Record dental negligence pay-out for client of RWK Goodman

A woman who endured “appalling” dental treatment for almost two decades has been awarded £160,000 in total damages – the highest amount ever awarded for a dental negligence claim.

RWK Goodman has been vigorously pursuing the case on behalf of their client for the last five years. The award was made in the Royal Courts of Justice in London this week (11 June 2018) with the Judge in the case describing the treatment provided by the defendant dentist as “appalling”.

Katie Parr, a dental negligence specialist at RWK Goodman, said: “I am delighted that a record sum has been achieved for my client who has been through the most horrific ordeal – and continues to suffer.

“She endured 17 years of sub-standard treatment and the psychological trauma of being told she was going to lose all of her teeth, not to mention the stress which this legal battle has caused her. This is one of the most horrendous cases of dental negligence I have dealt with, compounded by the fact that the defendant dentist did not have any insurance and went to great lengths to hide his assets.

“My client has been courageous throughout her ordeal and although the road ahead will not be easy as she has been left with a dental phobia and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, I am thrilled that the Court has awarded this sum to ensure she receives the best possible restorative dental treatment and a degree of compensation for all her years of pain and suffering.”

The award includes £65,000 for general damages, which cover:

• The loss of nine otherwise healthy teeth
• 37 unnecessary dental treatments including unnecessary crowns and root canal fillings
• Occlusal problems which meant the claimant was left unable to eat hard foods
• Psychological injury in the form of post traumatic stress disorder and specific phobia anxiety relating to dental treatments

The case was brought before the Courts by Robert Mills, a barrister from St John’s Chambers, on instruction from RWK Goodman.