Chapter 54: Another Criminal Case?
Regarding Xu Xiang’s employment, matters proceeded very smoothly.
However, on the other hand, regarding the relationship between Xu Xiang and Li Xuezhen as senior and junior fellow disciples, neither of them spoke about it.
The two intended to maintain separate standings.
Li Xuezhen: I will serve as the second in command of the law firm.
Xu Xiang: I am your senior fellow disciple, and within the law firm you are still the most junior.
Li Xuezhen: (a distressed expression)
In fact, Xu Xiang and Li Xuezhen could not truly be considered senior and junior fellow disciples.
It was only that Xu Xiang’s supervisor and Li Xuezhen’s teacher had a good relationship.
Students under the two teachers would usually gather together.
Therefore Li Xuezhen naturally became the junior fellow disciple under both teachers.
Inside Baijun Law Firm.
Xu Xiang’s onboarding procedures and employment contract had already been completed.
Regarding salary, commission, and certain employment conditions, Su Bai arranged them in accordance with the standards of an ordinary law firm.
The base salary was not particularly high, and the principal improvement in treatment was reflected in the commission arrangement.
Although Su Bai had now advanced to become a capitalist, if one wanted the horse to run, one still had to feed the horse.
If one did not provide favorable treatment, it would be impossible to retain people.
Su Bai understood this principle clearly.
Su Bai also accordingly assigned certain small settlement matters to Xu Xiang for handling, and at present the operation of the law firm appeared entirely favorable.
As long as development continued gradually, matters would certainly become increasingly better.
The prospect of developing into a top tier law firm was within sight.
Inside the office.
Su Bai was leisurely drinking tea, and after transferring part of the law firm’s affairs to Xu Xiang, he felt considerably more relaxed.
Knock knock.
After relocating to the new premises, Su Bai also had his own office.
Outside the door, Li Xuezhen knocked on the office door and entered.
“Lawyer Su, the wife of the client in the labor law case previously introduced to our law firm by Lawyer Xiao has arrived.”
“Alright, I will go out to meet her.”
Su Bai put down the teacup and went to the reception room.
Inside the reception room.
A woman with a weary appearance and approximately forty five or forty six years of age was sitting on the sofa.
Li Xuezhen poured a cup of water for the woman, and the woman held the cup with both hands and continuously expressed her thanks.
“Thank you.”
After Su Bai arrived in the reception room, the woman hurriedly stood up.
“May I ask, are you Lawyer Su?”
Su Bai revealed a gentle smile. “Yes, I am Lawyer Su. Please sit down first.”
“Alright. I was introduced by Lawyer Xiao.”
“Lawyer Xiao said that for my case, coming to Lawyer Su should not be a major problem.”
“Let us first discuss the case. Whether there is a major problem or not can be determined after discussing the case.”
Regarding this case, Su Bai had previously heard Xiao Haibo speak about it briefly.
However, the details were not very specific, so further discussion with the client was still required.
“Alright.”
The woman nodded and began to describe the case.
“Lawyer Su, the matter is as follows. My husband works at a construction company.”
“The construction company frequently withholds wages. My husband’s wages were withheld for a full two years, including certain material expenses that he had advanced, amounting in total to nearly three hundred thousand yuan.”
“This money was earned through my husband’s hard labor, but the other party delayed payment for several years and simply refused to pay.”
“During this period they even threatened my husband by saying that if he did not continue working they would not pay him, and in this way they kept threatening and delaying.”
“Now I have heard that the owner of that construction company, in order to avoid repayment, deliberately found a disreputable person to assume responsibility and transferred the equity, debts, and legal representative status.”
Half an hour later.
After the woman finished her description and after understanding the general circumstances, Su Bai frowned slightly.
Was this not an extremely improper practice?
To exploit others to such an extent and then, after using them, attempt to transfer equity, debts, and legal representative status in order to free oneself from all liabilities and simply leave without responsibility?
This was quite an unrealistic expectation.
Su Bai returned his attention to the woman.
“Where is your husband? Why did your husband, as the party concerned, not come here?”
Seeing that the woman hesitated somewhat, Su Bai explained, “The situation is this. There are certain matters that we can only assess after meeting the party concerned in order to determine how this case should be conducted.”
“Moreover, your husband is the party concerned in this matter, and only with his authorization can our law firm proceed to the next procedural step.”
The woman seemed to recall something and her eyes became red.
“Our family urgently needs money. My husband has been unable to recover the money and became ill from anxiety. He was receiving intravenous treatment two days ago, so I did not let him come and instead came myself.”
“I see.”
“In such a situation, our law firm can provide on site services.”
“You may first provide an address. If you confirm that you wish to entrust our law firm, then this afternoon or tomorrow we will visit in person to conduct a detailed inquiry and sign the attorney representation agreement.”
“Alright. Lawyer Su, I would like to ask whether this money can be recovered, because this is our hard earned money.”
“My husband worked for two years and also advanced certain renovation material expenses. This money can be said to be the foundation of our family’s livelihood.”
As the woman spoke of this, her eyes became red and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Li Xuezhen stepped forward, sat beside the woman, took a tissue, and handed it to her.
“Thank you.”
The woman accepted the tissue and expressed her thanks with both hands clasped.
Su Bai remained silent for several seconds and then suddenly spoke.
“Based on your general description of this case, I already have an understanding. If the evidence and conditions are sufficient, have you considered initiating criminal proceedings?”
The woman: ???
Li Xuezhen: ???
They only wished to recover the money, yet he instead wanted to send the other party into criminal proceedings?
The woman’s expression became conflicted. “Lawyer Su, what do you mean by that?”
“I mean it literally. Criminal proceedings accompanied by civil proceedings. First submit the matter to the relevant authorities for case filing, and then initiate litigation or submit a private prosecution.”
“In that case, Lawyer Su, can our money be recovered?”
“That depends on the circumstances. If the other party reaches a settlement and is willing to return the money, then the matter will be easier.”
“However, if the other party is unwilling, it will first be necessary to apply for property preservation and examine whether the other party’s company has funds.”
“However, if criminal proceedings are initiated and the other party is still unwilling, then civil litigation will probably also be difficult.”
“Then what if the other party’s company does not have money?”
“If there is no money, that is also not a problem, but I need to conduct further investigation before confirming whether I can help you recover your wages and the series of material expenses. The specific situation cannot yet be determined.”
“Then thank you, Lawyer Su.”
The woman stood up and bowed. “Thank you, Lawyer Su.”
“Lawyer Su, regarding the lawyer’s fees.”
Su Bai had already stood up.
“The lawyer’s fees will be charged according to the standard lawyer fee schedule.”
“At that time our law firm will issue an invoice and apply for the other party to bear the lawyer’s fees.”
“In labor cases, generally after a successful judgment the other party will be required to bear the costs.”
“You do not need to worry.”
“Of course this refers to the general situation. If the judgment determines that the other party does not bear the costs, then the lawyer’s fees will still be charged according to the standard lawyer fee schedule.”
“Alright. Thank you, Lawyer Su.”
“You are welcome.”
After escorting the woman away, Li Xuezhen’s eyes immediately lit up.
Another criminal proceeding?