Chapter 99 – Starting Well and Ending Well

Geum Nae-yeong began his pleading.

“Presiding Judge, the issue of this case is to first confirm whether the defendant is the true recipient of the 5.1 billion lottery prize. Therefore, the plaintiff’s legal representative applies for a factual inquiry to the ‘Cooperatives Bank,’ which is in charge of paying lottery prizes, to confirm the information of the 134th lottery winner.”

When Geum Nae-yeong’s statement ended, Park Jun-woo laughed to himself.

‘Factual inquiry? It won’t be easy.’

He had already looked up what a factual inquiry was.

‘A factual inquiry is when the court officially requests related organizations or groups to confirm the facts necessary to resolve a case during the trial.’

However, they said that a factual inquiry about a lottery winner is not easy. Because if personal information such as the lottery winner’s name and winning amount is provided, problems with providing the personal information of other winners and invasion of privacy would arise.

Moreover, in the case of this lawsuit, since it was not even clear whether the win was a fact or not, they said that if the judge did not accept the factual inquiry, it couldn’t be done.

‘Indeed. Jang Hyo-seung. That clumsy guy hired an attorney who just looks decent but conducts trials roughly. They said these days attorneys don’t even think and just conduct trials clumsily… tsk, tsk.’

Park Jun-woo quickly said to the presiding judge in an aggrieved voice.

“Presiding Judge. I don’t even know if I really won, you know? …And even if I did win, isn’t that… my personal information?

‘Who are the winners of the 134th draw? How much did they receive?’ Isn’t it impossible to check such personal information without their consent?”

Geum Nae-yeong calmly requested to display the application for factual inquiry submitted in the morning on the screen.

“Please take a look.”

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Case: 20** Gahap 909011 Agreed Money

Plaintiff: Jang Hyo-seung

Defendant: Park Jun-woo

In relation to the above case, the plaintiff applies for a factual inquiry as follows to prove the claimed facts.

Details

1. Target Institution of Inquiry

The department in charge of receiving and managing lottery winnings at the main office of Cooperatives Bank.

2. Inquiry Matters

Whether there is a person named Park Jun-woo (94132-****) among the winners of the 34th lottery.

And, if there is a person corresponding to Item 1, the winning amount actually received by that winner.

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“This is the application for factual inquiry I submitted. As the defendant said, I do not need to know personal information such as ‘who the winners of the 134th lottery are, or how much prize money they received.’”

Geum Nae-yeong showed a subtle hint of a smile on his face.

Park Jun-woo had a puzzled expression.

‘…Uh??’

“The details of the inquiry are as you saw. We only need to check ‘whether’ the defendant is on the list of winners. If the defendant is on the list, it is sufficient to check whether he received the winning amount.

This inquiry content does not include the personal information of others, nor does it excessively demand individual information. In other words, it is only to confirm the winning status, which is the core issue of this case.”

Hearing Geum Nae-yeong’s words, the judge nodded very simply.

“Yes. I accept it. We will resume the pleading once the factual inquiry arrives.”

At the judge’s single word, Park Jun-woo’s face turned pale and he began to panic.

“Pardon?? You are checking it?… I-I never consented? Wasn’t doing that recklessly forbidden? And isn’t that also a leak of my personal information?”

The judge continued as if it was annoying.

“There are only the plaintiff and the defendant in the lawsuit, so why would personal information be leaked? We only need to check the winning status in this lawsuit, so I accept it.”

Mumbling at the judge’s words, Park Jun-woo suddenly opened his mouth as if remembering something.

‘Right. Even if I did receive the winnings, in the end, whether I have to give that 50% or not is something that is decided only if there is evidence. If there is no evidence? There is absolutely no need to give it.

No matter how famous of an attorney he brings, no one can touch me without evidence.’

“Oh, right… Even if I did receive the winnings, I never said that I would give half to Jang Hyo-seung. And there is no evidence either!”

Without any agitation, Geum Nae-yeong took out a document.

“We will apply for a witness.”

“A witness?”

When the judge asked, Geum Nae-yeong nodded.

“The witness to apply for is Mr. Kim Gwang-ryeol, the department head of the development team of the company where the defendant worked.”

