The complaint also requests a preliminary and permanent injunction barring Biolase from engaging in any further anticompetitive conduct, from making false and misleading statements, and from retaliating against National Laser Technology (NLT).
The complaint alleges that Biolase, which has a market share of more than 85%, uses its monopoly power to coerce dentists to purchase products from Biolase at double the price offered by NLT, thus maintaining and increasing its monopoly.
NLT also alleges that as part of a campaign to put NLT out of business, Biolase threatens dentists by refusing to sell them laser tips and other necessary products if the dentists do business with NLT, and threatens to cut off trainers and other vendors who provide services to NLT customers. The complaint also asserts that Biolase has made false and misleading statements to dentists about NLT’s products.
Alan Miller, CEO of NLT, said: “We have high-quality products to sell at low cost to compete with Biolase, but have been limited in our ability to provide these products to dentists because of the actions alleged in the complaint. We reluctantly brought this case because these actions have caused significant harm to NLT and to dentists.”