Bette Robin, DDS, JD 877 DrRobin
SELECT PRACTICE SERVICES, INC. / DENTAL PRACTICE SALES
SELECT PRACTICE SERVICES, INC. / DENTAL PRACTICE SALES
'THE FIRST DENTAL WIVES CLUB'
Some of you may doubt the existence of this not-so-exclusive club,
however if you talk to some of your colleagues you’ll undoubtedly
discover many are quite certain it exists. I picked up the First Wives
Club book in the airport to read on the long flight back from the ADA.
While laughing and entertaining myself, I became convinced that I
personally knew many of the characters described in the book. I am
sure they are pseudonyms for some dentists I know! Of course, I then
had to see the movie.
Now, I must admit, this is an area in which I have no actual
experience. While I am a ‘first wife’ (so therefore I understand the
general feeling), I have never been a first dental wife. But, it is my
perception the scenarios in the book and movie were really quite
accurate.
First, the wives begin the long arduous task of getting hubby through
school. These wives put up with long hours and uncooperative moods
for the future rewards. They dutifully brought hot food into lab when I
was in school and ran to Del Taco a couple times a night for the rest
of us.
Dental school finally over, real life for the wives was supposed to
begin. A joyous equal married partnership. Well, the money did get
better, lifestyle improved, and the wives finally got a decent car to
drive and house to live in. Then - hubby began to hire young, beautiful
staff members and the trouble began.
I chose a law firm case to discuss this month rather than a dental
case due to the sensitive nature of the subject. So, pretend here, the
profession has been changed to protect the innocent (i.e., me.).
The law firm of Gilbert, Kelly, Crowley & Jennet hired a paralegal/law
clerk named Elisabeth Saret-Cook. (Elizabeth Saret-Cook v. Gilbert,
Kelly, Crowley & Jennet ET al/BC 116590 and related cross
complaints). A married partner in this firm began an affair with Ms.
Cook. As the affair progressed, Ms. Cook became pregnant. This
seemed to pose a distinct liability to the partner and to the firm and
they wanted to get rid of her. Ms. Cook didn’t take this laying down,
despite a negotiated separation agreement. Ms. Cook claimed in
court that she was wrongfully terminated due to sexual harassment,
the affair was not consensual, she was discriminated against and
retaliated against, etc. To put it mildly, she loudly complained about
the way she was treated and made the partner’s life quite miserable
and undoubtedly made the other partners quite upset. The
culmination of this affair landed in the legal newspapers for all to see.
Now, I can’t say for sure this married partner’s wife became a ‘first
wife’ due to this widely publicized sexual harassment case. But I do
know ‘everybody’ in the first wife’s world found out about her husband’
s affair after it made the papers, if not before. I hope for the wife’s
sake that she did become a first wife, or he ate a lot of crow.
Many of you have asked me why I keep harping on sexual
harassment cases. Well, to be certain I don’t let you forget and
inadvertently lose all you have worked thus far for, please remember:
1) Sexual harassment allegations are present in almost every
employment law claim. Even if the allegation has no basis in reality,
its emotional impact threatens the very life and soul of the dentist and
thus is a powerful settlement tool for the employee.
2) Sexual harassment claims, if allowed to proceed, are very
successful - both financially and emotionally - in front of a jury. Such
claims are currently the most lucrative area in employment law claims.
3) California has the most liberal sexual harassment laws in the
nation. Sometimes inadvertent behavior is relatively easy to fit
somewhere into one of the many definitions of harassment provided
for in our state’s law.
4) Sexual harassment charges against a dentist in a group (as in the
case I cited) financially threaten all of the group members because of
joint and several liability for these claims. This means that even the
non-responsible group member could end up solely financially liable if
his partner has inadequate resources to support the judgment.
So, my point is, think twice before you create a first wife. Remember
they aren’t the only ones who ‘don’t just get angry, they get even.’
© Bette Robin, DDS, JD 12/96
however if you talk to some of your colleagues you’ll undoubtedly
discover many are quite certain it exists. I picked up the First Wives
Club book in the airport to read on the long flight back from the ADA.
While laughing and entertaining myself, I became convinced that I
personally knew many of the characters described in the book. I am
sure they are pseudonyms for some dentists I know! Of course, I then
had to see the movie.
Now, I must admit, this is an area in which I have no actual
experience. While I am a ‘first wife’ (so therefore I understand the
general feeling), I have never been a first dental wife. But, it is my
perception the scenarios in the book and movie were really quite
accurate.
First, the wives begin the long arduous task of getting hubby through
school. These wives put up with long hours and uncooperative moods
for the future rewards. They dutifully brought hot food into lab when I
was in school and ran to Del Taco a couple times a night for the rest
of us.
Dental school finally over, real life for the wives was supposed to
begin. A joyous equal married partnership. Well, the money did get
better, lifestyle improved, and the wives finally got a decent car to
drive and house to live in. Then - hubby began to hire young, beautiful
staff members and the trouble began.
I chose a law firm case to discuss this month rather than a dental
case due to the sensitive nature of the subject. So, pretend here, the
profession has been changed to protect the innocent (i.e., me.).
The law firm of Gilbert, Kelly, Crowley & Jennet hired a paralegal/law
clerk named Elisabeth Saret-Cook. (Elizabeth Saret-Cook v. Gilbert,
Kelly, Crowley & Jennet ET al/BC 116590 and related cross
complaints). A married partner in this firm began an affair with Ms.
Cook. As the affair progressed, Ms. Cook became pregnant. This
seemed to pose a distinct liability to the partner and to the firm and
they wanted to get rid of her. Ms. Cook didn’t take this laying down,
despite a negotiated separation agreement. Ms. Cook claimed in
court that she was wrongfully terminated due to sexual harassment,
the affair was not consensual, she was discriminated against and
retaliated against, etc. To put it mildly, she loudly complained about
the way she was treated and made the partner’s life quite miserable
and undoubtedly made the other partners quite upset. The
culmination of this affair landed in the legal newspapers for all to see.
Now, I can’t say for sure this married partner’s wife became a ‘first
wife’ due to this widely publicized sexual harassment case. But I do
know ‘everybody’ in the first wife’s world found out about her husband’
s affair after it made the papers, if not before. I hope for the wife’s
sake that she did become a first wife, or he ate a lot of crow.
Many of you have asked me why I keep harping on sexual
harassment cases. Well, to be certain I don’t let you forget and
inadvertently lose all you have worked thus far for, please remember:
1) Sexual harassment allegations are present in almost every
employment law claim. Even if the allegation has no basis in reality,
its emotional impact threatens the very life and soul of the dentist and
thus is a powerful settlement tool for the employee.
2) Sexual harassment claims, if allowed to proceed, are very
successful - both financially and emotionally - in front of a jury. Such
claims are currently the most lucrative area in employment law claims.
3) California has the most liberal sexual harassment laws in the
nation. Sometimes inadvertent behavior is relatively easy to fit
somewhere into one of the many definitions of harassment provided
for in our state’s law.
4) Sexual harassment charges against a dentist in a group (as in the
case I cited) financially threaten all of the group members because of
joint and several liability for these claims. This means that even the
non-responsible group member could end up solely financially liable if
his partner has inadequate resources to support the judgment.
So, my point is, think twice before you create a first wife. Remember
they aren’t the only ones who ‘don’t just get angry, they get even.’
© Bette Robin, DDS, JD 12/96
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DrRobin@BetteRobin.com
17482 Irvine Blvd., Suite E
Tustin, CA 92780
Tustin, CA 92780
877 DrRobin
Tele:
714.421.4407
Fax:
714.398.8808