Example.kt

data class Bob(val name: String, val live: Live)
data class Live(val value: Boolean) {
    companion object {
        fun apply(value: String?): Boolean =
            value.let {
                if (it.isNullOrBlank()) null else it
            }?.toBoolean() ?: false
    }
}

val a = Bob("sandwich", Live(true))

Live.apply(null)
Live.apply("")
Live.apply("true")