Watching Xie Jing and Ye Fei leave in a fury, the judge in charge of mediation frowned slightly and addressed Su Bai and Zhang Tongwei.
"Since the defendant refuses to continue mediation, the plaintiff should prepare the complaint and supporting materials."
"You may proceed with filing the case."
After organizing the documents, the judge left the mediation room without speaking much further to Su Bai or the plaintiff, avoiding any additional complications.
Watching the judge leave, Zhang Tongwei looked worried. "Lawyer Su, the judge seemed unhappy. Were our settlement demands too unreasonable?"
Su Bai looked relaxed. "We hadn't even explained why we were asking for those terms before they left. How can you say our demands were so unreasonable that they upset the judge?"
What mattered most in mediation?
Negotiating!
Who would lay all their cards on the table at the start of mediation?
Everyone started with an outrageous demand, then negotiated bit by bit until both sides made concessions and settled things.
There was nothing wrong with his opening demands being excessive.
The judge was annoyed by Ye Fei and Xie Jing walking out, by their indifference and disrespect toward the mediation process. How could he possibly have been upset with the plaintiff?
Once Zhang Tongwei understood, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Lawyer Su, what do we do next?"
"The next step is simple. As the judge just said, we only need to prepare the complaint and supporting materials. I've already got everything ready."
"All right. All right."
Zhang Tongwei nodded earnestly.
Su Bai had prepared the complaint and supporting materials beforehand.
After mediation failed, he submitted them directly to the court.
The court soon accepted the case, set a hearing date, and notified the lawyers and parties on both sides.
At the Nanyuan Law Firm.
Looking through her fan group, Ye Fei spotted a fan named Snow and deliberately posted a message in the group.
"The Nandu Basic Court has taken up the case. Another sister is about to win! Any sisters who need help should contact me right away for their divorce cases!!"
After posting it.
Seeing no response from Snow, Ye Fei sighed inwardly.
This was a huge potential case!
If she could land it, with thirty million in assets at stake, she could earn at least a million in legal fees!
What a shame.
Although Snow gave no response, the fan group was buzzing.
"Wow!!! Which lucky sister is it this time?! Quick! Share your tips!!"
"I'm so jealous! Ugh, all my useless husband's assets are in his parents' names. I've wanted out for ages, but I wouldn't get anything in a divorce. Boohoo, I'm dying of envy!"
"Yes, yes! Another sister is about to succeed. Congratulations! Send some of that good luck our way."
"I want some of that luck too!! I've had enough of this marriage. If I weren't trying to get a share of my husband's premarital assets, I'd have left him long ago. When will I finally get to hire Ms. Ye Fei for my divorce?! I'm so jealous!!"
Li Xuezhen sneered at the messages in the fan group.
She could not understand why anyone would treat marriage like a business transaction. After taking screenshots of all the messages, she sent them to Su Bai.
"Lawyer Su, these are the latest developments in the fan group."
"Good!"
"Nice work. Keep it up! I'll promote you to partner someday!"
After dangling that grand promise, Su Bai finished organizing all the materials, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
This case was in the bag!
There might even be some unexpected gains!!
Now all that remained was to wait for the hearing!
The hearing date for Zhang Tongwei's case against Xie Jing soon arrived.
Before the hearing, Ye Fei was still advertising in her fan group.
"Sisters, another divorce battle is about to begin! Wait for my good news. Any sisters who want to file for divorce, remember to come to me!"
The fans in the group supported her without question.
"We'll be waiting for Ms. Ye to return victorious."
"Yes, yes! We're waiting for Ms. Ye to win another case!!"
"Congratulations in advance on your victory, Ms. Ye!!!"
"+1+1+1+1+1"
While they waited in the court's waiting room.
Li Xuezhen was brimming with excitement. This was her second time attending a hearing as a trainee lawyer!
Compared with last time, she was now full of confidence in Su Bai.
If they won this second case.
She would be a trainee lawyer with two cases under her belt and a one hundred percent win rate!
What a wonderful feeling.
Su Bai glanced at Li Xuezhen, who was basking in her own delight, and shook his head slightly without saying anything.
Victory was inevitable.
There was nothing wrong with being happy about it.
Meanwhile.
In the defendant's waiting room.
Xie Jing was still somewhat uneasy. After all, this case had not been filed as a divorce suit.
After hesitating for a while, she finally asked a question.
"Ms. Ye, this isn't a matrimonial case... can we win?"
Seeing Xie Jing's concern, Ye Fei smiled reassuringly. "Sister, don't worry. He's suing you for fraud, but the heart of the case is still your marriage. Your marriage to Zhang Tongwei is a fact. What grounds does he have to sue?"
"Besides, while I'm not a specialist Criminal Lawyer, the opposing White Jun Law Firm is also a marriage advisory practice."
"A lawyer from a solo practice has limited ability."
"Don't you trust me?"
Ye Fei's reassurance worked well, and Xie Jing gradually calmed down.
Court staff entered the waiting rooms.
They escorted both parties and their lawyers into the courtroom.
After both sides and their lawyers took their seats, the court clerk began reading out the courtroom rules.
The first part of the hearing proceeded as follows.
The clerk checked whether the parties and their appointed lawyers were present and read out the courtroom rules. The judicial panel, consisting of the Presiding Judge and two other judges, then entered. The Presiding Judge called the hearing to order, verified the relevant individuals' details, announced the cause of action, and asked whether anyone wished to request a recusal.
The hearing had now reached the judicial panel's entrance.
"All rise!"
"Please welcome the Presiding Judge and the judges!"
There was a rustle of movement.
Everyone in the courtroom rose.
Su Bai looked toward the bench, where the judges' names were displayed.
Presiding Judge: Yang Yu. Judge: Jiang Hao. Judge: Liu Hongmei.
Two male judges and one female judge made up the judicial panel.
Jiang Hao was the judge who had conducted the initial pretrial mediation.
Yang Yu and the other two judges took their places on the bench. He struck the gavel. "Court is now in session!"
The verification of everyone's details was soon completed.
Yang Yu announced the cause of action. "The plaintiff, Zhang Tongwei, accuses the defendant, Xie Jing, of defrauding him under the guise of marriage. Plaintiff, is this cause of action accurate?"
Seated at counsel's table, Su Bai straightened his suit and said, "We accuse the defendant, Xie Jing, of fraud. The stated cause of action is accurate."
Yang Yu glanced at the submitted case materials and struck the gavel.
"The cause of action is confirmed."
"The plaintiff may now present the facts, grounds, and relief sought!"
Before you continue