Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 138 - 137 Hypothetical Question, Within Zhang Wei’s Expectations (Premium Added)

Chapter 138: Chapter 137 Hypothetical Question, Within Zhang Wei’s Expectations (Premium Added)

(Top quality stuff, finally got some premium content, so elated inside, it’s swept away the gloom of the past few days a bit...)

PS: Yesterday, I was critiqued by group members, almost had a meltdown!

...

The city court, central courtroom.

On the gallery bench.

Bai Meiqi sat in the front row, with her arms crossed, looking towards the court.

"So it’s Judge Ni Qiuping presiding, how interesting. Zhang Wei probably has no idea about the judge’s personality yet; the following trials are going to be amusing."

After that, she glanced to her left and right on the gallery bench.

"Speaking of which, why haven’t the others from the criminal team come? Today is Zhang Wei’s case after all, and as his team colleagues, they should be here to show support. Could it be the nature of this case that they prefer not to appear?"

Bai Meiqi was curious that Tie Ruyun and the others were absent, but actually, she got it wrong.

It was because Zhang Wei had tasked Li Yueqin and Lin Yumeng yesterday with meeting the client of another case, and Tie Ruyun was responsible for driving them, so they couldn’t attend.

Bai Meiqi then turned her gaze to the seat next to her, where Ding Chuntian and the two children were seated.

"Even I find this case thorny. How is Zhang Wei going to handle it?"

One has to admit, the appearance of the plaintiff’s husband with the two children is definitely a trump card in the trial, easily garnering the sympathy of the jury.

As the defense, the defendant has the opportunity to select the jury, but in Bai Meiqi’s view, any questions posed to filter the jurors seemed futile because the final six jurors would surely sympathize with the plaintiff.

A jury that can’t feel for you is a jury that no one could win against.

That was Bai Meiqi’s opinion and also the reason she refused to take on this case.

So the ace lawyer was also curious, why did Zhang Wei feel confident enough to take on this case.

She was starting to look forward to it...

In the courtroom.

"Now that both parties have been seated, this court hereby declares the preliminary hearing for Yao Liting’s claim against Chengyi Insurance beginning!"

After stating this, Judge Ni Qiuping nodded at the court officer beside her.

Under the direction of the court guard, the prospective jurors began to take their places.

"Defense attorney!"

Judge Ni gestured to Zhang Wei with a nod, indicating he could start.

"Thank you, Your Honor, for the reminder!"

Zhang Wei hurriedly expressed his thanks but elicited an eye roll from Judge Ni.

Her unspoken message: I know you’re trying to butter me up; quit the act already!

Zhang Wei caught the judge’s reaction and murmured to himself internally.

This judge seems pretty tough to get along with, not even accepting courtesies. Quite something, huh.

After mentally tagging Judge Ni with labels like "menopausal" and "difficult to get along with," Zhang Wei then started to prepare his questions.

First up, of course, was the opening statement.

"Good afternoon, jurors!"

On the jury bench, everyone looked towards Zhang Wei, though only a few looked friendly.

Zhang Wei picked out a juror in the front row who did not look too malicious towards him.

"Hello, ma’am, may I ask if you’re a mother?"

"Yes," the woman nodded, lifting her hand adorned with a wedding ring.

"Hello, madam, since you are a mother, surely you must feel deep sympathy for the plaintiff, Ms. Yao Liting, correct?"

"You’re right. I do feel very sorry for that woman." She glanced at the plaintiff’s bench and nodded.

At the judge’s bench, Judge Ni was ready to take notes, for she knew that Zhang Wei was going to dismiss this juror.

At the plaintiff’s bench, Wang Meiyan sported a cold sneer.

"It’s no use; even if you dismiss this one, there’s no guarantee that other jurors won’t sympathize with my client in their hearts. If you have the guts, try dismissing all the jurors, but sadly, you can’t do that!"

She was brimming with confidence, knowing that the defense only had six opportunities to challenge jurors, and even if all six chances were used, the advantage was still on her side.

"Okay, thank you for your response..."

The woman, hearing what Zhang Wei had said, was ready to leave her seat.

"Madam, please wait a moment, my question isn’t finished yet."

