exploremusic

Courtney alleges that many millions of dollars—at least $28 million and perhaps tens of millions or even hundreds of millions more—were diverted from her, the Cobain estate and the trust fund set up for her daughter, Frances Bean. At least nine accountants are involved along with a series of lawyers with the alleged wrongdoings dating back a decade.

“I didn’t know anything about money. The line leads from your lawyer to your accountant and from your accountant to the bank. I was also in pretty bad shape back then.”

As evidence, she has boxes of documents with names, account numbers and signatures that prove the fraud. Properties bought under the names of a dozen different people named Cobain. Money moved in France’s name to Geneva and Zurich. Her signature—forged, she says—on documents that were signed in LA on a day when she was in New York.

“I’m involved in handwriting analysis with the FBI now, “ she says. “Those are NOT my signatures! How could I sign my name when I was on the other side of the country? I have people who know my every move and all my whereabouts and they KNOW I was in New York when those documents were signed in LA.”

She starts applying cold cream to remove her stage makeup. “Do you know who Frank Abagnale is?”

“Yes,” I reply. “The forger played by Leo DiCaprio in the movie Catch Me If You Can.”

“I’ve talked to him,” Courtney says. “He helps people with fraud case. He knows everything about it.” She looks sternly at me. Uma Thurman loses a million dollars [in an alleged Ponzi scheme perpetrated by financial advisor Kenneth Stein] and she gets attention. I lose $3 million, $28 million or more and people won’t help me because they think I’m crazy. I’m not.”

She pulls out a big towel and starts wiping her face. “What I’m involved in makes Bernie Madoff look warm and fuzzy.”

Part 3…