Man sues dentist over two front teeth

NEW ORLEANS – A local man is suing his dental surgeon after his two front teeth were extracted with an alleged promise of free implants that he never received.

Christopher Washington filed suit against Daniel Spagnoli DDS and his insurance company in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Dec. 11, 2013.

In April 2013 Washington was referred to consult with a dental surgeon Dr. Daniel Spagnoli for the extraction of his third molars and the extraction of his two front teeth. During the consultation about his molars, Washington claims he was given the option of having his front teeth removed and replaced with surgical implants within four months of extraction. Washington alleges that he was told there would be no cost to him for the extraction or the implants, so he agreed to the extraction, which was done on July 12, 2013 at Children’s Hospital by Spagnoli.

Washington asserts he made an appointment with Spagnoli within three months, in which he was told there would be a cost for the implants, around $3,000. Washington claims he told Spagnoli he was in debt $15,000 and would never have agreed to the extraction if he knew the true cost. Washington asserts that Spagnoli told him that his financial problems were not his fault and he never told him the implants would be free.

Washington states that he intends to institute a medical malpractice claim, but is unable to do so until he files a claim with the Commission of Administration to form a medical malpractice review panel. He expects this process to take over a year so he is filing for pre-suit discovery for presentation to the medical review panel, his complaint states.

Judge Regina Bartholomew on Dec. 13, 2013 ordered that Washington be allowed to take Spagnoli’s deposition through written interrogatories.

Christopher Washington submitted this suit himself in forma pauperis and is representing himself pro se.

Case is assigned to Division H Judge Val Patrick Exnicios.

Case no. 2013-11748.