SKETCHES OF COURT: Dental malpractice trial unfolds in Brooklyn
In this courtroom sketch, Hon. Gloria Dabiri listens as defendant’s attorney Kimberly Lecci (standing), a solo practitioner, conducts a direct examination of an expert witness in the dental medical malpractice trial Ruby Chan v. Sol Stolzenberg DMD PC (d/b/a Toothsavers). Lecci represents co-defendant Jerry Lynn, DDS. Toothsavers, the other co-defendant, is represented by Steven H. Mutz (seated, right) of the law firm Gordon & Silber PC. Court reporter Teresa McGrath is seen transcribing the proceedings.
The plaintiff, represented by attorney Lawrence Glynn (seated, left) of the law firm Caruso Glynn LLC, had come with symptoms of advanced periodontal disease to a Toothsavers office, where she was fitted with a splinted dental bridge, in August 2008.
At issue in the trial is whether the office deviated from generally accepted standards of dental practice. The plaintiff’s allegations include a lack of informed consent – she claims the procedure she was undergoing was not adequately explained to her and the surgery wasn’t what she expected. The procedure, she says, resulted physical and emotional pain and suffering.