The plaintiffs in the Dr Lanzer Class Action have had a significant win in a recent judgment in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
In May 2024, the plaintiffs sought to file a proposed amended statement of claim, which document forms the basis of their case against the defendants. The defendants had made numerous applications to strike out parts of the plaintiffs’ claims. At a two-day hearing in July, the plaintiffs were successful in defending against these applications and the Court has now approved the plaintiffs filing of amendments to their claim.
As Justice Forbes stated in Her Judgment issued on 2 October 2024: “Since the September [Statement of Claim] the issues in the group proceeding have been tolerably clear to the Court and able to be responded to by the defendants in their defences.”
The Court’s judgment allows the plaintiffs to seek damages for disappointment and distress, and to pursue their claims that the plaintiffs were misled by both the defendants’ social media on the Lanzer website, and the defendants’ representations that the defendants were specialist surgeons with specialist surgical training. Her Honour noted in the judgment that “[e]ach doctor has admitted that they do not hold plastic surgery qualifications.”
Maddens Lawyers launched the Dr Lanzer Class Action in 2022 on behalf of all patients who have suffered loss and damage due to cosmetic surgery performed at Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Services Pty Ltd by one or more of the defendants.
Kathryn Emeny, Maddens Lawyers’ Class Action Principal, said the judgment was an important step to fully outline the nature of allegations against the defendants in this class action.
Over 1,000 group members have registered to date with registrations continuing to be received.
Ms Emeny further commented that Maddens Lawyers’ legal team continue to hear harrowing accounts of peoples’ experiences with Dr Lanzer’s clinics.
Maddens Lawyers are advancing the Dr Lanzer class action on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis.
Prior patients of Dr Lanzer’s clinics are encouraged to register online at maddenslawyers.com.au/drlanzer or contact the firm on 1800 815 228.
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Key Facts:
The plaintiffs in the Dr Lanzer Class Action have had a signifcant win in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
The plaintiffs sought to file a proposed amended statement of claim, allowing them to seek damages for disappoointment and distress, and purse claims of being misled by the defendants' social media and qualifications.
The judgement is an important step to fully outline the nature of the allegations against the defendants in the class action.
Over 1,000 group members have registered to date with more continuning.
About us:
About Maddens Lawyers
Maddens Lawyers are the region’s class action experts having acted on behalf of thousands of people and successfully recovered more than $200 million in compensation.
Our work in representing groups of people stretches back to the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires in Victoria where Maddens Lawyers issued more than 400 individual claims and secured in excess of $40 million in compensation for the victims.
Other notable class actions in which Maddens Lawyers have been the driving force include New South Wales’ 2009 Walla Walla bushfire, Victoria’s 2018 St Patrick’s Day bushfire, South Australia’s 2021 Lucindale bushfire and the current nationwide Toyota Diesel Defeat Device Class Action.
Our class action department continually works on behalf of groups impacted by large scale incidents across Australia, helping them through the often overwhelming and complex legal process and allowing them to be stronger together.
Contact details:
Kathryn Emeny, Principal, Maddens Lawyers - 03 5560 2000
Tori Croese, Marketing & Communications Manager, Maddens Lawyers - 0479 003 098