Patient deaths, murder, and a major lawsuit were the most popular legal issue articles published in 2024 by DrBicuspid.com that resonated with readers. The stories made it to the list based on our members' views.
Without further ado, below are the top five legal stories of 2024.
23-year-old dies following dental procedure
A 23-year-old woman from Canada died after experiencing a medical emergency during a dental procedure in November, triggering an investigation by the Manitoba Dental Association. The investigation into the woman's death is ongoing.
Woman dies after swallowing dental plate
A 33-year-old woman from Ireland died following complications after swallowing her dental plate. Despite an initial x-ray, which did not detect the foreign object, Beata Kunicka was subsequently discharged by hospital staff and later died.
3, including a dentist, arrested in high-profile murder case
A man was arrested for the 2023 murder of a woman along with his father, a well-connected dentist in Kentucky, and another man who are accused of hiding evidence and cleaning up the woman's blood.
On July 30, Michael "M.K." McKinney III, 24, was arrested and charged with the June 18, 2023, murder of Amber Spradlin, 38. M.K. McKinney III, his father, Dr. Michael K. McKinney II, 56, and Josh Mullins, 23, were arrested and charged with seven counts of complicity to tamper with physical evidence.
Orthodontist sued for $28M
Align Technology filed a $28 million lawsuit in U.S. court against an orthodontist claiming that he lured patients to his practice in Oregon with promises of treatment with Invisalign clear aligners and instead gave them a competitor's brand.
The clear aligner maker filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Portland Division, against Dr. William Dischinger and Dischinger Orthodontics in Lake Oswego, OR, claiming they unlawfully used Invisalign's U.S.-registered trademarks to pass off other systems as if they belong to Align or are affiliated with it.
Dentist accused of hiding $3.5M from the U.S. government
A Colorado dentist was indicted for allegedly using an illegal tax shelter to conceal more than $3.5 million from the IRS. Dr. Ryan Ulibarri, who has owned and operated Ulibarri Family Dentistry in Fort Collins, CO, since 2014, was indicted on six counts of tax evasion for his use of an illegal tax shelter.
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