A retired Texas senior living on a fixed income sought legal advice after a year-long struggle with ill-fitting dentures. The client paid over $2,000 for the dentures, a significant sum she could not afford to lose. Despite repeated attempts to address the issue with her dentist, the upper dentures remained uncomfortable and unusable. The situation worsened when the original dentists left the state, and the new dentist refused to honor the previous agreement to apply the payment towards implants if the dentures did not fit. After a year of back-and-forth with the dental office, including an attempt to resize the dentures which only made them even tighter and more uncomfortable, she turned to ABA Free Legal Answers as a last resort.
The client posted their legal question on ABA Free Legal Answers, seeking guidance on how to recoup their money. An experienced volunteer attorney, licensed and in good standing in Texas, promptly responded by offering two potential courses of action. The primary recommendation was to file a complaint with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) at no cost to the client. The attorney explained that this could lead to an investigation and potentially pressure the dentist to resolve the issue or face jeopardizing their license. As a secondary option, the attorney suggested filing a lawsuit in the local courts for damages.
Rather than pursue litigation that would likely require additional expertise and expense, the client decided to file a complaint with the TSBDE. After the agency reviewed the complaint and contacted the dentist, the client was offered partial reimbursement, allowing them to retain a different dentist who fitted them with better-fitting, more comfortable, dentures.
“The information provided by your organization greatly helped in resolving my issue with the dentist,” the client said. “I could not have done it without your help. We seniors have precious little money to lose.”
The client’s attorney, a mid-sized Dallas law firm shareholder, having answered over 2,500 questions on the Texas Free Legal Answers site, emphasizes the personal growth he has gained from involvement with ABA Free Legal Answers. "It's a grounding opportunity that causes you to appreciate what you have and gain a better understanding of those who don't. It puts you in the shoes of those in need and recenters us."
___________________________
ABA Free Legal Answers is an online pro bono legal clinic sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, through which income-eligible clients can post civil legal questions to be answered by pro bono attorneys from their jurisdiction. Currently, 44 states and territories are live for client access, including a federal portal for veterans’ benefits and immigration questions. For more information on ABA Free Legal Answers or to make a tax-deductible donation, please contact [email protected].