Nadia Zevallos, 39, said she saw Lilly Almeida, her supervisor at American Dental Center, drink alcohol and eat marijuana Jell-O shots and brownies while working, according to the court documents. Ms. Almeida allegedly pushed the drugs and alcohol on other employees, including Ms. Zevallos, who declined, court records say.
Ms. Almeida was allegedly able to behave inappropriately because she had a “flirtatious and possibly romantic relationship” with American Dental Center dentist David Paltac, DDS, the suit claims.
When Ms. Zevallos complained about the partying to the office manager, Ms. Almeida allegedly yelled at the receptionist in front of patients and staff and threw an accounting booklet at her, the suit claims. Ms. Almeida also gave Ms. Zevallos extra work that week, the documents say.
In a Feb. 3 meeting, Dr. Paltac allegedly said, “There can be an empty bottle of whiskey in my garbage can, but if there is no video of me drinking it, no one can prove that the whiskey bottle is mine,” the court documents say. During the meeting, the office manager also said the practice doesn’t fire employees but “just make[s] sure your life is miserable so you leave on your own,” the suit claims. Ms. Zevallos quit the same day.
The suit also names Garden State Dental Management, American Dental Center’s parent company, as a defendant.
American Dental Center declined Becker’s request for comment.
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