Belleville attorney Charles Stegmeyer is suing his dentists, claiming the doctors should have diagnosed his oral cancer earlier.
Charles Stegmeyer filed a lawsuit Dec. 31 in the St. Clair Circuit Court against Leo Dumstorff DDS, Leo Dumstorff DDS Ltd., Beltline Dental LLC, Robert R. Stemme DDS and St. Louis County Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Inc. alleging negligence.
The suit states Dumstorff began treating Stegmeyer as a dental patient beginning Sept. 1, 2011. Stemme treated Stegmeyer on Dec. 7, 2011. A medical doctor diagnosed Stegmeyer with squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil on Jan. 16, 2012, the suit states. The suit claims the dentists should have found the cancer earlier during regular dental exams and work. Stegmeyer is suffering from advanced stage cancer as a result, according to the suit.
Stegmeyer is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus court costs.
He is being represented by Bruce Cook of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer, & Shevlin Ltd.
St. Clair Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-639.