Verizon Phone - Tale of Woe - Maybe

So here is the problem at hand.

My wife's phone was stolen.

It's expensive to replace it.

We thought the cheap pay-as-you-go phones could be used as 
replacements but that is apparently not the case.  What a racket.  Pay 
several hundred dollars for a replacement phone, or if you want a new 
"free" phone you have to rewrite your contract for additional years.

All we want to do is use up the present contract and get out.

So... my friend has a used LG.  It will work fine with the service.

However, this used unit was one he purchased for his "ex" girlfriend 
to stay in touch.  He bought it, and paid for it, but it was 
registered for service in her name.

So time marches on, they split up after a couple of years, and he 
takes the phone back.

She decides to get even and tells Verizon the phone is stolen.  So now 
it cannot be used.

He no longer has the box or receipts used to purchase it.  He often 
paid cash on the bill at a Verizon store or kiosk.

In fact he didn't even know it was listed as stolen.  It sat in a 
drawer for several months then when he went to give it to us is when 
he discovered the stolen listing.

Has he any recourse or is this old phone pretty much a paper weight 
now?  I doubt she (the ex) will make nice and recall the stolen re****t 
which is now about 2 years old.



Tim