"Huh?" The woman was puzzled. Aren’t you going to eliminate me?

"This guy actually didn’t eliminate that juror?" Judge Ni also put down her pen, wearing a bemused expression.

"What’s going on? Does he actually want to keep that juror? Has this guy lost his mind?" Wang Meiyan was also confused, unable to fathom what Zhang Wei was thinking at that moment.

As the woman quietly sat down again, Zhang Wei smiled at her, then rearranged his thoughts.

"Madam, I would like to pose a hypothetical question. Please imagine this scenario in your mind..."

"Suppose you’re on a cruise ship at sea, and you’re standing on the deck enjoying the breeze when two passengers fall overboard. You can’t swim, and there’s only one lifebuoy at hand. What would you do, and who would you throw the lifebuoy to?"

The woman glanced at Zhang Wei and blinked, somewhat dazed.

Seeing the woman’s expression, Zhang Wei reminded her, "Madam, please answer my question. To whom would you throw the lifebuoy?"

The woman shook her head: "But you haven’t told me what kind of people those two unlucky fellows are. How can I make a decision?"

"Madam, those two ’unlucky fellows’ you speak of are about to drown, they might have less than a minute to live. Time is of the essence!"

As he spoke, Zhang Wei even patted the wooden railing of the jury box to emphasize that time waits for no one.

The jurors looked at each other, completely baffled; they had no idea why Zhang Wei would ask such a perplexing question.

"Madam, you may ask me questions, and I will give you some information about them. But I need to emphasize again that time waits for no one, and saving lives is an urgent matter of utmost importance!"

"Then, I’ll ask one thing: are the two people the same age?"

Seeing that Zhang Wei wasn’t joking, the woman, without any other choice, weakly asked her question.

"No, they are not the same age. One is a young man in his twenties or thirties, while the other is an old man in his sixties or seventies!"

Hearing this, the woman didn’t hesitate: "The young man, I would choose to save the young man!"

"Madam, your reason?"

"Do I need a reason?"

The woman laughed, "That young man could still live for another fifty or sixty years, but the other may only have a decade left. Do I need to make any further judgment?"

Hearing the woman’s answer, Zhang Wei nodded, "Okay, let’s go with what you said. You threw the lifebuoy, and you threw it to the young man."

"Congratulations, madam, you have saved a life. You saved that young man, and I applaud you for that!"

After speaking, Zhang Wei actually started clapping his hands.

His behavior left everyone in the courtroom feeling perplexed.

The woman being questioned glanced at the juror sitting next to her; both of them were very confused.

In the defendant’s dock.

"Representative Cheng, is it still possible for us to change lawyers now?"

"Yang Fawu, Lawyer Zhang was personally appointed by the CEO, I don’t dare to change him!"

"Then let me take over the court proceedings, I’m the company’s legal counsel, I can go to court as well."

"That won’t do, Lawyer Zhang may have some tricks up his sleeve. You just sit with me and keep watching."

Yang Fawu had no other choice but to keep his mouth shut.

Although Cheng Liang verbally expressed confidence in Zhang Wei, he was actually also unsure.

"What’s with this guy, is he still the same Zhang Wei, or has he gone completely mad?"

Judge Ni Qiuping, sitting in the judge’s seat, watched Zhang Wei’s "madness" in the courtroom and likewise started to grumble in her mind.

Although she was a civil court judge, she had heard of Zhang Wei’s reputation in the criminal courts.

But she hadn’t expected that upon encountering Zhang Wei this time, he would act like a fool.

She was disappointed...

Zhang Wei’s questioning also left the people in the spectator’s gallery puzzled.

"Does this question have any meaning, or is he trying to instill some concept in the jurors? But I’ve been in litigation for 4 years and have not encountered such an outrageous question."

This included Bai Meiqi.

All eyes in the courtroom were once again focused on Zhang Wei.

"Madam, congratulations on saving a life. You threw the lifebuoy to that young man; you saved a life!"

"Alright, is that the end of the questions?"

The woman was also somewhat uncertain, looking at Zhang Wei.

"Of course not, there’s one more question I need you to answer."

"Please ask..."

"Alright!"

