Chapter 168: Defence That Can Be Written Into the Textbook
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Hugo secretly thought, "This is bad!" upon seeing the reaction at the scene.
Hobert cleverly used Arnold's previous momentum to establish that Arnold had ulterior motives for escalating the situation, making it difficult to shift the focus back to class contradictions.
Hobert secured another minor victory in the second round of defense. After two consecutive small wins, the plaintiff now had a significant advantage.
Then, as the third round of debate began, Attorney Hugo decisively adjusted his defense strategy again, basing it once more on Arnold's non-participation in specific management, thereby dissociating him from responsibility in the matter.
Hobert's defense was simple: if Arnold had no responsibility, why did he make the matter known throughout Backlund? This was clearly an attempt to downplay his own responsibility and deliberately evade it.
At this point, Arnold deeply regretted making the case public. He couldn't understand why what he thought was his advantage had completely turned into evidence against him in Hobert's hands.
During the fourth round of debate, Attorney Hugo simply abandoned the defense of non-liability and began to bargain with Hobert, discussing the amount of compensation and striving to avoid Arnold's criminal responsibility.
According to common sense, work-related injury compensation is actually a civil dispute. Legal responsibility is only pursued if it causes adverse effects or major accidents.
Therefore, Attorney Hugo's defense for exempting Arnold from criminal responsibility achieved some success.
At around eleven o'clock in the morning, after a lengthy defense, the judge ruled that Bob was injured and disabled due to Arnold's inaction. The defendant, Arnold, was required to pay Bob a lump sum of 860 pounds and pay Hobert's legal fees of 52 pounds and 6 soli, totaling 912 pounds and 6 soli. Arnold was not guilty of intentional injury and was therefore not criminally liable, but he was ordered to post safety slogans in his factory and provide safety training to employees.
This highly anticipated "Work Injury Compensation Case" ultimately ended with the plaintiff's victory.
A law professor from Backlund University who was present at the hearing said to his students, "This is definitely a defense that can be included in textbooks! It transitioned from a civil case to a criminal case, then from a criminal case to a social case, and then from a social case to a case requiring Arnold's personal responsibility."
"I saw Hobert's wisdom in every transition, as well as the fierce competition between the defendant and the plaintiff. Students, this is a very vivid lesson in advocacy. Hobert's defense tells us that the opponent's advantage is not terrible in many cases. On the contrary, the opponent's advantage can be a tool we use."
Mike Joseph, a reporter from the "Daily Observer", wrote down this passage from the professor in its entirety in his notebook.
In the audience, more people were cheering, "Justice has prevailed in Backlund!"
[T/N: The World needs Justice]
"Long live justice!"
"The light of justice shines again in Backlund!"
"..."
Those who were leading the slogans were, of course, also hired by Hobert.
This was the reward he prepared for Audrey and Glaint. For them, there was no better reward than the feedback from people for their efforts.
Hobert glanced at Audrey and Glaint and saw that Audrey's pretty face was flushed with excitement, and Glaint also had a satisfied smile.
Giving them money or even magical items would not satisfy them as much.
After Hobert agreed with Attorney Hugo on the specific time for compensation, he took Bob away from the plaintiff's seat.
Reporters immediately surrounded him: "Mr. Hobert, what are your thoughts now?"
"Mr. Hobert, what efforts did you make to achieve today's victory?"
"Mr. Hobert..."
Hobert raised his hand wearily: "I'm sorry, everyone, the defense just now has made me feel a little tired. If you want to interview me, please come to 'Aslan-Barton Law Firm' in the afternoon, where I will accept your interviews."
So the reporters immediately changed their interview target: "Mr. Bob, how do you plan to spend the compensation?"
"Are you satisfied with the amount of compensation?"
"..."
Hobert raised his hand again: "I'm sorry, my client is not prepared for an interview..."
"No, lawyer," Bob suddenly said, "I want to tell everyone, yes, I must tell everyone, I met a good lawyer."
As he spoke, Bob burst into tears: "Before I met lawyer Hobert, no lawyer was willing to take my case. Just when I was most desperate, just when I was about to accept Arnold's compensation as if it were charity, lawyer Hobert appeared.
"He, he made me regain my dignity as a person..."
Bob cried excitedly: "As long as there are lawyers like Hobert, there is hope for Backlund!"
The newspaper reporters quickly wrote down this sentence, and the sketch artists also wrote furiously, recording this scene.
The current photography technology still has certain flaws. The subject has to remain motionless in one position for a long time to complete the photography process, so newspapers basically hire sketch artists to record classic scenes and match them with the text in the newspaper.
After squeezing through the crowd with Bob to the carriage, Hobert smiled and waved to everyone as he got into the car, which caused the sketch artists to write furiously again.
In their opinion, this was a salute to victory.
After the carriage started moving, Hobert finally relaxed. Then, he felt the high degree of integration between his spirituality and his body.
The victory in today's lawsuit allowed him to perfectly complete a performance again. He planned to take the "Briber" potion tonight.
Thomas and Ikanser were also in the carriage. The two captains congratulated Hobert on his victory.
With this case as an example, other workers will be able to claim more reasonable compensation when they suffer disabling work injuries in the future.
Hobert first thanked them for their congratulations, and then said to Ikanser, "You have to find a way to give Bob a new identity and a new place to live, otherwise he will easily be targeted by robbers or thieves."
Ikanser nodded: "Leave it to me, we will protect Bob."
Hobert smiled at Bob and said, "You will follow Captain Ikonse in a while, get ready to welcome your new life!"
Bob held Hobert's hand: "Mr. Lawyer, I, I don't know how to thank you."
Hobert said meaningfully: "I also want to thank you, because in this case, I have gained and felt a lot."
Back at the law firm, Hobert rested for an hour or two, and the reporters arrived as scheduled.
Hobert certainly knew the role of public opinion and patiently answered every reporter's question. Even if some questions were tricky, the reporters were no match for Hobert.
It wasn't until after four o'clock in the afternoon that Hobert saw off the last reporter. He stretched. Today's work was finally over.
However, because the potion was further digested, he didn't feel too tired.
So he chatted with Barton for a few words and returned to the rental house. Xio and Fors left a note saying that they had gone to the bar to celebrate today's victory.
Hobert came to his room, used the method of praying to himself, obtained the characteristic of the "Briber" that had completed re-aggregation, and went to Carl's herbal medicine store to buy the necessary auxiliary materials.
He returned to his home in Empress Borough with all the materials for the potion. According to the agreement with Christian, he had to talk to Christian before drinking the potion.
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