Finally, the time for the trial arrived.
Recorder: "All rise!"
Recorder: "Please welcome the chief judge and the judges to their seats."
Under everyone’s gaze.
Chief Judge Shen Jiarui, Judge Dingxiangling, and Judge Qian Xuejun entered the courtroom.
Chief Judge Shen Jiarui surveyed the room, looking at the crowd.
"Please be seated!"
The chief judge struck the gavel!
The recorder spoke up: "Now announcing the courtroom discipline!"
"Participants in the lawsuit must adhere to courtroom rules, avoiding noise and commotion. Speech, statements, and debates must be permitted by the chief judge."
"Audience members must adhere to the following discipline:
1. Recording, filming, photography, or use of mobile communication tools to broadcast courtroom activities is prohibited.
2. Unauthorized movement and entrance into the trial area are prohibited.
....
...."
The recorder looked at the chief judge, "Reporting to the chief judge, the plaintiff Zhang Tao and the defendant Yangcheng University, both parties’ identities have been confirmed, and the trial can now commence."
Chief Judge Shen Jiarui: "I now declare this court in session!"
Shen Jiarui: "This court will hear the case. Plaintiff, please present your statement and litigation application, along with the facts and basis for the lawsuit."
The case is about to begin.
Netizens in the live broadcast are discussing this case.
There are also many lawyers paying attention to this case.
At Fangda Law Firm, Gao Yong is busy with other cases and hasn’t paid attention to this one.
The one focusing on this case is a top lawyer from Fangda Law Firm named Zhao Fanggang.
Zhao Fanggang is acquainted with Xue Qingqing and likes her.
As a result, now Xue Qingqing has gone to be an assistant for Gu Chen, which somewhat displeases Zhao Fanggang, but there’s nothing he can do.
And this time, the defense lawyer for the defendant happens to be Zhao Fanggang’s friend, a professor in the Department of Law at Yangzhou University, and also a top lawyer at the Magic City Red Circle Law Firm, named Zhao Ranran.
Zhao Fanggang is even hosting a live stream, analyzing this case for the netizens.
"Zhang Tao sued the school over a scholarship, which I see as an irrational act. If there’s an issue with the scholarship, the first step should be to communicate with the school teachers, not directly post videos online to stir things up. After the school took steps, Zhang Tao immediately sued the school, which only escalates the problem. Suing the school ultimately doesn’t have much meaning."
"Of course, I support impoverished students defending their rights. If Zhang Tao’s spot was indeed replaced by a wealthy child, and if he is truly a needy student, then suing the school is reasonable."
"But this has put the school in a difficult position. Even if he wins the lawsuit... what then?" Zhao Fanggang said in the live broadcast room, shaking his head.
Clearly, he’s unwilling to offend the school over a scholarship worth a few thousand yuan.
After all, what if the school finds ways to target Zhang Tao afterwards?
Besides, Zhang Tao is too daring...
Not only did he sue the school, but he also sued the teachers, the principal, and the vice-principal. Isn’t this too much?
Zhang Tao as a student mustn’t be this bold.
This must be Gu Chen’s doing...
Isn’t Gu Chen just a lawyer with fewer than ten cases handled? It’s one thing for a client to want to sue over a scholarship, but Gu Chen insisted on suing the school leaders?
Is he bored and looking for trouble?
Zhao Fanggang watched it all with amusement.
He doesn’t believe this lawsuit will be won.
Netizens were constantly sending bullet comments in the live stream.
"I feel that Lawyer Gu Chen might find this lawsuit difficult, isn’t it easy for the school to block a needy student spot? Just saying your materials are insufficient, that your procedures are incomplete, and it’s done, but for the wealthy child replacement... there needs to be evidence, right? Without proof, isn’t it pointless?"
"I have a question, wasn’t this lawsuit related to scholarships? Shouldn’t it be a civil case? Why did it turn into a criminal case?"
"Did Zhang Tao get beaten? Or did the school commit some crime, this case doesn’t seem so simple."
"Lawyer Gu Chen is so ruthless, right off the bat suing the school leaders, and even suing four people, straight to one versus five, impressive."
"But can he win? The scholarship issue surely shouldn’t reach the school leadership level, right? Isn’t this related to the Youth League Committee?"
"Who knows, what’s the use in suing the principal and vice-principal, did these two commit a crime and got caught by Gu Chen?"
"Lawyer Gu Chen, almost every time, sends the opposing side packing."
"One versus five, wouldn’t Lawyer Gu find it hard to win?"
Netizens were just eager bystanders.
And Zhao Fanggang explained in the live stream: "Actually, Gu Chen’s lawsuit against four school leaders is unnecessary; the scholarship issue doesn’t need to be stretched this far, nor should it become a criminal case."
"If it’s a criminal lawsuit, that implies the school leadership might be involved in corruption, but that’s a separate matter, a bit detached from this case."
"The case at hand primarily concerns scholarship issues. To overturn the school’s position, one must produce evidence."
"Firstly, Zhang Tao’s scholarship application materials must be flawless, and it needs to be proven that Zhang Tao himself is indeed poor because if Zhang Tao is wealthy, not granting him the scholarship is entirely reasonable."
"Secondly, proving the wealthy child is genuinely wealthy is essential. This must be supported by evidence; if not, there’s no way to argue the spot was replaced by the school."
"So, Gu Chen faces considerable difficulty in wanting to win this lawsuit."
Zhao Fanggang said to explain to the viewers in the live stream.
Zhao Fanggang continued: "As you know, Lawyer Gu Chen is undefeated so far, but in this case, unless Gu Chen has some critical evidence, there’s a significant chance of losing."
"Also, turning this into a criminal case requires justification and evidence. Making unfounded litigation claims without evidence could result in legal accountability for related criminal liabilities."
"Moreover, I know Yang University’s defense lawyer; she’s a top-tier lawyer from Magic City Red Circle Law Firm, a professor at Yang University, very competent, and known in the industry as the ’Iron Lady’ because she’s incredibly formidable in trials, very imposing."
"Even though Gu Chen is very adept at lawsuits, facing this Iron Lady might still pose some challenges..."
Seeing Zhao Fanggang’s comment in the live broadcast...
Netizens felt the lawsuit might be tough.
Zhao Fanggang said: "Furthermore, even if Gu Chen can help Zhang Tao win, it won’t affect the school much, the school might just say the Youth League Committee’s oversight led to scholarship spot issues, apologize and compensate with a scholarship."
"Yet... I can’t comprehend why Gu Chen would sue the school principal and vice-principal."
"Without evidence when submitting litigation claims haphazardly, the chief judge will likely favor the school side..."
"Then there’s a chance Gu Chen might lose this lawsuit."