Chapter 4 - THE PHOTOGRAPHS
Lucinda loved photographs.
Not vanity exactly.
Evidence of occasions.
Family history.
The Ventanos had enormous leather albums in the library.
Weddings.
Baptisms.
Hotel openings.
Children at Christmas.
Old men at restaurant tables.
New men pretending they had never feared the old ones.
Lucinda curated half of them.
After Ruby’s injury, photographs changed purpose.
The first came from a Sunday lunch.
Ruby seated without the brace visible beneath the table.
Lucinda sent it to several relatives.
LOOK WHO’S FEELING BETTER.
Harmless.
Then another.
Ruby standing in the garden while the brace was temporarily removed during a clothing change.
Walking already!
Except she was not walking.
She was standing.
Then the garden video Michael showed me.
Lucinda had deliberately removed the brace and asked Ruby to walk repeatedly.
The birthday videographer was the next escalation.
Leonard obtained the text exchange after Lucinda’s counsel agreed to preserve and produce relevant communications.
Lucinda:
Need candid footage of Ruby moving around naturally.
Videographer:
Of course.
Lucinda:
Especially walking.
Videographer:
With the brace?
Lucinda:
Without if she takes it off.
Videographer:
Should we ask her father?
Lucinda:
I’m handling family details.
There.
Then:
Lucinda:
Need clear full-body shots. No close-up of brace.
Why?
At first she claimed aesthetics.
Birthday film.
No medical device dominating the image.
Then another message to her assistant:
Make sure insurer sees she runs around whenever Salvatore isn’t making a production of the injury.
Except Ruby was not running.
Her medical restrictions prohibited it.
The assistant answered:
I don’t think we should send staged family video to insurance.
Lucinda:
Not staged. Reality.
Assistant:
If you remove the brace, that changes the reality.
Good assistant.
Lucinda did not reply.
Then one email to the club’s insurance broker:
We have substantial family video showing Ruby ambulating normally without assistance.
The broker replied:
Please do not solicit or manufacture footage. Medical function should be addressed through treating providers and claims professionals.
There.
Warning.
Clear.
Lucinda ignored it.
Why?
Because the insurer’s reserve review was scheduled for the week after Ruby’s birthday.
Reserve.
A number the insurer sets internally estimating possible claim cost.
Not a verdict.
Not money handed to anyone.
But large reserves attract attention.
Attention attracts questions.
Questions reach boards.
Boards ask why an $8,400 repair waited.
May you like
Lucinda did not want the club’s directors looking backward.
So she tried to make everyone look at Ruby walking forward.
