Two Madison County dentists and their practice deny liability in a suit alleging a minor girl contracted the herpes simplex virus from contaminated dental tools.
Jane Doe, as mother and next friend of Mary Doe, a minor, filed an amended complaint on June 28, 2017, against Kelli Blank, DDS, and Mark Brunk, DDS, doing business as Family Dental Care.
In her complaint, Doe alleges she took her daughter to the defendants’ office on April 14, 2015, for a routine dental appointment. While under the care of Blank, Mary Doe was allegedly contaminated with the Herpes Simplex virus. The suit states that Brunk was the owner and operator of Family Dental Care at the time of the incident.
Doe alleges the defendants failed to properly assure that all dental instruments were free of contamination, failed to assure that the staff involved in the care and treatment of all patients were properly educated as to sanitation practices and failed to assure that all employees were reasonably prudent with regard to their care and treatment of patients.
As a result, the plaintiff alleges Mary Doe has suffered serious and permanent injuries, causing great pain, suffering, disability and embarrassment.
The defendants answered the amended complaint on March 23 through attorney Matthew Zittel of Neville, Richards & Wuller LLC in Belleville.
The defendants denied liability, arguing that the plaintiff’s own actions or omissions caused her alleged injuries.
The plaintiffs are represented by John Hopkins of John J. Hopkins & Associates PC in Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-L-1287