00:00I've been here for two years now and I barely even know how to use Excel.
00:06Um, excuse me. I'm here to inspect my company and I need you to provide me with all the financial
00:12records and employee files immediately.
00:14Good morning. Do you have an appointment scheduled or could you help me understand what specific information you're looking for?
00:23An appointment. I don't need an appointment to access my own company. I'm Judith Johnson, co-owner of this entire
00:30operation.
00:31My husband, Robert Johnson, founded this place, which makes me a legal partner.
00:35These are my legal documents that prove my ownership's stake. Now stop wasting my time and get me those records.
00:40I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with any co-owner by that name.
00:44Um, Mrs. Johnson, sorry, all ownership-related requests need to go through our proper legal channels.
00:52I'd be happy to direct you to the appropriate department.
00:55Legal channels? I have every right to access company information. This is my business, too.
01:01Dylan, is everything okay here?
01:05Finally, someone else! Maybe you can explain to your colleague here why the staff isn't cooperating with a company owner.
01:11Ma'am, could you please explain your specific need so we can direct you to the right person who can
01:18help you?
01:19My husband, Robert Johnson, built this company from absolutely nothing.
01:23We've been married for 20 years, and I am entitled to half of everything he owns. It's really that simple.
01:31Mrs. Johnson, I think there might be some confusion about our company's ownership structure.
01:36Confusion? The only confusion here is why you two are part of some conspiracy to hide assets from me during
01:43my divorce proceedings.
01:44I'll have you both fired for obstructing illegal owners' access to company information.
01:49Ma'am, we're just trying to help you understand the situation so we can properly help you.
01:55The situation is that I own half of this company and you're preventing me from accessing what's rightfully mine.
02:00You know what? Let me just call someone in management who can better handle the ownership questions.
02:05Who exactly are you calling? And why don't I know everyone who works in my own company?
02:10I'm calling someone who can assist with your concerns, Mrs. Johnson. That's all.
02:30I need to get appraisals on all of this for the divorce settlement.
02:33I should probably call my lawyer and have him send someone over.
02:36Mrs. Johnson, I need to please ask you to stay in the reception area.
02:40You can't wander around the office without proper authorization.
02:44Authorization? I can go anywhere I want in my own company.
02:48I need to verify that no assets are being hidden from me.
02:51My lawyer specifically told me to look for anything that might not be included in the financial disclosures.
02:57Get me copies of all financial statements from the past five years.
03:00I want to see profit and loss reports, tax filings, everything.
03:03Ma'am, we can't provide confidential company documents without proper legal authorizations through the courts.
03:11My marriage certificate is all the authorization I need.
03:17Twenty years of marriage gives me legal rights to half of everything.
03:20Mrs. Johnson, please just let me call someone in management who can properly handle your requests.
03:26Who really is running this company while my husband's not here?
03:29Are you two possibly embezzling money or running unauthorized operations behind his back?
03:35I'm calling my divorce attorney right now to report that company employees are refusing to cooperate with the legal owner.
03:41This will prove my husband is trying to hide assets during our divorce.
03:45What are you doing?
03:47Who are you calling now?
03:48I just contacted someone who can better assist with the ownership questions, Ms. Johnson.
03:52As co-owner, I should know everyone who works here.
03:55Why are you being so secretive?
03:57Finally, someone with actual authority, your receptionist and his assistant, have been giving me completely unprofessional treatment.
04:05I demand immediate access to all company records and financial information as a legal co-owner of this business.
04:11Good morning.
04:13I'm Abby Richardson, head of operations.
04:15I work directly with Robert Johnson on all company matters.
04:18Could you please clarify your exact relationship to the company and what specific documentations you have?
04:23My relationship?
04:26I'm his wife.
04:27We've been married for 20 years.
04:30This is proof that I'm entitled to half of everything my husband owns.
04:34During our 20-year marriage, I contributed to building this business and I deserve my fair share.
04:40Ms. Johnson, I understand you're married to Robert, but being married to the company founder doesn't automatically grant you ownership
04:46rights or access to confidential business information.
04:50What do you mean it doesn't grant me rights?
04:52The company ownership is determined by legal corporate documents, stock certificates, and partnership agreements, not marriage certificates.
04:59That's ridiculous.
05:01Wives have rights to marital property.
05:03My divorce lawyer specifically told me I'm entitled to half the company's value.
