The Weight and the Lever

The letter arrived on a Tuesday in March, eleven years ago, and Sylvie had read it four times before she understood what it was saying and a fifth time before she believed it. The letterhead belonged to a company called Meridian Causal Analytics, which she had never heard of, operating under contract with her liability insurer, which she had. The language was precise and entirely opaque. Based on proprietary actuarial modeling incorporating behavioral, environmental, and third-party interaction data, a Causal Risk Event had been identified in her profile. In accordance with Section 14(c) of her Extended Liability Coverage agreement, she was being issued a Behavioral Restriction Notice. The restriction was as follows: she was prohibited from entering the premises of Galloway's Fresh Market at 1140 Clement Street, including the parking structure attached to the building, effective immediately and until further notice. Violation of the restriction would constitute grounds for immediate…