Chapter 4 - MARK'S BEST ARGUMENT
Lauren separated the emotional violence from the property dispute.
She did not defend the cane.
She did not defend grabbing Claire.
She said:
“My client will address the hallway incident separately.”
Then she turned to the money.
Mark’s company had managed renovations for four years.
Comparable construction-management fees:
10% to 18%.
Actual hard-cost renovations documented:
about $940,000.
Of that:
$612,000 came from Mark-controlled funds.
Approximately $208,000 came from joint marital accounts.
The rest from Claire’s family distributions.
Mark had never been paid a formal management fee.
Lauren argued:
“He is not claiming title simply because he lived here. He is claiming an equitable interest because he materially increased trust property value using marital labor and capital.”
Grace answered:
“An equitable reimbursement claim is not fifty-percent ownership.”
Lauren nodded.
“Possibly.”
“Not possibly.”
“That is what courts are for.”
Smart.
Then Mark produced emails.
CLAIRE:
Do whatever you think the house needs.
Another:
CLAIRE:
I trust you with the renovation budget.
Another:
CLAIRE:
This is our home. Make it ours.
Mark looked at Claire.
“You meant it then.”
Claire felt the words land.
Because she had written them.
Emotionally true.
Legally imprecise.
Grace said:
“‘Our home’ does not amend a property trust.”
Lauren replied:
May you like
“But it may matter to expectations.”
Both were right.
