Dong Hyun Lee claims former colleague Catherine Chen posted a fake reviews about him. The two are dentists.
HACKENSACK - Two dentists who worked together in Englewood Cliffs are embroiled in a lawsuit with one practitioner claiming the other posted defamatory reviews about him online in an effort to destroy his reputation, according to a lawsuit filed in Bergen County.
Dong Hyun Lee, 52, claims in court papers that former colleague Catherine Chen, 40, posted a fake review about his practice on the Heath Grades website in January 2016, disguising herself as "Q.T. from Palisades Park."
"This is the worst dental experience I have ever encountered in my life!" the post states, according to the lawsuit.
"From the long waiting time to the rough and painful handling while working on my teeth to insurance fraud for charging my insurance for work that Dr. Dong Lee never did, I can't imagine any other dental office can be as terrible as this one!" the suit claims the poster wrote. "Run as fast as you can from this place!"
Lee and Chen worked together for a time at Lee's practice, Sylvan Dental, which serves clients in North Jersey and several counties in New York, according to the suit. Chen is identified in court papers as a tenant in Lee's practice.
"Over time, the name 'Sylvan Dental' and 'Dong Lee' have become synonymous with high quality dental care provided to the Korean-American community and to the community at large," the suit states.
But the working relationship between Lee and Chen fell apart after Chen allegedly requested an early termination of her lease, according to the lawsuit, which was filed recently in Bergen County Superior Court.
Chen allegedly claimed she had a family emergency and needed to return to Taiwan, the suit states.
After Lee agreed to break the lease and waive Chen's rent, the two went their separate ways, the suit states. Lee then rented the space to another dentist, according to the suit.
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And, unknown to Lee at the time, Chen did not visit Taiwan, but instead opened another practice in Fort Lee and resumed her business, the suit states.
After the Health Grades review, other "defamatory and libelous" reviews appeared on Yelp during the spring and summer of 2016, according to the suit.
"I would give ZERO star if possible!" a reviewer claiming to be QTC stated on Yelp in September, according to the lawsuit.
"The owner, Dr. Dong Lee, saw me and holy ---- that was the most painful dental experience I ever had in my life!! He was extremely rough, pushing my face left and right, and he was cutting my gum when adjusting my temporary crown," the poster allegedly stated.
The suit states the poster also claimed Lee had been fined $80,000 by an insurance company for fraud and referred to Lee as "this dishonest horrible dentist."
The lawsuit states that after "a thorough review of the facts," Chen and his lawyers "have come to know the posting had not been done by any former or existing patient."
"Instead, the posting had been done by defendant Chen," the suit claims.
The suit claims Chen intended to harm Lee and his practice "using evil, false, defamatory, outrageous lies (and that she) cowardly shielded herself behind the cloak" of Yelp and Heath Grades reviewers.
The suit alleges libel, slander, defamation, trade libel, tortious interference, and interference with prospective relations. Lee claims in court papers his business sustained irreparable harm and is seeking an injunction from future posts.
The lawsuit seeks a retraction of the reviews, along with unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Chen could not be reached for comment.
Attorney Michael S. Kimm, who filed the suit, said Chen requested her malpractice carrier defend her against the allegations.
The carrier appointed a lawyer who "just filed (an answer) days ago, generally denying the allegations," Kimm said.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.