Minnesota Attorney General Announces Settlement for Victims of Bankrupt Woodbury Dentist
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a settlement that will allow individuals harmed by Woodbury Dental Arts to request refunds. The settlement was reached between Ellison’s office and the Chapter 7 Trustee for the Bankruptcy Estate of Woodbury Dental Arts, formerly owned and operated by Marko Kamel.
Background on the Case
The state Board of Dentistry suspended Kamel, who was accused of incompetence after performing elaborate implant surgeries that failed, leading to painful infections. In one case, Kamel placed at least 12 traditional and deep-set dental implants into a woman’s jawline and cheekbone, with at least seven of them failing, resulting in a failure rate of nearly 60%, compared to the industry average of 1% to 2%.
Experts later determined that Kamel repeatedly inserted implants into spaces where the previous ones had failed, without allowing proper time for the tissue to heal. A second patient experienced unmanageable pain after Kamel’s treatments and was encouraged not to seek help from the University of Minnesota, despite the severity of their condition.
Settlement and Refund Process
The settlement permits consumers to obtain refunds from the newly created Consumer Protection Restitution Account in the Attorney General’s Office. This fund was established to refund consumers who were harmed by companies that have gone bankrupt or are unable to provide refunds. The Attorney General’s Office encourages any former patient who believes they may be entitled to a refund under the settlement with Woodbury Dental Arts to contact them by calling 612-429-7130 or by emailing woodburydental@ag.state.mn.us.
According to Ellison, “All too often, when we catch scammers, they don’t have money left to pay back the people they cheated. That almost happened when Woodbury Dental Arts abruptly closed up shop and declared bankruptcy after accepting down payments for costly dental procedures they would never provide.” The settlement is a significant step towards providing restitution to the victims of Woodbury Dental Arts.
Conclusion
The settlement announced by Attorney General Keith Ellison is a positive development for individuals who were harmed by Woodbury Dental Arts. The creation of the Consumer Protection Restitution Account demonstrates the state’s commitment to protecting consumers and providing recourse for those who have been wronged. For more information on the settlement and the restitution process, visit Here.
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