Chapter 5 - THE MEDICAL LETTER
The capacity certificate came from Dr. Steven Hale.
He had never treated Valentina.
He ran a concierge medical practice.
Daniel had hired him two years earlier for corporate wellness events.
Dr. Hale’s letter said:
Mrs. Cross is alert, oriented, capable of understanding complex financial decisions, and able to execute trust documents independently.
Date:
Same day Valentina’s chart said she was disoriented after medication.
Aaron interviewed Hale.
He denied examining Valentina in person.
“Daniel sent me her recent medical summary.”
“Did you speak to her?”
“Briefly.”
“When?”
Hale could not produce a call log.
Then investigators found the draft.
An email from Daniel:
Need a short capacity letter. Routine trust matter. She’s fully competent, just physically weak.
Hale responded:
I cannot certify without evaluation.
Daniel:
We spoke last month. Use that.
Hale:
That isn’t sufficient.
Daniel:
I’ll owe you.
Four hours later:
letter issued.
Hale eventually admitted he never performed a proper capacity evaluation.
Professional misconduct.
Possibly fraud facilitation.
Not proof he knew Daniel planned to abandon Valentina.
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