haeji stan
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haeji stan
@TokkiBlinksOnce
Politics & NJZ (Bbangsaz)


“This is really serious”… NewJeans’ Danielle, 43 billion won lawsuit—‘ADOR’s entire legal team resigns’… Did even the lawyers give up? highnews.co.kr/news/articleVi… Reporter Jeong Si-eun ⸻ Did even Kim & Chang give up? Shock as entire legal team resigns right after the 43 billion won lawsuit ADOR’s legal team, which had been aggressively pursuing an astronomical 43 billion won (approx. $30+ million USD) damages claim against former NewJeans member Danielle and former CEO Min Hee-jin, has suddenly stepped down. According to the legal community on the 29th, five attorneys from Kim & Chang, Korea’s largest law firm, submitted a collective resignation to the court on the 24th. It is highly unusual for top-tier lawyers—who positioned themselves as the strongest defense—to withdraw all at once immediately after the first pretrial hearing. Both the legal and entertainment industries are closely watching the situation and speculating about the reasons behind it. The mass resignation is even more significant as it came right after the court rejected ADOR’s request for an extension of the hearing schedule. ADOR stated it is urgently reviewing the appointment of new legal counsel, but with the original team—who crafted the core litigation strategy—gone, a major overhaul of their approach now seems inevitable. ⸻ “An idol’s career is short” — Danielle’s side pushes for speed, ADOR fails to control the pace The first pretrial hearing held on the 26th last month was, in effect, a battleground. Both sides clashed head-on over the pace of the trial without conceding an inch. Danielle’s legal representatives strongly urged the court to proceed at high speed, arguing: “Given the nature of idol careers, the longer the lawsuit drags on, the more irreversible damage is done during the most golden period of their career.” In essence, they pushed for a swift resolution so that the litigation would not shackle Danielle’s career. On the other hand, ADOR—seeking 43 billion won in damages—requested a delay, claiming there were too many issues requiring thorough review. However, the court did not side with ADOR. Instead, it emphasized the need for a prompt resolution, aligning with Danielle’s argument, and rejected ADOR’s request for an extension. Many analysts believe the mass resignation of Kim & Chang’s lawyers is a direct result of losing this “speed battle.” ⸻ Reuniting with a court that favored Min Hee-jin—will HYBE’s 43 billion won claim become worthless? The core of ADOR’s lawsuit is the claim that Danielle and former CEO Min Hee-jin conspired to trigger a contract dispute, causing significant damages such as member departures and delays in group activities. ADOR previously notified Danielle of contract termination in December last year and set penalties and damages at around 43 billion won—effectively a strong warning that could block her entertainment activities altogether. However, ADOR’s outlook does not appear promising. The Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 31, which is handling this case, previously ruled in favor of Min Hee-jin in a dispute with HYBE over a put option. Many believe it is unlikely that the same court—having already rejected HYBE’s arguments once—would suddenly reverse its stance in this case. While leaving room for settlement discussions, the court has firmly set the next hearing dates for May 14 and July 2, signaling a strong push for progress. ⸻ What does the mass resignation mean? Delay tactic or sign of weak case? The complete withdrawal of the legal team introduces a major variable in the trial. Some in the legal community suspect ADOR may be attempting to delay proceedings by buying time to appoint new counsel and get them up to speed. If the court interprets this as an intentional delay tactic, it could work against ADOR. On the other hand, the fact that a top-tier firm like Kim & Chang withdrew en masse may indicate low chances of winning or unresolved disagreements with the client. There is also speculation that internal conflict within HYBE may have led to communication breakdowns with their legal representatives. Now, with a 43 billion won lawsuit hanging in the balance and temporarily without representation, all eyes are on whether ADOR can present a new strategy, or whether this case will end in a complete victory for the Min Hee-jin–Danielle side.





[ダニエル損害賠償訴訟 ADOR側弁護士辞任についてのコメント] 「経験で言ってみると、私が民事訴訟を経験したときは、大したことでもないことで相手が2年引き延ばしたんですが(1審)、そのときも弁護人が全員辞任したんですよ。裁判の延期申請が受け入れられないので……名分づくりでした。 後から見ると、判事の2年ローテーション期間の間を持ちこたえる戦略でした。裁判が回っていく状況が私に有利だから、判事が変わるときまで耐えていたんですよ。私は結局勝訴しましたが、血が干からびるような思いでした。ちなみに相手も大企業で……三大ローファームでした(笑)。もちろん全てが同じというわけではありませんが!」 「ファンじゃない人が見ても最悪だ。会社と契約するやつらは、会社に就職するときに奴隷契約を結ばれても何も言わないつもりなのか? そしてそもそもこれは契約の問題じゃなくて、法的に集団リンチしているレベルだ。」









ADOR filed a motion to freeze Danielle and her mother's assets on February 2nd, which was granted. This occurred without any evidence provided by the Company.






















