Federal Judge Rules Seattle Plastic Surgery Provider Illegally Prevented Negative Online Reviews

Seattle Plastic Surgery Provider Found Guilty of Blocking Negative Online Reviews

A federal judge ruled on Friday that a Seattle plastic surgery provider, Allure Esthetic, illegally prevented thousands of patients from posting negative online reviews by forcing them to sign nondisclosure agreements before receiving treatment. The penalty against Allure Esthetic and its owner, Dr. Javad Sajan, will be decided at a trial scheduled for September.

The ruling comes after Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued Allure Esthetic, accusing the provider of violating a federal law protecting consumers’ rights to post truthful reviews about a business. The lawsuit alleged that Allure went to extreme measures to control what was said publicly about the provider on sites such as Google and Yelp, including altering photos, bribing patients, and forcing employees to post fake positive reviews.

Patients were required to agree to contact the company directly rather than posting a negative review, which was considered to be less than four stars. Even until March 2022, patients had to contact the clinic directly before leaving a negative review. Some patients were also required to waive their privacy rights so the company could respond to negative reviews with their personal health information, violating HIPAA laws.

The lawsuit also alleged that Allure forced patients who agreed to take down negative reviews to sign a second nondisclosure agreement, with a $250,000 fine if they did not comply. Additionally, the company was accused of buying fake followers and likes, creating fake profiles to write positive reviews, and using fake emails to take skin care rebates intended for patients.

Ferguson’s office had been investigating Allure for about a year before filing the lawsuit, interviewing former employees and patients. Allure Esthetic has offices in Seattle, Lynnwood, and Kirkland.

Allure Esthetic did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The trial in September will determine the penalty for the illegal actions taken by the plastic surgery provider. Online reviews are crucial for consumers in determining who to trust, and this case highlights the importance of protecting consumers’ rights to post truthful feedback about businesses.