Released on = March 31, 2006, 10:43 am

Press Release Author = Benjamin W. Glass, III & Associates, PC

Industry = Small Business

Press Release Summary = Fairfax, (VA) Circuit Court Judge Kathleen H. MacKay today
ordered a stay of a defamation lawsuit filed by a local dentist against three former
employees of his practice. The Virginia Attorney General's office had asked for a
stay of the $700,000 Fairfax County lawsuit filed late last year

Press Release Body = Fairfax, (VA) Circuit Court Judge Kathleen H. MacKay today
ordered a stay of a defamation lawsuit filed by a local dentist against three former
employees of his practice. The Virginia Attorney General's office had asked for a
stay of the $700,000 Fairfax County lawsuit filed late last year in which the
dentist alleges he was defamed after one of the employees filed a complaint against
him with the Virginia Board of Dentistry.

The Virginia Board of Dentistry will take up the matter in a public hearing
currently scheduled to take place on June 16, 2006. The stay will be in effect at
least until that date.

In the lawsuit, Farid A. Zurmati, DDS, owner of Kingstowne Family and Cosmetic
Dentistry, alleges that a former office manager "made numerous allegations against
[him]" that were false and defamatory and that as a result, he has suffered
"personal humiliation, mental anguish and injury to his business." The lawsuit also
alleges that the former employees conspired with each other to willfully injure
Furmati's reputation. The former employees have vigorously denied the allegations.

Benjamin W. Glass, III, attorney for one of the former employees said: "My client
made a confidential complaint to the board of dentistry after she witnessed several
incidents in the office. We are pleased that Judge McKay stayed the lawsuit pending
a full hearing by the Virginia Board of Dentistry. Citizens should feel free to file
confidential complaints regarding patient safety without fear of being sued. This
lawsuit will have a real chilling effect on the Board of Dentistry's efforts to
investigate complaints filed against Virginia dentists and will likely frighten
other consumers who are contemplating making these types of complaints."

The defendants and the Commonwealth of Virginia have also moved to dismiss the case
entirely. The motion will be taken up after the stay is lifted, later this year. No
trial date has been set.

Mr. Glass is a medical malpractice and personal injury attorney in Fairfax, VA.
Pleadings in this case are available. The case is Zurmati v. Gailliot, Fairfax, VA
Circuit Court, No. CL-2005-5555

Web Site = http://www.BenGlassLaw.com

Contact Details = Benjamin Glass||3915 Old Lee Highway, Suite 22-B||Fairfax ,
22030||$$country||||703-591-9829||Ben@BenGlassLaw.com||http://www.BenGlassLaw.com