- 65 - that these "explanations" evidence fraud. We agree. We find much of Ms. Gonzalez' testimony incredible and inconsistent with reliable evidence in the record. For example, Ms. Gonzalez testified that the decedent gave her some of the disputed jewelry, and that she placed this jewelry in the safe deposit box unbeknownst to him. This testimony was pointedly rebutted by the credible testimony of independent witnesses to the effect that the decedent possessed this jewelry after the time when the gift was allegedly made. Ms. Gonzalez also equivocated on when the decedent purportedly gave her the assets seized from the safe deposit box. In one breath, Ms. Gonzalez stated that she received the assets at one time, while, in another breath, she stated that she received the assets at a different time. Ms. Gonzalez also testified that she intentionally kept documents from Ms. Bates, the estate's tax preparer, testifying with respect to Mr. Leidman's $8.5 million appraisal, that she did not think the appraisal was relevant to the estate's valuation of the 191 coins. The appraisal was relevant to Ms. Bates' reporting of that value, and Ms. Gonzalez' secretion of that and other documents from Ms. Bates is an example of implausible behavior under the facts herein. Ms. Gonzalez also testified incredibly that she did not know that she had signed the decedent's estate tax return under the penalties of perjury. Ms. Gonzalez is college educated, and she has prior workPage: Previous 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 Next
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