“The firm handling the corporate notices acknowledged receipt.”
“Who?”
Miriam looked toward the name.
Parker, Haines & Cole.
Northstar's outside corporate counsel.
Naomi recognized the firm.
It had appeared repeatedly in financial news concerning Graham Whitlock's proposed takeover.
She looked toward Miriam.
“What happened afterward?”
The attorney took a breath.
“I don't know. My role ended after the necessary estate documents were transmitted and acknowledged.”
Naomi stared.
“So the company knew my father couldn't approve anything after his death.”
“Of course.”
“And it knew there was a trust.”
Miriam nodded.
“The appropriate corporate offices should have had notice of the governing provisions.”
Naomi felt cold.
For several seconds, she stared toward the papers.
Then asked.
“What if somebody tried to authorize a protected transaction using his signature anyway?”
Miriam looked at her.
The room became quiet.
Finally, she answered.
“That would raise extremely serious questions about the document's authenticity, legal effect, and the conduct of the people involved.”
Naomi swallowed.
“Could somebody simply claim that his original signature still applied?”
Miriam shook her head.
“Not to a new document falsely represented as having been executed by him after his death. A continuing contractual right and a new personal signature are not the same thing.”
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then the older lawyer leaned forward.
“Naomi, why are you asking?”
The young woman looked down.
She hadn't told Miriam everything.
Not yet.
She knew Graham Whitlock was pursuing a major transaction.
She knew her father's protective provisions could affect it.
And she knew the company had resisted giving her information.
But she didn't possess the pending contract.
She had no lawful access to the confidential board materials.
All she had were public announcements, her father's records, and a growing suspicion that something important was being concealed.
She looked up.
“Because Northstar is preparing to transfer its core technology.”
Miriam nodded slowly.
“Yes. I've seen the announcements.”
Naomi continued.
“My father spent years protecting those systems from exactly that kind of deal.”
The lawyer studied her.
Then said quietly.
“Suspicion isn't enough to challenge a transaction.”
“I know.”
“We need the actual documents, the governing instruments, and evidence of the authority being claimed.”
Naomi nodded.
Then asked.
“What if the company refuses to tell me anything?”
Miriam considered the question.
“There may be lawful ways to establish whether you have rights to notice or information under the trust and corporate documents. We should start there.”
Naomi looked toward her father's letter.