Zhang Wei nodded, then with a change in tone, spoke with utmost seriousness, "If I were to accuse you of the murder of that old gentleman, what would you be thinking inside?"

"Ah, this..."

The woman had not expected Zhang Wei to suddenly throw such a curveball and was completely caught off guard.

"This..."

The other jurors also exchanged glances, wondering if the question was too much.

Zhang Wei quickly softened his stern expression, smiling again, "Don’t worry, madam, this question is purely hypothetical and doesn’t require an answer!"

"Your Honor, the defense accepts this juror!"

Judge Ni opened her mouth but was entirely at a loss for words.

Still, she began to write, registering the information of the juror who had been selected.

Next, Zhang Wei asked several more jurors questions, each one filled with twists.

He posed the same drowning question to a few of the jurors that he had asked the woman, which left those jurors equally puzzled.

"Very good, now we have a jury!"

Judge Ni announced, gaveling:

"In consideration of the health condition of the plaintiff, Ms. Yao Liting, this court agrees to expedite the trial. The court session will commence at 7:30 tomorrow morning, beginning with a statement from the plaintiff’s side. The court is now adjourned!"

Following the judge’s declaration, the courtroom was disbanded.

"Lawyer Zhang, what’s the mystery behind that question of yours?"

The moment court was adjourned, Cheng Liang approached him.

"My question isn’t for now but is laying the groundwork for what follows!"

Zhang Wei explained, but he knew Cheng Liang probably wouldn’t understand the explanation.

"Laying the groundwork for the future?"

From behind, Bai Meiqi also swiftly approached, having heard Zhang Wei’s explanation as well.

She seemed to be pondering the real purpose behind Zhang Wei’s line of questioning.

"Lawyer Zhang, I’ll leave tomorrow’s hearing in your hands!"

"Do you think the plaintiff’s side will do that tomorrow?" Cheng Liang still worried, couldn’t help but ask.

"Tomorrow?..."

Zhang Wei closed his eyes for a moment then opened them, understanding in his heart.

"If it were me, during the plaintiff’s case presentation, I would pick two typical cases of insurance and explain them, then bring in a few expert witnesses..."

...

Wednesday.

7:30 in the morning, inside the courtroom.

Plaintiff’s case presentation stage.

Wang Meiyan stood at the center of the courtroom, beginning to recount the two cases she had prepared in advance for this hearing.

"In July five years ago, Mr. Li was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after a hospital examination. A Insurance Company took it very seriously, immediately formed a task force, and initiated advance payment for critical illness and claims services. The task force visited the hospital to see the client, informed him of the relevant claim process, considered the client unconscious due to illness, his wife pregnant, and parents elderly, A company arranged experienced claims personnel to provide considerate claims services, learned about leukemia treatment options and medical access from various sources, gave guidance to the family on medical treatment, helped the client’s family collect claim-related materials, and settled an insurance claim of 5 million yuan."

"Please listen carefully, it was 5 million yuan; A Insurance Company did not hesitate at all, neither did they ever consider rejecting the client’s application, and paid the full 5 million yuan!"

Having finished speaking, Wang Meiyan then picked up a second document and read again in court:

"In November three years ago, Ms. Zheng was diagnosed with poorly differentiated uterine cancer, and the hospital issued a ’Pathology Diagnosis Certificate.’ The case met B Insurance Company’s ’critical illness early payment’ service conditions. That very day, B Insurance Company’s staff rushed to the hospital with flowers, accepted the claims materials using an APP terminal, and activated the emergency claim channel, with just 4 hours to verify the claim, and the client received 900,000 yuan for her critical illness claim."

"Four hours, 900,000 yuan for a critical illness claim, B Insurance Company could be described with the speed of light in action, contrasting with a certain insurance company that dragged on for almost a year..."

With her presentation complete, Wang Meiyan fixed her gaze on the defendant’s bench, staring at Zhang Wei with a cold smirk.

And with the two cases she presented, the eyes of the six jurors looking at the defendant’s bench had already turned indignant.

Look at the other insurance companies, A paid out 5 million, and B approved a claim of 900,000 in just 4 hours.

But what about Chengyi Insurance?

Not even 500,000, always dragging it out, and it’s been almost a year!

It’s simply abominable, have they all lost their conscience to dogs!

