California Dentist Must Defend Malpractice Lawsuit in Illinois

A California dentist had sufficient meaningful contacts with Illinois to be required to appear and defend a malpractice suit there, a federal court said.

Brian Hockel had an ongoing, years-long business relationship with the Illinois oral surgeon who allegedly botched Eric Oberst’s jaw expansion surgery, having referred a number of patients—including Oberst—to him, the US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois said Wednesday. Hockel collaborated with the surgeon to develop Oberst’s treatment plan and “injected” himself into the patient’s care by providing input on the surgery and the follow-up care, Magistrate Judge Mark A. Beatty said.

This case ...