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.<\/p>\n
James B. Matsumoto, who owns a financing company, yesterday filed with the court a civil action against Dr. John Ronan, part owner of Toothworks.<\/p>\n
Based on the complaint filed by Matsumoto\u2019s lawyer, Joseph A. Arriola, he went to the AJ\u2019s Restaurant on a Friday night last November to meet with another man regarding some business matters.<\/p>\n
At the restaurant\u2019s bar, Matsumoto struck up a conversation with a man whose friends included Ronan. Matsumoto proceeded to introduce himself to the group.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s financing services to his customers because the interest was too high.<\/p>\n
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, \u201cHey James, I want you to admit something, I want you to admit you\u2019re nothing but a predatory lender, a loan shark, taking advantage of\u2026people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m from Chicago, I know about people like you,\u201d Ronan allegedly said. Matsumoto replied that he does not force people to use his company\u2019s products.<\/p>\n
Ronan allegedly insisted that Matsumoto admit to being a loan shark, to which the businessman retorted, \u201cLook you\u2019re attacking my profession because of our rates, let\u2019s talk about your profession, how much does it really cost to fill a little hole in someone\u2019s tooth? What\u2019s your rate of return on that?\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Police arrived just as the dentist was leaving. That following Monday, Ronan went to Matsumoto\u2019s work office without notice and put his hand on the businessman\u2019s shoulder, offering the latter and his wife dinner at the Hyatt. The businessman declined the offer and resented the dentist\u2019s presence in his office.<\/p>\n
\u201cRonan, in an effort to intimidate [Matsumoto] into not filing a case against him, shoved his finger on [the businessman\u2019s] chest and said insincerely, \u2018Look I\u2019m sorry,\u2019 and then left,\u201d Matsumoto\u2019s attorney said.<\/p>\n
Arriola said the businessman also suffered shock and injury to his nervous system as a result of Ronan\u2019s assault.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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