In the defendant’s seat, Cheng Liang and Yang Fawu’s expressions collapsed.

"Lawyer Zhang, what should we do now? Why do I feel like the jury is giving us strange looks? In the lawsuits I’ve been involved in before, the court atmosphere never seemed this against us."

"Stay calm, it’s just a small scene. Didn’t I tell you all yesterday? Wang Meiyan’s moves were not beyond my expectations!"

"Although you guessed it right, Lawyer Zhang, their open strategy is still lethal, and we can’t avoid it!"

"So, wait until the witnesses come forward, that will be my time to counterattack."

Zhang Wei patted Cheng Liang on the shoulder, signaling him to stay calm.

But the latter couldn’t muster any calm at the moment, as this case was too important!

In court.

Wang Meiyan continued to speak, "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, insurance is not something optional, but a real and solid guarantee. My client suffers from the torment of malignant tumors, and her physical condition has weakened even more due to a surgical accident. In her eyes, insurance is a necessity for living, a life-saving straw. The speed and attitude of the insurance company’s claims processing significantly impact the public’s willingness to purchase insurance and are of paramount importance to my client!"

"But what have you seen? After I presented the claim cases from A and B companies, when you compare them with Chengyi Insurance Company, I think I needn’t say more, right?"

"Of course, we are currently only at the stage of our case presentation, and I do not expect that just a few words could persuade you to make a decision or a judgment on this case. But please understand one thing, during the court proceedings that follow, the defendants will undoubtedly try every means to rebuke my points, and they might even attack my client, picking out her issues. When that time comes, please remember the cases I have just listed."

"Why could A and B companies pay out claims promptly, while Chengyi Insurance demonstrates a completely different attitude?"

Wang Meiyan’s words made the jurors unconsciously nod in agreement, feeling great approval in their hearts.

Even in the spectator’s gallery, many nodded their heads, as many of them also purchased insurance and had their own frustrating experiences with it.

Wang Meiyan, seeing the atmosphere of the courtroom and the response of the jury, was very pleased with the effect.

"Your Honor, the prosecution is ready to call the first witness to testify!"

Judge Ni nodded, indicating the prosecution to proceed.

Not long after, the first witness was summoned to the stand.

This witness was none other than the chief doctor who initially treated the plaintiff, Yao Liting, for her cancer.

"Dr. Du, after you successfully cured my client’s endometrial cancer, you discovered that the cancer cells had spread to her liver, correct?"

"Yes, we detected it when she was in the early stages of cancer change, and we were confident in curing her physical illness."

"Then you used a treatment method called ’microwave ablation’ on my client. Could you explain to the jury the principle behind this treatment?"

"Uh, yes, this treatment method actually involves using a specifically measured and precise level of microwaves... The microwaves generate a kind of intense heat flow to kill cancer cells..."

"Thank you, Dr. Du, for your explanation, but I don’t think the jury needs to hear such professional details!"

Wang Meiyan interrupted Dr. Du and asked, "I just want to know, did this treatment work on my client?"

Dr. Du, with a pained look and slight apology, said, "I can only say that the result was not good... I am very sorry to your client..."

Wang Meiyan ignored Dr. Du’s apology and pressed on, "Dr. Du, why are you apologizing?"

"Because the equipment malfunctioned, releasing heat 30 times over the safety threshold, and this issue led to..."

"Led to my client having extensive liver damage, correct!?"

Wang Meiyan interjected before Dr. Du had difficulty speaking.

"Yes!"

"Then I want to ask, is it possible to repair this kind of damage?"

"I am sorry, such wounds cannot be repaired with the current medical means. The only solution to this problem is a live liver donor."

At this answer, Wang Meiyan laughed, "So, Dr. Du, do you wish my client could receive a liver donor and the best treatment?"

"As a doctor, of course, I want the patient to receive the best possible treatment!"

"Then what is the reason that my client, despite being critically ill, could not receive a liver donor?"

"It’s because..."

Dr. Du glanced at the defendant’s bench and sighed, "It’s because Chengyi Insurance Company rejected the application for a liver donor match!"

As this statement was made, the courtroom erupted into an uproar!

This testimony was simply a finishing blow!