[goldstategop]

They could file a civil lawsuit - assuming they know where all the assets are. As a practical matter, its difficult to sue a man's heirs. Whatever his misdeeds, they don't deserve to get punished for something they didn't do.

(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)

[Gay State Conservative]

They could file a civil lawsuit - assuming they know where all the assets are. As a practical matter, its difficult to sue a man's heirs. Whatever his misdeeds, they don't deserve to get punished for something they didn't do.

It's not the *heirs* that would be sued in civil court,it's the *estate*.Unless I'm mistaken,the probate laws of every state in the union require the executor of an estate to settle all debts incurred by the deceased during his/her lifetime before distributing proceeds to any heir.

Also,was his wife also convicted of one or more crimes in this matter? If so...and if any substantial portion of his estate was given to the wife in a will,then one would think that *she*,too,could be pursued in civil court.

I'm certainly no lawyer,so I'm probably in way over my head here.

[Aquinasfan]

Whatever his misdeeds, they don't deserve to get punished for something they didn't do.

Yes, but it's stolen money. Don't the victim's rights trump those of the family, considered strictly as a matter of justice?

[Hildy]

WAIT ONE SECOND...if you steal all my Jewelry from me, give it to your wife...and then you die...does that mean she gets to keep my jewelry?

[dogbyte12]

I disagree in a sense. If a bank robber dies, the bank should get the money, not the spouse, even if it isn't her fault.

If money was gained fraudulently, I look at it, as the heir should not be rewarded, since the money shouldn't have been there.

It gets gray when it comes to civil damages, but all the money Ken Lay got, by pumping and dumping was illegal. It doesn't belong to his wife.