An Extraordinary Lawyer’s Subspace - Chapter 186



Only Krnovel

【Episode 186 – Experience the Blip】

Do you remember the Teflon incident in 1998?

Attorney Robert Billott, who represents the victims, requested additional information from the chemical company’s attorney because he was curious about what the substance called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was, which he had accidentally discovered in the claim documents.

Annoyed by such requests, the opposing counsel sent a huge amount of material to Robert Billott’s office that he could not possibly review on his own.

It was not that the opposing attorney did not know that the materials would contain evidence that could be used against him.

They were sent to Robert Billroth because he felt he would never be able to review them all.

Humans are much more persistent animals than we think.

Sometimes we ourselves overlook that fact.

“hmm-”

The documents sent from Kaiser Dutton were voluminous.

I didn’t expect them to be so kind as to throw away 30 years’ worth of claims paperwork.

The good news is that they are all in electronic file format.

In the past, I would have had to print all of this out in the office and take it into the subspace.

There is no need for that now.

The general headed to Subspace City carrying a hard disk drive containing 30 years of PIC Insurance claim documents.

It may take some time(?), but it is not something that cannot be done.

“Shall we play a game first, Butterfly?”

A man who did several months of translation work in a space of less than 10 pyeong and no sunlight, let alone a computer.

Roy Sanders never experienced Han Beom-sang’s tenacity.

It wasn’t his fault.

“Meow-”

“You like it?”

-*-

Three days passed,

After sending the records requested by Han Beom-sang.

Kaiser Dutton Hill Building,

Insurance team conference room.

Roy Sanders, who was trying to find out whether 30 years’ worth of documents had been sent as instructed and what the reaction had been if they had been sent, received a shocking report.

This morning, it was said that now that the review is complete, we should move on to the witness examination process.

“What? Is it true?”

“Yes, that’s what I got in touch with. Along with a list of requested witnesses.”

In American civil litigation, there is a ‘preliminary investigation procedure’ called discovery.

This is a procedure that was created to minimize the burden on the court. It is a system that allows all evidence to be disclosed and discussed sufficiently with each other before fighting in court, and only then, if a fight really has to be fought.

Evidence not disclosed in Discovery cannot be used at trial unless there are special circumstances.

Witness examination and agreement coordination also take place at this stage.

“Where’s the list? Bring it.”

“Here it is.”

Roy Sanders reviewed the list of requested witnesses handed to him by the junior partner.

Several PIC Insurance executives were on the list, including Joshua Morris and Shawn Johnson of the legal department.

But, something is a bit strange.

The list includes the names and identities of not only current employees, but also “former” employees.

“Who are these people? Are these people really the ones who worked at PIC?”

“I received it this morning, but I haven’t checked it yet.”

“Check it out.”

“Right now?”

“now.”

I sent the documents the day before yesterday.

That’s an amount of work that would take ten people a year to review, putting aside all other work.

When I was told that they were going to proceed with the witness examination process, I just confirmed it with the thought, ‘Huh, well, that’s right. It was a bluff.’

He said that he had sent along a list of witnesses to be summoned for questioning.

Roy Sanders checked the list right away,

I felt something was wrong.

I don’t feel good.

Roy Sanders is now desperate.

At the senior partner’s command, the youngest associate attorney left the conference room immediately, and Roy Sanders continued his meeting with the remaining insurance team attorneys.

I sent it out to check, but it was already assumed to be true.

“Once you’ve confirmed with PIC, ask them to list the cases that the people on this list were in charge of. Also, what cases did they refuse payment for, and if so, why did they refuse? And contact the legal team…”

“Sir, I’m sorry to interrupt you…”

“What is it?”

“That is… They sent me a list of witnesses along with a questionnaire to be used during the interrogation.”

!!!

Roy Sanders stared blankly at his junior partner’s face for a moment.

These days, I keep doubting my ears.

“What did you send?”

“The questionnaires containing the witness statement matters···.”

As expected, the ears were fine.

“I know what a questionnaire is! Really? You really sent me a questionnaire?”

Although he was the type of person who rarely changed his expression even when he was flustered, the feeling of embarrassment began to break through his hardened skin.

The wrinkles above his eyebrows twitched.

“yes.”

“Where is it? If there’s something like that, you should show it to me right away… Wait, the questionnaire… guys?!”

Not one?!

“yes.”

“Whose? Joshua Morris and Shawn Johnson. And who else?”

Roy Sanders looked at the witness list and found the next name.

The moment he was about to say another name, the junior partner’s answer silenced his mouth.

“That’s all.”

“?”

“I sent them all. Every witness on the list.”

The junior partner was also briefed just before entering the conference room.

I was just casually reviewing it during the meeting, and only quickly glanced over it after I saw the senior partner looking flustered.

He is also very embarrassed.

Because I can’t explain it.

Roy Sanders snatched the report papers from his hands and began to examine them himself.

It wasn’t a lie.

It really was all in there.

Eighteen witnesses and their testimony.

It was unrealistic.

Realistically···

Silence fell for a moment in the conference room of the Kaiser Dutton Hill Insurance Team.

For the first time since becoming a partner, Roy Sanders has no idea what instructions to give.

‘You sent these questionnaires together?

