Chapter 8 - DIANE'S BEST DEFENSE
Diane hired attorney Lauren Pierce.
Lauren’s defense was careful.
First:
Diane genuinely believed Flight 612 had crashed with Claire aboard when she made early calls.
True.
Second:
Storm communication systems were unreliable.
True.
Third:
Claire’s voicemail arrived after the crash and could theoretically have been delayed.
Possible.
Fourth:
Diane was emotionally overwhelmed and deleted messages impulsively.
Possible.
Fifth:
The claim was never paid.
Important.
There was no completed $5 million fraud loss.
Lauren said:
“A denied claim is not the same as successfully stealing five million dollars.”
Grace Bennett, Claire’s lawyer, agreed.
Then she added:
“But knowingly submitting false material statements can still create serious exposure.”
The dispute became about knowledge.
When did Diane stop reasonably believing Claire had died?
The voicemail mattered.
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So did something Claire had not known.
A second call.
