What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois
I signed a contract with Orthodontist A for treatment for my son. The services were supposed to last for 2 years or until complete. Full payment was made by myself and my insurance company within the first year. Complete treatment was contracted for $4,706.00.
After approximately one year, Orthodontist A sold practice to Orthodontist B. Everything was fine for a few months. Then I would call the office to make an appointment and leave messages. The phone calls were not returned. This went on for several months. Finally, we got a call back and scheduled an appointment for May 2010. The receptionist was very apologetic. The last person just walked out, blah, blah. Everything would now get better. July rolls around and it is time for my son's next appointment. The day before the appointment, the orthodontist himself calls and says he has had a death in the family and someone will call to re-schedule.
Of course, no phone call. In August, an article on the front page of our local newspaper states orthodontist B lost his license to practice in March 2010 due to substance abuse and prescription forgery. Ortho B had had his license taken away for the same reason about 18 months prior but had been re-instated. One of the conditions of re-reinstatement was that he could not own his own practice.
Now, here's where things get tricky. When ortho A sold to B, he did not sell any of the contracts to ortho B. Ortho B was to perform services on Ortho A's clients without any payment while he attempted to acquire new clients. My take on the situation is that Ortho A received payment for my son's treatment without actually completing the treatment.
Today, we went to get a consultation with another ortho. He wants $4,550 to complete treatment. The prior work done was mediocre at best. So, now we will have almost $9,000 in my son's mouth and almost 5 years in braces.
Ortho A is a prominent orthodontist in the Chicagoland area still. However, his nearest office is quite far from my home. He offered to complete treatment to clients for additional costs but would be discounted from "new" client costs. He has already been paid as far as I'm concerned.
What recourse do I have? Does the responsibility lay on Ortho A or B? What type of attorney would handle something like this?
Thanks in advance for your time and advice.
I signed a contract with Orthodontist A for treatment for my son. The services were supposed to last for 2 years or until complete. Full payment was made by myself and my insurance company within the first year. Complete treatment was contracted for $4,706.00.
After approximately one year, Orthodontist A sold practice to Orthodontist B. Everything was fine for a few months. Then I would call the office to make an appointment and leave messages. The phone calls were not returned. This went on for several months. Finally, we got a call back and scheduled an appointment for May 2010. The receptionist was very apologetic. The last person just walked out, blah, blah. Everything would now get better. July rolls around and it is time for my son's next appointment. The day before the appointment, the orthodontist himself calls and says he has had a death in the family and someone will call to re-schedule.
Of course, no phone call. In August, an article on the front page of our local newspaper states orthodontist B lost his license to practice in March 2010 due to substance abuse and prescription forgery. Ortho B had had his license taken away for the same reason about 18 months prior but had been re-instated. One of the conditions of re-reinstatement was that he could not own his own practice.
Now, here's where things get tricky. When ortho A sold to B, he did not sell any of the contracts to ortho B. Ortho B was to perform services on Ortho A's clients without any payment while he attempted to acquire new clients. My take on the situation is that Ortho A received payment for my son's treatment without actually completing the treatment.
Today, we went to get a consultation with another ortho. He wants $4,550 to complete treatment. The prior work done was mediocre at best. So, now we will have almost $9,000 in my son's mouth and almost 5 years in braces.
Ortho A is a prominent orthodontist in the Chicagoland area still. However, his nearest office is quite far from my home. He offered to complete treatment to clients for additional costs but would be discounted from "new" client costs. He has already been paid as far as I'm concerned.
What recourse do I have? Does the responsibility lay on Ortho A or B? What type of attorney would handle something like this?
Thanks in advance for your time and advice.