Costa Mesa : Woman to Get $170,000 for Loss of 10 Teeth
A woman subjected to unnecessary surgery by Tony Protopappas, a Costa Mesa dentist convicted of murder in the deaths of three patients, agreed Tuesday to a $170,000 settlement of a malpractice lawsuit.
Sandra Caron, 27, of Buena Park lost 10 lower teeth after work in 1980 by Protopappas. She also suffered through a lingering tooth infection that lasted 18 months.
Her lawyer, Gregory Munoz, said Caron is the first of Protopappas’ victims to settle civil lawsuits alleging malpractice.
Protopappas was convicted of second-degree murder in 1984 in the deaths of three patients from drug overdoses. The three victims, Kim Andreassen, 23; Patricia Craven, 13, and Cathryn Jones, 31, were treated at Protopappas’ high-volume clinic in late 1982 and early 1983.
Caron’s teeth had developed abnormally short roots, an inherited condition. Protopappas prescribed surgery in which metal posts were driven through the 10 teeth and attached to the jaw.
Later, with Caron completely anesthetized, Protopappas pulled her lower teeth and installed false teeth, without telling his patient what he intended to do, Munoz said.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