05:07I demand to see incorporation papers and partnership agreements right now.
05:10Abby, I worked on various projects and I reviewed the company documents.
05:18Robert Johnson has always been listed as the sole owner.
05:22I've never seen any business partner or co-owner mentioned anywhere.
05:28You're lying to protect my husband's assets.
05:31I know exactly what's going on here.
05:33I'm going to subpoena all the company records and have his entire business audited to uncover hidden ownership arrangements.
05:40Mrs. Johnson, I understand that divorce proceedings can be very complicated and emotional.
05:46However, this company's ownership structure is clearly documented and has never included any co-owners or partners.
05:53Documentation doesn't matter.
05:54My contributions to my husband's success entitled me to ownership regardless of what some legal papers say.
06:01I supported him emotionally and financially during the company's early years.
06:06I gave up my own career.
06:08I sacrificed everything for his success.
06:11I acknowledge that you may have valid claims in your divorce proceedings, Mrs. Johnson,
06:15but those issues need to be resolved through proper legal channels, not by demanding access to company property and records.
06:23Fine.
06:24Let's see what my lawyer has to say about this.
06:33Hello.
06:34This is Judith Johnson.
06:36I'm at my husband's company right now and the employees are refusing to acknowledge my ownership rights.
06:42They're possibly helping him hide assets.
06:45Yes, I'll hold.
06:47Should we contact Robert Johnson directly to clarify the situation?
06:52Don't you dare call my husband.
06:53He's probably already instructed everyone here to deny my rights and treat me like I have no connection to this
06:59company.
07:00Mrs. Johnson, I'd be happy to help you contact the appropriate legal departments that handle ownership disputes.
07:06I don't trust anyone at this company.
07:09You're all working together against me.
07:11You want to know what I contributed to this business?
07:15Mrs. Johnson, I gave up my entire career as a marketing executive to support my husband's dreams.
07:20Mrs. Johnson, I'm listening.
07:22I used my own savings to help fund the initial startup costs.
07:26I worked as his unpaid assistant for the first three years.
07:29I entertained clients in our home managing his schedule and even designed the original company logo.
07:35Those sound like significant personal sacrifices and they may be relevant to your divorce settlement, but regardless of your contributions,
07:45the legal reality is that company ownership is determined by corporate documents, stock certificates and partnership agreements.
07:54What about the fact that this company wouldn't exist without my support and sacrifices?
08:02Mrs. Johnson, while your divorce settlement may entitle you to a portion of your husband's assets that doesn't give you
08:09operational control or access rights to the company itself.
08:12Mrs. Johnson, the company wouldn't exist without me.
08:15Mrs. Johnson, I should be recognized as an equal partner regardless of what some paperwork says.
08:20Legal documents are just technicalities.
08:23Mrs. Johnson, I understand your frustration, but we have to follow legal procedures.
08:28Mrs. Johnson, legal procedures?
08:29You know what?
08:30If you don't do something about this right now, I'll ruin all of your lives.
08:33I'll make sure you never work in this industry again.
08:36I'll sue this company for everything it's worth, and I'll sue each of you personally.
08:40I'll make sure you're fired, blacklisted, and destroyed.
08:43Don't think I don't have connections.
08:45Mrs. Johnson, I'm sorry it's come to this, but I have to take dramatic measures now.
08:56This is Abby Richardson.
08:57I need security at the front reception immediately.
09:00We have a situation that requires immediate attention.
09:04You're calling security on me?
09:06An a company owner?
09:08Mrs. Johnson, there's nothing else I can do.
09:10You need to leave the premises immediately.
09:13This is unbelievable.
09:15You can't throw out a co-owner.
09:17Ma'am, you're not co-owner.
09:20You're the estranged wife of the owner, and you're trespassing.
09:24Fine, but I'm not leaving empty-handed.
09:33If I can't get my fair share, at least I'll take something that belongs to me.
09:38She's just taking the globe.
09:41The globe?
09:42Should we call someone?
09:43Is it worth something?
09:51Are you going to report this incident to my husband?
09:54Mrs. Johnson, we'll need to inform Robert Johnson that you were here making ownership claims.
09:59It's a matter he needs to be aware of for legal reasons.
10:02You know what?
10:03Fine.
10:04Tell him whatever you want.
10:06I guess it's time to start looking for another husband.
10:09Hopefully the next one will be smart enough to put me on the paperwork from the beginning.
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