Hearing Geum Nae-yeong’s words, Park Jun-woo doubted his ears.

‘What? Department Head Kim Gwang-ryeol? No, why? Why… is the department head testifying?’

“Did you discuss testifying with the witness in advance?”

At the judge’s words, Geum Nae-yeong replied immediately.

“Yes. On the day the plaintiff purchased this lottery ticket, Mr. Kim Gwang-ryeol heard the defendant say that he would give the plaintiff half of the winnings, and he said he would stand as a witness.”

The judge pushed up his glasses and stared at Geum Nae-yeong once.

‘…It is this guy. The one who is said to be winning everywhere lately. But he has already secured the witness?

It wouldn’t be easy to bring a witness in a case like this… to push factual inquiry application and witness application at once…’

“Yes. Then we will also proceed with the witness examination after the factual inquiry arrives.”

At the judge’s words, Park Jun-woo felt the world turn dark in front of his eyes.

‘…Why Department Head Kim… of all other employees, and of all people, my university senior… why…’

***

A week ago.

The entrance of a small-to-medium enterprise building in Gyeonggi Province.

Geum Nae-yeong was standing in front of the company where Jang Hyo-seung and Park Jun-woo were said to have worked. A small, three-story complex building with a parking lot, warehouse, and front yard attached.

‘The key is the employee’s testimony regarding the defendant’s promise to give half.’

The security guard asked the purpose of his visit in front of the door.

“How can I help you?”

“I am an attorney of Law Office Teum. I visited due to a serious legal matter related to your company.”

Looking at Geum Nae-yeong’s attorney badge, the security guard hesitated for a moment and then opened the door.

Geum Nae-yeong walked inside without hesitation.

As he went up the stairs to the second floor, the office of the development team where Jang Hyo-seung and Park Jun-woo worked came directly into view.

Geum Nae-yeong scanned the inside of the office. Then, he walked right past the employees who were engrossed in their work. It was a step with a clear destination.

‘The stronger the hierarchy in an organization, the clearer the tendency of lower-level employees to choose silence for fear of retaliation or disadvantage. Therefore, the possibility of voluntary testimony is low.’

Geum Nae-yeong stopped at the end of the office and looked back and forth.

On the left, a panel indicating the Development Department Head’s Office was hung, and on the right, the President’s Office.

‘Who is the person to contact among the two figures at the top of this company’s hierarchical organization?’

After a moment, Geum Nae-yeong turned his steps to the left without any hesitation.

And he went straight inside, opening the door of the Development Department Head’s Office.

Knock knock, click.

‘Starting Well and Ending Well.

Actually, there is no need to think about which side has a higher probability of testifying.’

When the client Jang Hyo-seung came for consultation, Geum Nae-yeong remembered precisely the internal power structure of the company and how Park Jun-woo had notified his resignation.

And he went straight to find Kim Gwang-ryeol, the department head of the development team.

Department Head Kim Gwang-ryeol was a key manpower of this company who had spent his whole life working for a promotion.

However, after Park Jun-woo’s sudden resignation, heavy work fell on him, and his anger was filled to the top of his head.

Park Jun-woo had notified his resignation with a single text message without saying a word. In a small company with a severe labor shortage, such a sudden departure could only be a huge loss.

‘I took care of him as a junior… but even if he was sick, notifying his resignation with a single phone call?’

On the day of the incident.

Having just rejected and sent out Park Jun-woo’s terrible report, the department head suddenly remembered something to convey and opened the door of his office again.

At that moment, the scene of Park Jun-woo stopping Jang Hyo-seung and tormenting him as usual caught his eye.

Park Jun-woo was talking in a loud voice.

“Ahahaha. If I win, I will really give you half. Seriously. This time is real, real. So just buy me one…”

He heard those words clearly.

And now, he heard from Geum Nae-yeong the fact that Park Jun-woo’s resignation reason was not a health issue but winning first place in the lottery, and that they were currently in a lawsuit over that matter.

‘What… that guy, so he wasn’t sick, but resigned with a single phone call because he won the lottery?…

I don’t care whether you do well or not, but I cannot just let it pass when you caused damage to the company. Moreover, you even lied to me?’

