Seattle Plastic Surgery Provider Accused Of Posting Fake Positive Reviews Must Pay $5M

SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle-area plastic surgery provider accused of threatening patients over negative reviews and posting fake positive ones must pay $5 million to the state attorney general’s office and thousands of Washington patients, according to a federal consent decree.

The consent decree filed Monday resolves a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Bob Ferguson in December 2022, The Seattle Times reported. The complaint accused Allure Esthetic and owner Dr. Javad Sajan of violating state and federal consumer protection laws by posting the false reviews and forcing patients to sign nondisclosure agreements barring them from posting or saying anything negative about Allure.

The resolution, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, requires Allure to pay about $1.5 million in restitution to about 21,000 people. People who were forced to sign illegal NDAs will each receive $50, while those who paid a nonrefundable consultation fee before they signed an illegal NDA will receive $120.

The remainder of the money, about $3.5 million, will go to Ferguson’s office for attorney fees, litigation costs and monitoring and enforcing of the consent decree, according to the resolution.

“Writing a truthful review about a business should not subject you to threats or intimidation,” Ferguson said in a statement. “Consumers rely on reviews when determining who to trust, especially services that affect their health and safety. This resolution holds Allure accountable for brazenly violating that trust — and the law — and ensures the clinic stops its harmful conduct.”

Erin M. O’Leary, an attorney for Allure Esthetic, said in a statement that the decision to settle was not easy but the company is pleased to