Minnesota will use a newly established fund to reimburse patients of a shuttered dental practice, Woodbury News Net reported March 9.
Marko Kamel, DDS, was the owner of Woodbury (Minn.) Dental Arts. The Minnesota Board of Dentistry temporarily suspended Dr. Kamel’s license after determining that his continued practice would present an imminent risk of harm. The practice closed in 2024 after Dr. Kamel said he “ran out of money” and filed for bankruptcy, leaving patients with unfinished dental work.
A settlement was reached between the state attorney general and the practice’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee in November, allowing patients affected by the closure to obtain refunds through the new state program for services they paid in advance for but never received.
The Minnesota Legislature created the Consumer Protection Restitution Account last year to reimburse individuals when companies go bankrupt or lack funds for repayments.
The state has received more than 300 claims from former patients so far. Officials have estimated that a total of nearly $5 million in restitution will be paid to affected patients.
