Cai Lei wins the first trial, announces that all compensation received will be donated to impoverished patients! Xu Mou and Chen Mou spread rumors to boost traffic by "pretending to be ill" and "fraudulent donations," and are ordered to apologize and pay compensation.

On April 2nd, Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm issued a statement that their lawyer represented the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) advocate @Cai Lei in a network infringement liability dispute against Xu Mou and Chen Mou. The case was publicly heard by the Beijing Internet Court, which issued first-instance judgments separately. The court ordered defendants Xu Mou and Chen Mou to bear full infringement liability, and Cai Lei won the case at first instance.

The statement pointed out that the defendants Xu Mou and Chen Mou, in order to gain traffic, repeatedly and frequently posted insulting and defamatory remarks targeting Cai Lei on the Toutiao platform. They fabricated and spread rumors such as “Cai Lei faking illness,” “Cai Lei soliciting donations fraudulently,” and “Cai Lei falsely advertising titles,” which were seriously inconsistent with facts. They maliciously defamed and spread false rumors about Cai Lei’s health condition, charitable donations, and professional background. These contents were widely disseminated, severely infringing on Cai Lei’s right to reputation.

The Beijing Internet Court, after review, held that the statements made by the two defendants lacked factual basis, and their subjective intent to defame the plaintiff was obvious. Their actions constituted an infringement of the right to reputation. They were ordered to immediately cease infringement, delete all infringing remarks published on the involved Toutiao account, and publicly issue an apology statement verified by the court on the involved Toutiao account. They were also required to pay damages for mental distress and reasonable expenses for safeguarding rights, among other costs.

Subsequently, Cai Lei reposted the judgment and stated that these malicious rumors not only caused him and those around him great psychological harm but also seriously disrupted team work and the life-saving efforts of fellow patients. He emphasized that the amount of compensation was not his main goal; what he needed was a fair legal ruling and a public apology. He also announced that all compensation received would be donated to impoverished patients.

According to a report by Metropolis Express, Cai Lei recently revealed his latest physical condition.

He mentioned that even with the support of four people, he can now no longer take a step or move. His six-year fight against the disease felt like a long dream, making him forget the changing seasons, leaving only deep memories of human coldness and warmth.

When talking about his relationship with his wife, Cai Lei said he felt most sorry for her.

In October last year, media reports stated that Cai Lei needed three people to support him when he got up, took medication five times a day, and had to rely on thickening agents in water fed through a syringe, with just a few milliliters. A single piece of phlegm could suffocate him.

It is reported that Cai Lei, in the late stage of ALS, has been deprived of the ability to speak, swallow, and move. The only freedom he has is in his eyes, which control his computer.

However, the medication developed by Cai Lei has brought hope to other patients with the same genetic type. A girl in her twenties was reborn after taking the medication. He sincerely said, “I envy you.” Although these breakthroughs cannot be used for his own treatment, he remains inspired: “It has already saved many lives, which is a great achievement.”

“Victory in the fight is the only hope for my family.”

When asked if he regrets, Cai Lei replied, “I am not afraid of death. At worst, I am dedicating myself to all patients.”

Cai Lei also expressed on his personal social media account: “When a reporter asked if I feel disappointed that I can save others but not myself, I happily said that this is the meaning of my struggle!”

On a afternoon of September 30, 2019, at the neurology outpatient clinic of Peking University Third Hospital, 41-year-old Cai Lei was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). This rare disease has an unknown cause and is currently incurable, with many patients having a survival period of only 3 to 5 years.

In his autobiography “Believe,” Cai Lei described that his life was “split into two parts” on that day. He is from Henan, born in 1978, and was serving as Vice President at JD.com before his diagnosis. A year before the diagnosis, he had just married his wife, Duan Rui, and their son was born. Their life was originally thriving.

Editor | He Xiaotao, Du Hengfeng