Settlement Reached
A Seattle-area plastic surgery provider, Allure Esthetic, and its owner Dr. Javad Sajan, have been ordered to pay $5 million in a settlement with the state attorney general’s office. The federal consent decree, filed Monday, resolves a lawsuit accusing the provider of posting fake positive reviews and intimidating patients who posted negative ones.
Background of the Lawsuit
Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed the lawsuit in December 2022, alleging that Allure Esthetic violated state and federal consumer protection laws. The complaint highlighted practices such as posting false reviews and forcing patients to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) that prevented them from posting negative feedback about the clinic.
Financial Breakdown of the Settlement
The resolution, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, allocates approximately $1.5 million in restitution to about 21,000 affected patients. Those forced to sign illegal NDAs will each receive $50, and those who paid a nonrefundable consultation fee before signing an illegal NDA will receive $120. The remaining $3.5 million will cover attorney fees, litigation costs, and monitoring and enforcing the consent decree.
Attorney General’s Statement
“Writing a truthful review about a business should not subject you to threats or intimidation,” Ferguson stated. “Consumers rely on reviews when determining who to trust, especially services that affect their health and safety. This resolution holds Allure accountable for brazenly violating that trust — and the law — and ensures the clinic stops its harmful conduct.”
Response from Allure Esthetic
Erin M. O’Leary, an attorney for Allure Esthetic, expressed that while the decision to settle was challenging, the company is pleased to have resolved the case. “The cooperative settlement, while not admitting fault and resolving claims asserted by both sides, allows Allure Esthetic to continue to focus on its core mission of providing compassionate care to patients,” O’Leary said.
Allegations of Illegal Practices
The lawsuit detailed numerous illegal business practices by Allure Esthetic, including:
- Artificially inflating ratings on Yelp and Google with fake positive reviews
- Suppressing real negative reviews
- Rigging “best doctor” competitions hosted by local media outlets
- Keeping tens of thousands of dollars in patient rebates
- Altering before-and-after photos of procedures on patients
