Opinion ID: 1194868
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Zhang Qing Hai (Count 2)

Text: Zhang Qing Hai came to the United States from China in 1997. He opened a gift shop in midtown Manhattan in 1999 that catered mainly to Chinese tourist groups, as well as students and workers at the United Nations and the Chinese consulate. Zhang typically paid tour guides a commission of between five and twenty percent of sales. The store, named Xinhua, was located on 38th Street, less than a block away from Shi's store, which opened in May 2000. The two stores directly competed for business. Zhang's store was doing well, generating profits of more than $10,000 a month during his best months. In January 2001 Shi called Zhang and complained that his prices were too low. Zhang paid no particular attention, and ended the call, but several minutes later he received an anonymous phone call that first asked: You want to live or not, and proceeded to threaten to break his legs if he came outside. Zhang called Shi in an effort to resolve the problem, and they agreed to meet at a restaurant called the Jade Palace a little after midnight. Shortly after Zhang arrived, his table and the next table filled up with supporters of Shi, some of them teenagers. Shi identified them as his brothers. This group proceeded to ridicule him and threaten to shut down his store. Shi handed him a document and a member of the group told him that if he did not sign he would not be safe. Zhang refused to sign without reading it and everyone at the table stood up. Zhang was afraid that something dangerous was about to happen. Shi sent them out, and arranged that Zhang could go home safely that night, but told him to call and tell Shi what he intended to do. Zhang received several threatening phone calls from one of Shi's gang, and about a week later Zhang's store was plagued by the daily presence of Shi's gang in front of the store, taking photographs of the tour guides' vehicles and disparaging Zhang's wares. Business fell off. After approximately three weeks of this, Shi came to Zhang's store and demanded $1,500 for his little brothers. Zhang paid. The youths stopped appearing in front of his store for approximately three months, then the youths reappeared and Shi demanded and received another $1,500 in protection money. Lin was involved in organizing the youths to harass Zhang. In May 2002 Zhang opened a second store several blocks away, hoping to keep his ownership secret and escape Shi's attention. In July a gang of the little brothers led by Lin assaulted Zhang near his second store. Shi was present. The gang punched and kicked Zhang, sprayed a blinding liquid in his face and left him bleeding and moaning in the street. Zhang was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. At the hospital Zhang was able to rinse out his eyes and they felt better. Zhang testified that from that point on he found it difficult to read newspapers because it hurt his eyes. After the assault Zhang closed his second store. He stated that he lost $60,000 in reduced sales after Shi's gang besieged his store, and $50,000 as a result of the opening and closing of the second store.