BriteSmile files suit against Discus Dental for unfair business practices
BriteSmile Inc., the leading international provider of a new state-of-the-art teeth whitening system, today filed suit against Discus Dental charging the company with unfair business practices and tortious interference under California state law. The suit seeks to permanently prohibit Discus Dental from targeting and interfering with BriteSmile dentists.
Discus Dental is the manufacturer and distributor of the Zoom! in-office teeth whitening system, which the company markets to individual dentist offices. In violation of California's Unfair Practices Act, Discus Dental -- on multiple occasions -- knowingly targeted dentists that were under contract with BriteSmile, offering them incentives to break their contracts with BriteSmile.
Bill Dorfman, the founder of Discus Dental, personally posted an email message to a dental group encouraging the dentists to break their contracts with BriteSmile, telling them that termination would not be a problem.
"BriteSmile has a network of more than 4,200 dentists and we take our professional relationship with each and every one very seriously," said John L. Reed, BriteSmile CEO. "Discus' recent actions are unethical and illegal and will not be tolerated by BriteSmile. We intend to pursue our claims aggressively and are confident in the case we are bringing forward."
The suit has been filed in Contra Costa County in Northern California. Both companies are headquartered in California.
BriteSmile has developed and manufactures the most advanced teeth whitening technology available, as well as manages state-of-the-art BriteSmile Professional Teeth Whitening Centers. BriteSmile Centers are currently operating in Beverly Hills, Irvine, Palo Alto, Walnut Creek and La Jolla, CA; Honolulu, HI; Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Boston, MA; Boca Raton, FL; Atlanta, GA; New York, NY; Chicago, IL; and, Phoenix, AZ. In addition to BriteSmile Centers, the Company has contracted with independent dentists to perform whitening procedures at more than 4,200 Associated Centers. Of the BriteSmile Associated Centers, more than 800 are located outside of the United States, in more than 36 countries. For more information about BriteSmile's procedure, call 800-BRITESMILE or visit www.britesmile.com