“Yes, I will testify.”

Department Head Kim Gwang-ryeol promised on the spot to stand as a witness for Geum Nae-yeong.

***

Back in the courtroom.

As Park Jun-woo stood blankly with a pale face, the judge put his hand to the microphone briefly and said simply.

“I have already accepted it. We will stop this case here and move on to the next case.”

Park Jun-woo, who lost his fighting spirit at the judge’s cold tone, felt that he had taken this matter too lightly.

‘…They clearly said on the internet that you don’t need an attorney for this much…

What is… that person? He is like a person who knew in advance how I would act… He countered immediately before I could even open my mouth, and I clearly heard that attorneys handle lawsuits roughly…

What is… this…? What on earth…’

The trial ended like that. Park Jun-woo left the courtroom, dragging his trembling legs.

Geum Nae-yeong walked past him and threw a word.

“If you have done nothing wrong, a self-litigation is also possible. However, if not, you must obtain the advice of a legal expert. Unless you are going to endure the results of an irrational choice.”

It was a calm tone. As if just letting him know the facts.

“If the factual inquiry result shows that you did receive the 5.1 billion won winnings, you will have to pay about 1.75 billion won to our client. Although we will have to check the exact amount written on the inquiry sheet.”

Park Jun-woo’s face crumpled in an instant.

However, without any movement and without his eyes shaking, Geum Nae-yeong continued speaking.

“You would want to hire an attorney right now, but that won’t change anything. Furthermore, you will also have to pay my attorney fees.

Since the claimed amount exceeds 500 million, you will have to pay about 20 to 30 million won more for attorney fees, stamp duty, and service fees. To our client.”

“And. We will claim delay damages. Calculated at 12% per annum, three months have passed, so it exceeds 50 million won.”

Facing amounts he had never heard in his life, Park Jun-woo’s words got tangled up.

“??… What? Why?… Why does the money keep getting more and more…?”

Geum Nae-yeong gave a simple summary.

“That is how it is. If you had given the money immediately, it would have been 1.75 billion won. Because you held out for no reason… you ended up paying over 1.8 billion.”

Park Jun-woo only blinked blankly. Then, he rolled his brain and tested Geum Nae-yeong.

“I… if, if I don’t go to judgment and just give the money to Jang Hyo-seung now… it-it will be fine with just 1.70 billion, right?”

“No.”

Geum Nae-yeong cut off Park Jun-woo’s words flatly.

“Even at this moment, as every day passes, interest on the principal is added.

So we have no need to resolve it in a hurry. Because as time goes by, our client becomes more advantageous. Even if we drag the lawsuit for just a few months, we will receive at least 100 million won more.”

And Geum Nae-yeong lowered his voice as if telling a key secret.

“And to give you a piece of advice as an attorney… a factual inquiry sheet does not just arrive in a week. It takes a few weeks, or at longest, a few months. Next pleading date will be set only when that arrives.

In other words, during that period, interest accumulates day by day for our client. It seems clear who the person whose heart will grow anxious is.”

“W-wait a minute! Excuse me!!”

Park Jun-woo, whose face turned black, reached out to grab Geum Nae-yeong.

However, Geum Nae-yeong did not look back and walked away.

***

Returning to the office, Geum Nae-yeong immediately called the client.

“Yes, the first pleading ended well. First, if the opponent says he will give the money first, you can decide whether you want to receive about 1.75 billion won immediately or drag the time a bit more to receive over 1.8 billion including interest.”

Hearing those words, Jang Hyo-seung asked back, slightly flustered.

“Pardon?? Park Jun-woo… a-already said he would give the money first?”

“Yes. I resolved it easily. In my way.”

Jang Hyo-seung’s voice rose.

“Wow… Attorney, you are indeed capable. I didn’t know you would wrap it up so quickly. You are amazing. Thank you so much.

And the decision… I will think about it a bit more and tell you again.”

“Yes, contact me after you think about it.”

Click.

Geum Nae-yeong hung up the phone and wrote a line on the cover of this case’s file.

[Difficulty: Low]