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4838-3184-3610.3
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
CDMO, INC. AND CDET, INC.
Plaintiffs,
v.
COMFORT DENTAL GROUP, INC.,
Defendant.
CASE NO. 1:14-cv-00871-RPM-MJW
DECLARATION OF CRAIG BAHR IN
SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS MOTION
FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
DECLARATION OF CRAIG BAHR IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS
MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
I, Craig Bahr, hereby state and affirm as follows:
1. I am the President and Chief Executive Officer of Plaintiff CDMO, Inc.
(CDMO). I am also one of the principal shareholders of Plaintiff CDET, Inc. (CDET). I am
responsible for the overall performance of the Subfranchisor Agreements with Comfort Dental,
including all operations. As such, I have personal knowledge of the facts stated herein, and
submit this Declaration in support of Plaintiffs Motion for Preliminary Injunction against
Defendant Comfort Dental Group, Inc. (Comfort Dental).
2. Plaintiff CDMO is a Missouri corporation with its principal place of business in
Kansas.
3. Plaintiff CDET is a Wyoming corporation also with its principal place of business
in Kansas.
4. My brother Dr. Carl Bahr and I are licensed orthodontists.
5. Dr. Carl Bahr, through his controlled entity, B. Bros., Inc., is the principal
shareholder of FY & KMA, Inc., which in turn owns a majority of the shares in Plaintiff CDMO.
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EXHIBIT 1
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6. Dr. Carl Bahr and I are the principal shareholders of Plaintiff CDET.
7. To my knowledge, Defendant Comfort Dental is a Colorado corporation with its
principal place of business in Lakewood, Colorado.
8. The relationship between us and Dr. Rick Kushner, the founder and CEO of
Comfort Dental, began in 2000 while we were dental students.
9. On December 9, 2003, Dr. Carl Bahr and I entered into our first business
arrangement with Dr. Kushner when we signed a Franchise Agreement with Comfort Smile,
which we believed to be a sister corporation of Comfort Dental. The December 9, 2003
Franchise Agreement entered into with Comfort Smile gave us the right to operate three Comfort
Smile franchises in the Denver metropolitan area.
10. In 2008, after discussions with Dr. Kushner, Dr. Carl Bahr and I, through CDMO,
entered into an initial franchisor agreement with Comfort Dental to open Comfort Dental
franchises in Missouri. This represented Comfort Dentals first franchise in Missouri, and,
pursuant to the parties agreement, I moved with my family to Missouri to lead the development
of Comfort Dental franchise expansion into Missouri.
11. CDMO entered into a new Master Franchise Agreement with Comfort Dental (the
CDMO Agreement) in February 2011. A true and correct copy of the Master Franchise
Agreement CDMO entered into with Comfort Dental in February 2011, was filed as part of the
Complaint [Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in this Declaration as Exhibit A. Section 1.3 and
Exhibit I to the CDMO Agreement grants CDMO a franchise to offer Comfort Dental
subfranchises in Missouri.
12. CDET entered into a Master Franchise Agreement with Comfort Dental (the
CDET Agreement) in July 2011. A true and correct copy of the Master Franchise Agreement
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CDET entered into with Comfort Dental in July 2011, was filed as part of the Complaint
[Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in this Declaration as Exhibit B. Section 1.3 and Exhibit I to the
CDET Agreement grants CDET a franchise to offer Comfort Dental subfranchises in Kentucky
and Indiana.
13. CDMO and CDET began offering subfranchises to various subfranchisees in their
respective geographical areas per the terms of the Subfranchisor Agreements.
14. CDMOs first subfranchisee in Missouri opened in February 2009.
15. CDETs first subfranchisees in Kentucky and Indiana opened in May 2011.
16. CDMO has entered into five (5) subfranchise agreements in the State of Missouri.
17. CDET has entered into one (1) subfranchise agreement in the State of Kentucky
and one (1) subfranchise agreement in the State of Indiana.
18. Pursuant to the terms of the CDMO and CDET Agreements, CDMO and CDET
are required to use a Subfranchisee Agreement approved by Comfort Dental. See Exhibit A,
2.5, 4.2 Exhibit B, 2.5, 4.2. A true and correct copy of an approved Subfranchisee
Agreement provided to CDMO and CDET for use in establishing subfranchises, was filed as part
of the Complaint [Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in this Declaration as Exhibit C.
