A Pennsylvania couple has filed a lawsuit against a dentist and his practice, alleging severe negligence that led to prolonged pain and suffering. Maureen Folino and her husband Eric Folino filed the complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County on June 4, 2024, against George S. Tunder, D.M.D., and North Pittsburgh Oral Surgery Associates, LTD.
The lawsuit stems from an incident beginning on July 3, 2022, when Maureen Folino experienced pain in the left side of her mouth. Despite seeking initial treatment from Dr. Mark Marion at Marion Smile Center and later from Dr. Shilpa Chaudhry at Innovative Endodontics, her condition did not improve. X-rays revealed decomposing root canal material, leading to a referral to Defendant Tunder for tooth extraction.
On July 13, 2022, Defendant Tunder performed the extraction but allegedly failed to inform Mrs. Folino that root tips were broken off and left in her mouth. This omission was not documented in her medical records either. Following the procedure, Mrs. Folino's condition worsened significantly; she experienced severe pain and leakage of green pus and blood from the extraction site.
Despite multiple follow-up visits with Defendant Tunder where he dismissed her symptoms as mere clenching of teeth and prescribed inappropriate medication (including penicillin despite knowing Mrs. Folino’s allergy), her condition continued to deteriorate. Eventually, she sought emergency care at Allegheny Health Network Wexford’s emergency department on July 18, 2022.
CT scans revealed inflammatory changes around the left mandible adjacent to the tooth extraction cavity with likely cellulitis overlaying it. She was treated with IV medications but continued to suffer until she underwent surgical debridement for acute osteomyelitis of the left mandible on July 28, 2022.
The plaintiffs argue that both Defendant Tunder and North Pittsburgh Oral Surgery Associates exhibited gross negligence by failing to provide adequate patient care, failing to recognize signs of osteomyelitis promptly, prescribing inappropriate antibiotics despite known allergies, failing to maintain accurate clinical records, and not informing Mrs. Folino about retained root tips after surgery.
As a result of these alleged failures in professional care standards, Mrs. Folino suffered numerous injuries including acute suppurative osteomyelitis of the left mandible, facial abscesses in sublingual and submandibular spaces, reduced jaw function causing chronic pain and mental distress among other complications.
The plaintiffs are seeking judgment against both defendants for an amount exceeding the jurisdictional limits of compulsory arbitration along with costs and interest. They demand compensation for medical expenses incurred due to ongoing treatments required for Mrs. Folino’s recovery as well as damages related to loss of consortium claimed by Mr. Eric Folino who has been deprived of his wife's companionship due to her prolonged illness.
Representing Maureen and Eric Folino are attorneys Harry S. Cohen (PA I.D No.: 30682), Dorothy J Dohanics (PA I.D No.: 313955), Carmen J Nocera (PA I.D No.: 327993) from Harry S Cohen & Associates PC based in Pittsburgh PA while Judge presiding over this case remains unnamed yet under Case ID: Not provided.