Didn’t I send you the records the day before yesterday?

how···?

Am I dreaming now?

Or where have you been for the past year?’

I feel like I’ve returned to a place where time had stopped.

There is no need for confirmation.

It was all included in the questionnaire.

This is not a bluff.

It can’t be done.

The fact that he was pointing out the mistakes in such detail clearly meant that he had found evidence in the records he had reviewed.

‘How on earth…?’

Roy Sanders never liked asking such stupid questions, but after looking at the documents sent by Han Beom-sang, such questions were the only ones that came to mind.

I was going to bomb it…

It was bombed.

And the impact of that bombing was so powerful.

‘How on earth…?’

It was a feeling of defeat that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

It felt like I was being pushed by an overwhelming force.

After breaking the silence for thirty minutes, the only instructions he could give were…

“Send all these questionnaires to the PIC legal team. Ask them to verify if they are true and comment. If they are true······”

The discovery process must be halted and settlement negotiations resumed.

“Please ask me to check first. I will talk to the legal director.”

“Okay, I understand. What should I say to the other party’s lawyer?”

I really don’t want to do it, but

“I beg your understanding. Please give me just a little bit of time.”

The lawsuit is not over yet.

But, I don’t feel good.

Looking at the questionnaires sent by Han Beom-sang,

A strange sense of defeat keeps creeping up on me.

“My personal opinion is that even if they give away the entire $10 million, it is small compared to what PIC Insurance has to lose.”

What he said came to mind again.

At that moment, the back of Roy Sanders’ neck stiffened.

The old man loses his position to this young general.

The nameplate came into his sight.

It’s just one incident,

I don’t feel good.

Greetings from the old man

After receiving the list of requested witnesses and the questionnaires for the press, Roy Sanders first visited Kim & Kang’s office.

“To be honest, I was surprised. Very surprised.”

Roy Sanders regained his usual composure.

Although his tone was calm, he spoke the truth.

“I will take that as a compliment.”

Han Beom-sang answered. His tone of voice was polite and calm as always.

However, I do not feel intimidated or bowed down at all.

I don’t even try to raise my voice to sound strong.

His speech would be the same even if he were speaking in his native language.

“It was respect.”

“thank you.”

A brief greeting.

It brings to mind knights aiming their spears at each other.

“I carefully reviewed the list and questionnaire you sent me. After reviewing it, I looked into a law firm called Kim & Kang. It was a great law firm.”

“Thank you for your high praise.”

“I also looked into one lawyer. I made a mistake. If I had looked into it more, I would have been more careful.”

Beom-sang slightly bowed his head to express his gratitude to the opposing lawyer’s endless praise.

I didn’t come here today to bang on the window.

Last time I came here too ignorant about the other person.

I came to greet and explore, which I had not done properly.

“I know exactly what attitude Kim & Kang has toward this incident.”

Roy Sanders determined that dozens of Kim & Kang attorneys were involved in the case.

I couldn’t help but think that way.

Because I finished something that I absolutely could not have done alone.

In 48 hours, ten lawyers can do what would take a year.

And that too, very meticulously.

As a foreign law firm opening a new office in New York, I thought it was a great strategy.

An effort to take on local cases rather than simply being a liaison office for clients obtained through the home office.

Because it looked easy, but it was definitely not easy.

Not many partners in a law firm can make such a bet, where the attorneys’ time itself is an investment and expense.

Even if you want to, the Asos won’t follow you.

Roy Sanders studied the young Korean lawyer in front of him carefully. In the back of his mind, he knew that if he did something wrong, he, with 25 years of experience, might be in trouble.

“So when will we be able to testify?”

It’s leisurely.

Even though it is a position that requires urging.

Roy Sanders could now be sure.

That the opponent in front of you has the intention of hitting the tip of the spear.

“I honestly don’t know if we’ll be able to summon all of them because we’ve requested so many witnesses.”

“If it’s difficult, you can do as much as you can during the discovery phase. We will contact you directly during the trial phase.”

“Okay, I’ll try to get it ready as soon as possible.”

After reviewing the questions sent by the president, Sanders carefully investigated the claims made in the questions.

All claims are problematic. None of them are pointed out in vain.

Compensation payments that were due were not paid.

If this is mentioned during the trial, PIC Insurance will be in a very difficult position.

I don’t know what your argument skills are, but if you have the ability to charm a jury, ten million dollars is no longer an unrealistic goal.

“Actually, the reason I came here today was to see if there was any intention to end this matter through an agreement, even now.”

If so, an agreement would be wise.

“As I said then, our client is willing to settle at any time.”

“If I ask you the amount, would you please tell me?”

“Yes, ten million dollars.”

I knew you’d say that.

“Unfortunately, that amount will not be easy. The claim is ten million dollars, and no client is willing to pay the entire claim as a settlement. If you give me a realistic amount, I will do my best to persuade PIC. How about five million dollars, for example? That would more than cover the costs that Kim & Kang has incurred so far.”

I was sincere.

but,

“My opinion remains the same, Mr. Sanders. Even if you give me the full $10 million, it would be a small price to pay compared to what PIC Insurance would lose. It’s a reasonable request.”

The opponent didn’t budge.

‘This guy is definitely not someone to be taken lightly.’