19. Pursuant to the terms of the CDMO and CDET Subfranchisor Agreements,
CDMO and CDET are required to use affiliated labs that are approved by Comfort Dental. A true
and correct copy of an approved vendors, or, affiliated labs, was filed as part of the Complaint
[Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in this Declaration as Exhibit D.
20. Through a written operational manual, and other continual written and oral
directives and written and verbal training programs, Comfort Dental attempts to direct the
activities of CDMO, CDET and their dentists, including through the Lean and Mean
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instructions and testing, which all dentists must review and obey. The Lean and Mean system
consists of a number of publicly available lectures given by Dr. Kushner over the past 15 to 20
years about how he thinks a dental office should be run. A true and correct copy of a screenshot
of the Comfort Dental website detailing the tenets of the Lean and Mean program, was filed as
part of the Complaint [Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in this Declaration as Exhibit E.
21. Based on my experience as a dentist, I know that dental laboratories, such as the
Comfort Dental Labs, manufacture or customize various products relating to the treatment of
dental patients, including dentures, bridges, crowns and related devices. Dental laboratories play
an integral part in the provision of dental care, and are important to patients oral health, physical
comfort and appearance. Problems with the quality, appearance, fit and timeliness of dental
devices prepared by these laboratories adversely affects patients dental health and damages
dentists relationships with their patients.
22. In my experience as a practicing Comfort Dental dentist, and as a Subfranchisor, I
have personal knowledge of numerous problems with and complaints about the Comfort Dental
Labs. These problems and complaints include problems with the quality, appearance and
suitability of various dental devices, as well as significant delays in delivering them to and from
the Colorado-based Comfort Dental Labs. I have observed such problems personally and have
received numerous complaints from patients and fellow dentists concerning the dental devices
provided by Comfort Dental Labs. I personally have researched and am familiar with dental labs
which are superior to Comfort Dental Labs in terms of quality, convenience, timeliness and cost.
23. Comfort Dental has repeatedly emphasized that mandated lab referrals and
revenues from the Comfort Dental Labs are critical to the Comfort Dental business, and that
Comfort Dental does not survive without the lab[s]. Dr. Kushner has made numerous public
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and intimidating threats to Comfort Dental dentists, warning that no one may refer lab work to
any lab other than the Comfort Dental Lab, and that violators risk termination of their franchises.
Dr. Kushner has a forceful and intimidating manner of publicly communicating these threats
verbally and in writing.
24. On multiple occasions, Comfort Dental has sent written directives and warnings
to CDMO and CDET demanding exclusive referrals of dental work to Comfort Dental Labs,
including threats that franchises will be terminated for failure to exclusively use Comfort Dental
Labs.
25. An example of such threats related to the mandatory referral of lab work is an
electronic mail message sent by Dr. Kushner on July 31, 2012, to multiple Comfort Dental
dentists, stating he has become aware of a franchise violation regarding sending unapproved lab
work out of the organization. Dr. Kushner additionally informed the recipients that [i]n
addition to the legal penalties for your violation, I feel an obligation to show this example to all
of our partners for their edification. Additionally, your partnership will be scrutinized going
forward for additional franchise violations. A true and correct copy of this July 31, 2012
electronic mail message from Dr. Kushner was filed as part of the Complaint [Dkt.# 1] and is
referenced in this Declaration as Exhibit E-1.
26. A further example is an electronic mail message sent by Graig Bears, corporate
counsel for Comfort Dental, on August 30, 2012, in which severe punishment was threatened
for franchises using an outside lab. A true and correct copy of this August 30, 2012 electronic
mail message from Graig Bears was filed as part of the Complaint [Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in
this Declaration as Exhibit F.
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27. More recently, on February 21, 2014, Comfort Dental CEO Dr. Kushner sent an
electronic mail message to CDMO, CDET and affiliated dentists stating that use of the Comfort
Dental labs and marketing of the Gold Plan were required [i]n order to avoid violating your
franchise agreement and the enforcement that would have to follow. A true and correct copy of
this February 21, 2014 electronic mail message from Dr. Kushner was filed as part of the
Complaint [Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in this Declaration as Exhibit G.
