The worst part I think in your story though Terry, would be if either you or your wife couldn't remember what time he got home, had gone to bed beforehand, etc. Then it reduces the amount of people who are able to have the same facts, and they'd try and be picky about that.
It's just lucky that some companies have people who understand things do happen; Shannons thankfully were very understanding when I had an accident in the wet (still don't know how it happened, the physics don't add up), and it was repaired.
Offtopic though, sorry