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Lanzer class action moves ahead with amended claims
A Supreme Court decision has cleared the way for alleged victims of celebrity cosmetic surgeon Dr Daniel Lanzer and six of his associates to pursue damages for disappointment and distress, a law firm behind the class action has said.
Naomi Neilson
In a decision handed down in the Victorian Supreme Court earlier this month, Justice Jacinta Forbes approved the class action’s amended statement of claim and dismissed an application by the defendants to strike out parts of the claim.
Maddens filed the class action in 2022, and the number of group members has since soared to over 1,000.
It was sparked by a media investigation into allegedly serious hygiene and safety breaches and procedures, which left patients in extreme pain. Some required further medical treatment and allegedly suffered from ongoing physical and psychological issues.
In coming to her decision, Justice Forbes said the issues in the group proceedings “have been tolerably clear” and able to be responded to by the defendants since the original statement of claim.
She also noted that each of the seven doctors has “admitted they do not hold plastic surgery qualifications”.
Maddens said this decision will allow the plaintiffs to continue seeking damages for disappointment and distress and pursue claims they were allegedly misled by the defendants on the Lanzer website and across their social media platforms.
The firm alleged the doctors made representations they were specialist surgeons with specialist surgical training.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
