Trial begins against Palm Desert dentist accused of unsanitary conditions
Trial proceedings were expected to begin today in a lawsuit against a Palm Desert dentist who allegedly retained a hygienist who treated patients with unsanitary tools, including one patient who was HIV-positive, creating the potential of infecting other patients.
Dr. Gregg K. Balis, who’s practiced in the Coachella Valley for nearly three decades. is being sued by his former officer manager, Jennifer Evans.
Along with alleging discrimination and wrongful termination, Evans claims that Balis failed to fire a hygienist who “was not cleaning and sanitizing dental instruments after each use,” including with one patient who “voluntarily disclosed that he was HIV positive,” according to a complaint.
“Ms. Evans worked closely with Dr. Balis for more than 25 years and possessed a deep understanding of the rules and regulations established by the California Dental Board,” said Evans’ attorney, Arnold Peter. “The fact that Dr. Balis thoroughly dismissed these claims of using unsanitary instruments is
very troubling and raises questions about his dental practice that could potentially have put the broader public at risk.”
Evans alleges that though she advised Balis to fire the hygienist, he did not do so in exchange for an agreement that the hygienist not report other violations at the practice to regulatory authorities. These hygienist administer anesthesia on “multiple occasions when Defendant was running late for a patient appointment,” which is prohibited by the California Dental Board, according to the suit.
In addition, patients who received treatment with the unsanitized instruments were not informed.
“I did everything possible to get Dr. Balis to comply with his professional obligations as soon as I discovered the use of unsanitary dental instruments,” Evans said. “However, Dr. Balis made the decision to retain the hygienist and refused to notify patients who were potentially exposed, so they
could be tested and treated for possibly HIV infection.”
Evans, who worked with Balis from 1990 until 2015, was let go from the practice under what she alleges were volatile working conditions following a romantic relationship between the two that dissolved around 2000.
Though she continued to work at the practice after their relationship ended, Evans alleges that Balis was discriminatory against her aftewards, primarily due to her age.
Balis could not immediately be reached for comment, but a statement filed with the court alleges that Evans was fired “for legitimate business reasons,” which included eliminating the office manager position altogether and spreading those duties among himself and the remaining staff members.
A defense trial brief alleges that Evans “appears to be nothing more than a disgruntled ex-employee upset over her discharge.”
The brief does not specifically address the claims of using unsanitary instruments, but alleges that Evans has already made several other claims in alleging wrongful termination, which she’s since abandoned, including breach of contract and defamation.
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