Seriously? They are like $100.00 or less on Amazon. Not even enough expense to consider significant.
You and others act like the father was using it or something. That he wanted it, rather than wanting to keep his daughter from wrapping her whole life around it like most young girls do nowadays.
He probably would have given it back had the mother (who strangely did not have custody of the daughter) not forced a pissing contest over it.
She put him in the position such that if he gave it back, it makes it look like she is in control of this and perhaps future situations.
I wouldn't accept that perception either.
$39 on eBay. Point is, the whole family is a mess. Dysfunction enough for all of them.
TODAY they are, back in 2012 they cost well over $500........And in case you try to point to various carriers offering such phones for a ridiculously low amount, you're not going to find it because the typical two year contracts cleverly hide the additional cost for the smart phone itself......