28. In addition to threatening punishment for failure to use Comfort Dental labs,
Comfort Dental also penalizes or threatens to penalize CDMO, CDET and affiliated dentists that
request remakes of defective work performed by the Comfort Dental Labs. Comfort Dental fines
dentists for ordering too many remakes and refers to this penalty as a remake fine or lab
penalty. A true and correct copy of an electronic mail message sent by Dr. Kushner on
October 6, 2010, providing notice of a ten percent (10%) penalty for exceeding Comfort Dentals
remake quota was filed as part of the Complaint [Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in this Declaration as
Exhibit H.
29. Comfort Dental again warned of the remake penalty in an electronic mail message
sent December 2, 2013 by Roy Martin, Comfort Dentals Executive Vice President, stating that
[y]ou are all flirting with FIRE . . . If you dont take action, PENALTIES will ensue, and your
life will continue to be frustrating. A true and correct copy of this December 2, 2013 electronic
mail message from Roy Martin was filed as part of the Complaint [Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in
this Declaration as Exhibit I.
30. The Gold Plan, as set forth on Comfort Dentals website and in a form Gold
Member Agreement is described as reduced fee dental membership plans that allow individuals
and groups to receive quality dental care at reduced prices. A true and correct copy of a
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screenshot of Comfort Dentals publicly available website was filed as part of the Complaint
[Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in this Declaration as Exhibit K.
31. Under the Gold Plan, members pay a monthly fee in exchange for free dental
examinations, the providers lowest fee rate, and a capitation.
32. Comfort Dental directs CDMO, CDET and Comfort Dental dentists to sell the
Gold Plan by various written and oral demands, which come in the form of direct e-mail or other
written communications, through office visits, and through demands that Gold Plan materials be
included in all advertising copy. A true and correct copy of recent advertising copy is attached
as Exhibit K-1.
33. Starting in November 2013, CDMO and CDET began making inquiries with
Comfort Dental about the legality of the Gold Plan. On November 13, 2013, Dr. Kushner sent
an email to our counsel replying to our counsels inquiry to Comfort Dentals lawyer, Graig
Bears, about the Gold Plan. Dr. Kushners email, among other things, directed our counsel not
to speak with Comfort Dentals counsel. A true and correct copy of Dr. Kushners email is
attached as Exhibit L.
34. In December 2013, I spoke with Comfort Dentals lawyer, Brent Hadon,
regarding the Gold Plan. At that time, he advised that the Gold Plan was not registered in
Missouri.
35. In December 2013, CDMO and CDET asked Comfort Dentals general counsel,
Graig Bears, to provide assurances that Comfort Dentals Gold Plan could be sold and marketed
in compliance with Missouri law. A true and correct copy of an electronic mail message sent
from the Affiant to Rick Kushner, with attached correspondence, on December 13, 2013, was
filed as part of the Complaint [Dkt.# 1] and is referenced in this Declaration as Exhibit J.
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36. On February 21, 2014, Comfort Dental sent to CDMO, CDET and other Comfort
Dental dentists a letter reviewing the Gold Plan which had been prepared by its legal counsel,
Brent Haden (Haden Letter). See, Exhibit G.
37. On February 21, 2014, Dr. Kushner sent an email to CDMO, CDET and other
Comfort Dental dentists demanding that they continue selling the Gold Plan to avoid violating
your franchise agreement. See, Exhibit G.
38. On February 24, 2014, I responded to Dr. Kushners February 21, 2014 electronic
mail message and the attached Haden Letter requesting confirmation as to whether and when the
Gold Plan would be registered in any state. As of April 4, 2014, no response has been received
to my February 24, 2014 inquiry. As a result, it is my understanding and belief that the Gold
Plan remains unregistered as a discount medical plan in Missouri, Kentucky or Indiana.
39. I declare under penalty of perjury, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746, that the
foregoing statements are true and correct to my personal knowledge.
Dated this 4th day of April, 2014.
s/Craig A. Bahr
Craig A. Bahr
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on April 4, 2014 I electronically filed the foregoing with the Clerk of
the Court using the CM/ECF system and served such filing to the following email addresses:
William F. Jones, Esq,
MOYE WHITE LLP
16 Market Square 6th Floor
1400 16th Street
Denver CO 80202-1486
EMAIL: billy.jones@moyewhite.com
Attorney for Defendant
s/ Edna Slagle
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