The Smile Center, a San Antonio chain of dental clinics, was ordered to pay $35,000 in sanctions and $35,000 in attorney's fees to WOAI-TV last week by a state district judge, according to a news story in the San Antonio Express-News.
Earlier this year, the same judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by the center and its owner Stephen Simpton, DDS, against WOAI and its reporter, as well as Thomas Crosley, an attorney who filed a lawsuit against the center. The center also had to pay the attorney $50,000 in sanctions and nearly $58,000 in attorney's fees, according to the story.
WOAI aired a series of news stories featuring parents who complained about the treatment their children received at the center, and Crosley, who appeared in some of the stories, sued the Smile Center on behalf of the parents of two dozen children, according to the story.
"While our defamation suit has been rejected, we are confident that when all of the facts are presented regarding each case, the truth will prevail and our voices will be heard finally in a court of law," according to a statement released by Smile Center following the judgment.
A Smile Center spokeswoman told WOAI that she knows of no plans to appeal the judgments for sanctions and attorneys fees.
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