BELLEVILLE – A dental patient is suing a deceased dentist for allegedly removing more teeth than necessary and for failing to disclose his alleged cancer.
Sharon Norsigian filed the suit April 4 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against the estate of Gerald Dortch DMD and Lincoln Place Dental PC, for whom the deceased worked.
In late 2014 Norsigian claims she went to Dortch because she was experiencing pain with her two middle bottom teeth. According to the complaint, Dortch told her she needed four additional teeth removed. She agreed and tooth removal began in June 2015.
Over the course of the procedures, the suit alleges Dortch canceled several appointments for what the plaintiff later discovered were cancer treatments.
After the defendant died, the plaintiff sought care elsewhere, the suit says. The new dentist told her she needed only the original two teeth removed, according to the complaint.
Norsigian suffered pain, expense and mental anguish from the unnecessary procedure, according to the suit.
The plaintiff claims Dortch deviated from the acceptable standard of medical care. Norsigian also claims the defendant should have disclosed his medical condition to her.
The plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $50,000 from each defendant, court costs and attorney fees, and other relief the court deems proper. She is represented by Lloyd M. Cueto of the Law Office of Lloyd M. Cueto in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 16-L-190