Dental Clinic Faces Ongoing Lawsuit Spanning Nearly 6 Months Over Alleged Treatment Scam

Japan: A group of over 300 individuals has filed a collective lawsuit seeking a total of ¥450 million (US$3.2mil) in compensation for dental orthodontic treatment issues that have spanned nearly six months. The individuals claim to have suffered financial losses and uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of their treatments. The legal action was brought to light on June 6th, with 159 additional plaintiffs joining the initial 153 victims.

Source of Controversy

The controversy originated from a free monitoring program offered by the Dental Office X, a dental clinic located in Ginza, Tokyo, in the previous year. Participants, predominantly women, were promised free orthodontic treatment if they signed a contract and paid ¥1.87 million (US$13k). The clinic assured them a monthly cashback of ¥50,000 (US$360) as compensation. However, in March, the clinic cited international circumstances, such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict, as the reason for payment delays.

Despite subsequent attempts to contact the clinic and the related management company, Gran Shield, patients received no refunds or further communication. In January, the dental clinic in Ginza abruptly closed down, leaving patients without completed treatments or reimbursement. In response, 153 patients initiated a collective lawsuit against Gran Shield and other parties involved, with additional allegations of fraud and charges of deception being filed with the Metropolitan Police Department earlier this year.

Japanese Dental Clinic Accused of Deception in “Free Orthodontics” Advertisements

159 Additional Victims Join Lawsuit

On June 6th, an additional 159 victims decided to join the lawsuit, raising the total number of plaintiffs to 312. Collectively, they seek compensation totaling ¥450 million (US$3.2mil) for their financial losses and emotional distress. Several affected individuals expressed their concerns over the unresolved dental issues and their impact on future plans, such as marriage and personal confidence.

While the dental clinic’s president, Mr Nakamura, acknowledged the situation, he denied any connection between the payment delays and the Ukraine-Russia conflict, revealing that Mr Koizumi, the president of an affiliated company, had provided false explanations. Moreover, there are suspicions of document forgery regarding the patients’ contracts, as the omission of the letter “E” in the company name “Gran Shield” on the official seals raised doubts about the authenticity of the agreements.

Unaccounted ¥2 Billion Funds

The whereabouts of the money collected from the affected patients remains unknown, adding to the complexity of the case. Mr Nakamura, along with Mr Koizumi and Dr Ito, who was a dentist at the clinic, are named as defendants in the ongoing legal proceedings. While the defendants have sought legal counsel and declined to comment on the matter publicly, the plaintiffs and their legal representatives are determined to seek justice and hold the responsible parties accountable.

This series of dental treatment controversies and alleged scams has garnered attention due to the significant number of plaintiffs involved, with legal experts remarking on the rarity of such cases. The progress and outcome of the collective lawsuit will be closely monitored as affected individuals seek restitution for their financial losses and the resolution of their dental concerns.