A Winston-Salem, NC, dentist must pay her former business partner $2.34 million in compensatory and punitive damages after she transferred money from their joint practices for personal use without permission, according to a news story in the Winston-Salem Journal.
A North Carolina business court judge passed the ruling on November 7, concluding a nearly two-and-a-half year lawsuit brought by Nicole LeCann, DDS, against Sharon Cobham, DDS.
Some of the personal expenditures by Dr. Cobham included mortgage payments on a Charlotte condo, accommodations at the Ritz Carlton in Charlotte, Prada shoes, and a Match.com account.
The two dentists formed a partnership in 2000 after graduating together from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in 1999. Dr. LeCann, after discovering the expenditures, asked that the money be put back into the practices and filed the lawsuit after Dr. Cobham declined to do that.
While Dr. Cobham's attorney declined to comment, Dr. LeCann's attorney told the Journal that the damages can be paid at any time voluntarily.
"There is a legal process through the receiver for collection if necessary," the attorney added.
