Chapter 5 - The Deposition
The conference room on the nineteenth floor of the Franklin County Judicial Center was blindingly bright. Sunlight bounced off the snow-covered skyline outside, illuminating the long glass table where court reporters, attorneys, and video equipment were arranged.
It was December 18th. The formal deposition for the divorce and asset division was underway.
Nathan sat across from me, flanked by his divorce attorney, a sleek, overly confident man named Richard Vance. On my side sat Denise, her laptop open, connected to a secure server containing ten years of detailed financial audits.
"Let the record reflect," Denise began, staring directly into the camera at the end of the table, "that we are taking the deposition of Nathan Bennett regarding the marital estate, business holdings, and claims for spousal support."
Richard Vance leaned forward, clearing his throat loudly. "Before we begin, I want to state on the record that my client is seeking a 50% equitable distribution of Bennett Medical Billing Solutions, LLC, valued preliminarily at $8.5 million, alongside temporary spousal support and joint legal custody of the minor children, Lily and Sophie Bennett."
I didn't react. I kept my posture erect, my hands resting lightly over my closed notepad.
"Mr. Vance," Denise said with a razor-thin smile. "Let's establish the timeline of the business entity first."
Denise pulled a thick, bound document from her bag and slid it across the table to Vance and Nathan.
"This is the original Articles of Organization for Bennett Medical Billing Solutions, filed with the Ohio Secretary of State thirteen years ago," Denise stated. "Please turn to Page 4, Section B."
Nathan looked at the document blankly. His attorney frowned, flipping the page.
"As you can see," Denise continued, "the business was established six months before the marriage using a $50,000 personal inheritance from Caroline’s late maternal grandmother, combined with a small business loan secured exclusively in Caroline Bennett’s maiden name—Caroline Vance. Nathan Bennett’s name does not appear on any organizational charter, equity allocation, or banking resolution."
"That doesn't matter," Vance countered smugly. "During the thirteen years of marriage, my client contributed marital effort to the growth of the business. Under Ohio law, active appreciation of separate property during a marriage is subject to division."
"Active appreciation?" Denise chuckled softly. "Let's examine Mr. Bennett’s 'active effort.'"
Denise slid a second stack of documents across the table.
"These are the payroll records for Bennett Medical Billing Solutions for the last decade," Denise said. "Mr. Bennett was never listed as an officer, director, or employee. However, over the past seven years, Mr. Bennett submitted total personal expense reimbursements to the S-Corp amounting to $142,000. These include golf club memberships, high-end dinners, lease payments for his personal luxury vehicle, and trip expenses for trips taken exclusively with his brother, William Bennett."
Nathan flushed dark red, staring down at the table. "Those were business development expenses! I talked about the company to my real estate clients!"
"You aren't a licensed broker for medical systems, Nathan," Denise replied sharply. "You are a commercial leasing agent. In fact, let's talk about your income."
Denise pulled out a third set of bank statements.
"For the past five years, Nathan Bennett’s personal income averaged $82,000 annually," Denise declared, looking into the video camera. "Meanwhile, Caroline Bennett’s company paid $180,000 annually toward the family’s mortgage, $35,000 annually for private school tuition for Lily and Sophie, and funded 100% of the family’s household accounts. In addition, we have uncovered evidence of unauthorized funds transfers."
Nathan gasped slightly, his head snapping up. "What?"
"Between March 2024 and October 2026," Denise said, her voice dropping into a dangerous, measured rhythm, "Nathan Bennett quietly transferred a total of $68,000 from the joint household account—funded entirely by Caroline’s salary—directly into a bank account held by William Bennett’s construction firm, WB Builders LLC."
Silence descended on the conference room like a lead weight.
Vance turned his head slowly to look at his client. "Nathan... what is she talking about?"
"It was a loan!" Nathan stammered, his eyes darting frantically between Vance and me. "William was experiencing a temporary cash-flow crunch! He was going to pay it back as soon as his government contract cleared! He’s my brother!"
"You siphoned money meant for your daughters' college funds to bail out a brother who actively excluded your daughters from his family circle," I spoke up, my voice cold, quiet, and crystal clear.
Nathan looked at me, his hands shaking. "Caroline... William needed help! My mother begged me!"
"Your mother begged you, and you obeyed," I said. "You stole from your own children to fund a man who looked down on them. And now, under Ohio law regarding marital dissipation of assets, every single dollar you funneled to William will be deducted directly from your share of any remaining joint property."
Vance slumped back in his chair, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. He leaned toward Nathan and whispered loudly, "Did you give money to your brother without your wife's knowledge?"
"I... I was going to put it back," Nathan whimpered.
"We’re done here for today," Vance said grumpily, closing his folder. "We will review these records and resume."
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"Oh, we’re not done, Mr. Vance," Denise said, pulling one final document from her briefcase. "Because we are also filing a formal third-party subpoena against William Bennett and WB Builders LLC to recover the $68,000 in dissipated marital funds. And given that William’s firm is currently under federal tax review, I suspect the IRS will be very interested in unrecorded cash infusions from third-party family members."
Nathan buried his face in his hands and began to weep silently in the bright sunlight of the conference room. I didn't feel a surge of triumph. I felt only a quiet, profound relief that the shadow of this man would never fall over my daughters' lives again.
