Seattle plastic surgery provider accused of posting fake positive reviews must pay $5M
SEATTLE — A plastic surgery provider in the Seattle area accused of threatening patients over negative reviews and posting fake positive results must pay $5 million to the state attorney general’s office and thousands of Washington patients, according to a federal settlement.
The consent decree filed Monday resolves a lawsuit filed in December 2022 by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, The Seattle Times reportedThe complaint accused Allure Esthetic and owner Dr. Javad Sajan of violating state and federal consumer protection laws by posting false reviews and forcing patients to sign nondisclosure agreements prohibiting them from posting or saying negative reviews about Allure.
The resolution, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, requires Allure to pay about $1.5 million in restitution to approximately 21,000 people. People who were coerced into signing illegal NDAs will each receive $50, while those who paid a nonrefundable consultation fee before signing an illegal NDA will receive $120.
The remaining amount, approximately $3.5 million, will go to Ferguson’s office for attorney fees, litigation costs and oversight and enforcement of the consent decree, the resolution said.
“Writing an honest review of a business should not subject you to threats or intimidation,” Ferguson said in a statement. “Consumers rely on reviews to help them decide who to trust, especially services that impact their health and safety. This resolution holds Allure accountable for its blatant violation of that trust — and the law — and ensures that the clinic stops its harmful behavior.”
Erin M. O’Leary, an attorney for Allure Esthetic, said in a statement that the decision to settle was not easy, but that the company is pleased to have the matter resolved.
“The cooperative settlement, without admission of fault and resolving claims by either party, allows Allure Esthetic to continue to focus on its core mission of providing compassionate care to patients,” O’Leary said.
Sajan, the owner of Allure, is based in Seattle. Allure also does business under several other names, including Alderwood Surgical Center, Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery, Seattle Plastic Surgery, Northwest Nasal Sinus Center, and Northwest Face & Body, according to the lawsuit. Alderwood Surgical Center and Northwest Nasal Sinus Center are also named in the consent decree.
According to its website, the company offers surgical and nonsurgical services, including plastic and cosmetic procedures.
The complaint accused Allure of illegal business practices, including artificially inflating its ratings on Yelp and Google by posting fake positive reviews and suppressing negative reviews that were genuine.
The lawsuit also alleges that the company manipulated “best doctor” contests run by local media, withheld tens of thousands of dollars in rebates intended for patients, and altered before and after photos of patients’ procedures.
Allure threatened to sue and sued some patients if they didn’t remove negative reviews, the complaint said. In some cases, it offered patients money and free services or products in exchange for removing negative reviews. The practice also made more than 10,000 patients sign confidentiality agreements before receiving treatment that prohibited them from posting negative reviews online, the lawsuit said.
Sajan “personally authorized” the amount or value of services offered to patients who posted negative comments, the lawsuit alleges. He also allegedly directed employees to create fake email accounts to pose as patients and post positive reviews.
The resolution also requires Allure to hire an outside forensic accounting firm to conduct an independent audit of the consumer rebate program to determine who is eligible for rebates. Upon request, the attorney general’s office must provide evidence of compliance with the terms of the consent decree for the next 10 years.
If Allure or any of its affiliated companies violate the terms, they could face fines of up to $125,000 per violation.