Lava Ultimate (tooth crowns)

2019: A fine of $33 million for the rejected tooth crowns

At the end of March, 2019 company 3M agreed to settle the class action of defects of tooth crowns of Lava Ultimate, having paid $33 million.

This claim was submitted in May, 2016 to district court of the USA in the State of Minnesota by 39 stomatologists using in work of a crown of production 3M. Affirms as the claim that in case of Lava Ultimate patients addressed concerning unsatisfactory quality of the set crowns much more often than when using materials of other producers. In June, 2015 company 3M removed from the market the specified products, however, according to court documents, over 1 million crowns of Lava Ultimate were sold by this time.

3M advertized Lava Ultimate as the material for tooth crowns differing in the esthetics and durability earlier unavailable in this segment. However stomatologists claim that extremely high level of complaints was caused by internal defect of Lava Ultimate. According to expert opinions, these products cannot be applied in those areas for which it was provided, in particular, for use in tooth crowns earlier. All crowns of Lava Ultimate are considered as defective.

Tooth crowns of Lava Ultimate of which quality stomatologists complain

In March, 2018 the judge Donovan Frank rejected the claims submitted in different states and the petition of claimants for presumptive damages, however allowed to change other points of complaints. Though claimants tried to change requirements which were rejected by Donovan, the parties eventually agreed to employ the retired magistrate judge Arthur Boylan as the external intermediary.

Negotiations continued during five sessions, and as a result of the party compounded, approved by the judge. As a result company 3M undertook to create settlement fund in the amount of $32.5 million for injured stomatologists.^[1]

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