Chapter 372: This person... is so honest_2
In another office, Director Liu was laughing heartily, probably only he understood the intricacies within.
The initial questions by Lawyer Tang were direct, but they were obviously meant to startle the snake, a probing attempt.
Incidentally digging a pit.
Unexpectedly, Li Zhongda jumped right in without a moment's hesitation!
From the looks of it, Lawyer Tang was a bit dumbfounded; this was probably a first for him.
Any lawyer with a bit of experience wouldn't fall for such a trap.
If it were Director Liu himself, he would never answer so directly about the approval process.
Just mention that the main leaders of the group sign off, and say you're not sure which leader when asked.
If asked whether bonuses for the three approved projects were distributed, just answer that it is irrelevant to the case.
Since this case concerns Su Yeping claiming his bonus, whether other bonuses were distributed indeed has nothing to do with him.
Yes, this might not look good, but when faced with unanswerable questions, playing tricks is the best approach!
Just like that typical example with Director Ma back in the day.
When asked yes or no, just answer: or.
That's why Director Ma kept those workers' jobs, and why Director Ma is now Director Ma; that's the reason.
Knowing you're no match for Tang Fangjing, don't think about head-on confrontation.
The people in the live stream were laughing, and in the courtroom, Li Zhongda was also a bit confused.
He felt like he heard laughter after he answered.
This... Are they laughing at me? But there's nothing funny about my answer.
After thinking for a bit, he added: "Our company is not prepared to continue distributing bonuses because two of the projects suffered significant losses."
"In the case of severe project losses, the company already incurs expenses, so there's no reason to continue distributing bonuses at this time."
He believed his logic was sound, as this was also a rebuttal point the lawyer had given him.
However, as soon as he finished his two sentences, Judge Song knocked the gavel.
As if old age had slowed his reactions, Judge Song only knocked the gavel just after Li Zhongda finished.
"Respondent, you are warned once, do not speak without the approval of the Presiding Judge!"
Li Zhongda: "???"
Judge Song continued: "Respondent, I ask you, does your company have a regulation that denies bonuses to employees who have left the company?"
He too enjoyed the spectacle without fearing added trouble, but unlike Old Tang's deliberate pit-digging questions, he had to base it on facts and law.
Li Zhongda was sweating again; now it was the Presiding Judge asking, so he had to respond.
And he had to answer directly; otherwise, he would bear the burden of proof.
After thinking for quite a while, Li Zhongda finally said: "Presiding Judge, the company has no such regulation internally."
Judge Song recorded something, then asked: "Regarding the Investment Development Department creating its own distribution methods, does the company have explicit rules and regulations?"
After a long pause, Li Zhongda said: "There are no explicit rules on this either."
After finishing his notes, Judge Song asked: "Appellant side, anything to add?"
Old Tang immediately said: "According to City Development Group's documents, the condition for receiving a reward is bringing in a project, with no stipulation that it must be profitable."
"Although the bonus amount is calculated based on projected profits, projected profits are not actual profits."
"Moreover, according to the files, 'the projected profit of the project' shows that the bonus is calculated based on individual projects."
"Not to mention the opposing side has not provided evidence that the project did not meet projected profits. Even going ten thousand steps further, even if two projects suffer losses, it doesn't necessarily prove the remaining four projects will also incur losses!"
The earlier questions were aimed at the company, and he's clear, there's a mission with this, so it must be amplified!
Just a live stream isn't enough.
But now, targeting the company's actions is sufficient, and now Old Tang is starting to seriously win the case.
The meaning of those earlier words was simple, you talk about projected profits, anyone in the engineering field knows, it's calculated when the project is signed.
Similarly, you said you'd distribute bonuses based on each project's situation, yet now you say two projects lost money, so none of the bonuses for the six projects will be distributed.
Would you like to take a look at what you're saying?
This is Old Tang's response to the initial fourth point of contention, your project losses have nothing to do with bonus distribution!
The basis is the document you yourselves previously issued.
Then, Old Tang continued to outline his series of thoughts, including "Approval is both a right and a duty!"
When the worker's actions meet the prescribed form, approval must be granted!
Old Tang methodically compared each subject specified in the document.
"From the document's specified reward target, the Investment Development Department, tasked with bringing in projects, is an eligible reward recipient under this document;"
"According to the document's set reward conditions, the Investment Development Department has successfully introduced six projects for the company, complying with the document's regulations."
"Therefore, for the case concerning the six projects, the Investment Development Department of which Su Yeping is a part has, in form, met the document's reward claim conditions, and City Development Group should proceed with approval!"
As Old Tang spoke, the enthusiasm in the livestreamed audience seemed to slightly dip, as this part wasn't as exciting.