge Ni Qiuping. It seems I’ll have to keep a low profile this time and not give her a chance to erupt at me!"

Although Wang Meiyan was confident about this court session, she too felt a tinge of wariness upon seeing the judge.

Evidently, Judge Ni Qiuping had a formidable reputation in the civil courts.