Dentist allegedly assaults businessman

A businessman sued a dentist for punching him over an altercation at a Saipan restaurant, asking the Superior Court for an award of monetary damages.

James B. Matsumoto, who owns a financing company, yesterday filed with the court a civil action against Dr. John Ronan, part owner of Toothworks.

Based on the complaint filed by Matsumoto’s lawyer, Joseph A. Arriola, he went to the AJ’s Restaurant on a Friday night last November to meet with another man regarding some business matters.

At the restaurant’s bar, Matsumoto struck up a conversation with a man whose friends included Ronan. Matsumoto proceeded to introduce himself to the group.

Matsumoto had a conversation about a proposed business partnership between the financing company and the dental clinic. The dentist said, however, that he would not offer Matsumoto’s financing services to his customers because the interest was too high.

According to the complaint, when Matsumoto was about to converse with another person, the dentist called out his name to get his attention and said, “Hey James, I want you to admit something, I want you to admit you’re nothing but a predatory lender, a loan shark, taking advantage of…people.”

“I’m from Chicago, I know about people like you,” Ronan allegedly said. Matsumoto replied that he does not force people to use his company’s products.

Ronan allegedly insisted that Matsumoto admit to being a loan shark, to which the businessman retorted, “Look you’re attacking my profession because of our rates, let’s talk about your profession, how much does it really cost to fill a little hole in someone’s tooth? What’s your rate of return on that?”

The dentist allegedly hurled invectives at Matsumoto and punched him on the face. Another man attempted to stop Ronan, but the dentist punched Matsumoto again in the mouth.

Police arrived just as the dentist was leaving. That following Monday, Ronan went to Matsumoto’s work office without notice and put his hand on the businessman’s shoulder, offering the latter and his wife dinner at the Hyatt. The businessman declined the offer and resented the dentist’s presence in his office.

“Ronan, in an effort to intimidate [Matsumoto] into not filing a case against him, shoved his finger on [the businessman’s] chest and said insincerely, ‘Look I’m sorry,’ and then left,” Matsumoto’s attorney said.

Arriola said the businessman also suffered shock and injury to his nervous system as a result of Ronan’s assault.