out.”
Before Charlotte had time to say more, a man and a woman
appeared and strode aggressively toward Tyler. Their names were
Mike Brille and Meredith Dearborn. They were partners at Boies,
Schiller & Flexner. Brille told Tyler he had been tasked with finding
out who the Journal’s sources were and had identified him in about
five minutes. He handed him three documents: a temporary
restraining order, a notice to appear in court two days later, and a
letter stating Theranos had reason to believe Tyler had violated his
confidentiality obligations and was prepared to file suit against him.
Tyler again denied having talked to a reporter.
Brille said he knew he was lying and pressed him to admit it, but
Tyler stood firm. The lawyer refused to let it rest. He was like an attack
dog. He continued to badger Tyler for what felt like an eternity. At one
point, Tyler looked at his step-grandmother and asked her if she felt as
uncomfortable as he did. Charlotte was glowering at Brille and looked
like she was about to give him her right hook.
“This conversation needs to end,” Tyler finally said.
George came to his grandson’s help. “I know this kid, and this kid
doesn’t lie. If he says he didn’t speak to the reporter, then he didn’t
speak to the reporter!” he exclaimed. The former secretary of state
ushered the two lawyers out of the house. When they were gone, he
called Holmes and told her this was not what they had agreed upon.
She had sent over a prosecutor rather than someone who was willing
to have a civilized conversation. Tyler was ready to go to court the next
day, he warned her.
Tyler felt his heart rate accelerate and his hands shake as he
watched Charlotte grab the phone from George’s hand and heard her
say, “Elizabeth, Tyler did not say that!”
George got back on the line and a compromise was reached: they
would meet again at the house the following morning and Theranos
would bring the one-page document they had originally discussed
affirming that Tyler would honor his confidentiality obligations.
Before hanging up, he implored Holmes to send a different lawyer this