Chapter 18 - Elaine takes the stand
The civil accounting hearing began before the criminal trial.
Elaine testified.
Not frail.
Not confused.
Angry.
She acknowledged:
“I gave Veronica authority because I trusted her.”
Did she authorize every grocery?
Not specifically.
Agents do not need text permission for every electric bill.
Did she authorize family gifts?
Sometimes.
Did she authorize the baby shower?
“One thousand dollars.”
“Could you have later agreed to more?”
“I did not.”
“Do you forget conversations?”
“Everyone does.”
Good.
She did not claim perfect memory.
Then:
“Did Veronica provide substantial unpaid care?”
“Yes.”
“Did you value that help?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her she could use your money as payment?”
“No.”
Then the wallet.
“Did you ask her to take six hundred for tips?”
“No.”
“Could you have?”
“No. The caterer’s tip was already paid.”
Then defense cross:
“You gave your sister a $7,500 Christmas gift the year before?”
“Yes.”
“So large gifts were normal.”
“Gifts I chose.”
There.
Then:
“You once told her, ‘What’s mine is yours’?”
Elaine smiled sadly.
“At a funeral.”
Context.
Then Veronica testified in civil case.
She said:
“I stopped seeing a line between helping Elaine and helping the family.”
There.
An admission, though not necessarily criminal intent.
“Why?”
“Because Elaine always said family came first.”
Then:
“Did you know the money was legally Elaine’s?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know your POA required acting for her benefit?”
“Yes.”
“Did you believe paying for Claire’s baby shower benefited Elaine?”
Veronica paused.
“She was proud to be part of it.”
Not enough.
Then judge asked:
“Did you ask?”
May you like
“No.”
Simple.
