Winnipeg dental clinic sues man who described 'terrible experience' in series of online reviews
Review said paying homeless person to remove teeth 'will hurt less in the long run,' according to lawsuit
A Winnipeg dental clinic targeted by several negative online reviews is now suing the man behind the posts for defamation.
The dental clinic says the man posted "false, inaccurate, misleading and defamatory" information about the clinic in a series of online reviews earlier this summer, according to the statement of claim filed at the Manitoba Court of King's Bench on July 29.
The man posted his reviews to several websites — Facebook, Google, Yelp and the Better Business Bureau — in early July detailing his "terrible experience" at the downtown dental clinic, where he said he went for a tooth extraction at the end of June, according to the lawsuit.
In his review, the man claimed a dentist at the clinic was not equipped to provide oral sedation. He also claimed to have accidentally ripped out new stitches from his mouth as he tried to replace gauze after the appointment, the suit says.
"Go find a homeless individual in a back alley, give them $50 and tell them which teeth you need out. It will hurt less in the long run!" the man's initial review said, which is quoted in the lawsuit.
A spokesperson for the clinic declined to comment on the lawsuit as the matter is before the courts.
However, in an email to CBC News, the spokesperson said they welcome criticism because it helps the clinic improve its services.
"That said, this does not give people the right to publicly state inaccurate, false or defamatory statements. Doing so can be damaging to a business' reputation, is cowardly and is against the law," the spokesperson said.
Damages sought
The clinic is seeking general, special and punitive damages against the man, as well as injunctions ordering the man to delete any defamatory material online involving the clinic and not to post more in the future, according to the suit.
The clinic offered the man an apology and a chance to go back to the clinic to speak with the dentist who extracted his tooth, but he refused both — demanding a refund from the clinic through its management as well as the Manitoba Dental Association, the suit says.
The man has since deleted his review of the clinic on Google, but the suit says the other three reviews remain online.
Court documents say the man's posts were meant to recover dental fees he paid to the clinic, to question the clinic's integrity and reputation, and to hurt its profits.
The clinic claims the man's posts have and continue to cause damages to its reputation and business. None of the allegations have been tested in court. A statement of defence has not yet been filed.