Peter C. Harvey, Attorney General

Division of Consumer Affairs
Reni Erdos, Director

For Immediate Release:
December 8, 2003

For Further Information Contact:
Jeff Lamm, Genene Morris
973-504-6327

NEWARK - A former Somerset County orthodontist who illegally treated patients after his license was suspended has agreed to pay restitution totaling $190,637 to 101 former patients, Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and Consumer Affairs Director Reni Erdos announced today.

The State entered into a consent agreement with former orthodontist John G. McIntyre setting forth the restitution terms for patients who did not receive services for which they had paid. The settlement was filed before Somerset County Superior Court Judge Roger F. Mahon on December 3.

The New Jersey Board of Dentistry suspended McIntyre's license on April 7, 2002 after he failed to cooperate with investigators checking into an alleged false insurance claim. The State later discovered that McIntyre, who once maintained an office at 211 West End Avenue in Raritan, continued to see and treat patients after the license suspension took effect.

McIntyre surrendered his dental license to the Board of Dentistry in September 2002 and was ordered to pay the State $25,000 in civil penalties plus investigative and legal costs.

"Dr. McIntyre broke the law, and the trust of patients, by holding himself out as someone able to practice dentistry when, in fact, his license had been suspended," Attorney General Harvey said.

"This settlement provides that when money becomes available, patients who paid for services that they did not receive will be compensated," Director Erdos said. "I commend the Board of Dentistry's hard work in this matter. The Board contacted all active patients to provide information about other area orthodontists willing to treat them and to determine who was entitled to restitution."

Deputy Attorney General Susan C. Berger of the Division of Law handled this matter for the State.