Dental Practice case studies

Case Study 1 - Defending Employment Claims and Drafting Associate Agreements
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Dr Bell, Dr Kumar and Mr Rogers are a GDP in Rotherham.  John the associate has worked with the practice for four years and the partners used an old associate agreement that has been in the office drawer since the previous partners retired.

​Mr Rogers and John have an argument about laboratory fees and Mr Rogers tells John that he is useless. John sends a resignation letter stating that although an associate, he is really an employee. and wants to claim his holiday pay for the past three years, as well as bringing an Employment Tribunal claim for constructive dismissal.
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​how can we help?

            

• We can defend John's employment tribunal claim and we can help with the drafting of new associates agreement for the new incoming associate​                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Case Study 2 - Partnership Dispute
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Mr Greg Holmes, Dr Arnold Cohen, James Moss and Angela Sidoli are partners at a GDP practice Angela is pregnant and tells the partners that she wishes to return as a part time partner from September.  The other partners tell Ms Sidoli that they would be happy for her to be part time if she became an associate but if she wants to be a partner she has to remain full time. Ms Sidoli brings a sex discrimination claim in the Employment Tribunal. Mr Holmes and Dr Cohen state that they would have been happy to allow Ms Sidoli to return as a part time partner but they felt bullied by Mr Moss. They decide that they will expel Mr Moss from the partnership. ​
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how can we help?
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• We can help the practice to defend the sex discrimination claim by Ms Sidoli
• We can negotiate settlement where necessary. We can also advise in connection with the expulsion of Mr Moss,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Case Study 3 - Defending a whistle-blowing claim

Dr Singh and Dr Jones run a successful GDP. Debra the dental nurses asks to finish early on Friday because she has a wedding dress fitting. Dr Jones tells Debra that Friday is a busy day with lots of children coming into have their braces fitted and she should have given more notice. Debra is furious and states that the practice are rubbish and that Dr Singh does not change his gloves between patients. Dr Jones tells Dr Singh and Dr Singh is upset with this allegation and tells Debra she will be disciplined for being untruthful.  Debra resigns and brings a claim for whistle-blowing.
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HOW CAN WE HELP?
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• We can defend the employment tribunal proceedings brought by Debra
• We can help the practice to treat her complaint as a grievance and provide a script for the grievance hearing.

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​Case Study 4 - Helping a partner respond to charges from the General Dental Council

Mr Davies runs his own GDP.  He has an argument with his senior receptionist, Josie and she writes an anonymous letter to the General Dental Council stating that Mr Davies is rude to patients and negligent. When patients come into the practice Josie asks them to complete questionnaires and tries to solicit negative feedback about Mr Davies. The General Dental Council send a copy of the complaint to Mr Davies and invite him to comment.                        
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HOW CAN WE HELP?
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• We can help Mr Davies to respond to the General Dental Council.
  
• We can also respond to any later formal charges and we can provide full advice and representation at the GDC hearing.