Michigan jury awards $400K to patient who lost taste after dental procedure

An eight-person jury in Macomb County, Mich., agreed a patient should receive $400,000 after he lost most of his taste and feeling in his tongue from a dentist accused of wrongly injecting numbing solution, the Macomb Daily reported Feb. 2. 

The jury unanimously decided that an insurance company should pay Christopher Vlaminck, 58, an initial lump sum of $100,000 and another $300,000 based over the course of 20 years for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and disability. 

Steven Ratiner, DDS, allegedly injected Mr. Vlaminck with numbing solution in the back of the mouth and destroyed Mr. Vlaminck's lingual nerve, affecting his feeling and sense of taste.

Dr. Ratiner was defended by his insurance company, which could appeal the decision. An attorney representing the insurance company could not be reached by the news station.

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