Following a trail of settlements and lawsuits across the U.S., a new investigative report details allegations of systematic patient harm and profit-driven practices at the corporate dental chain.

By Michael Hase, with original reporting by Avalon Adversaria

A major investigative report has compiled evidence from a decade of legal actions against Aspen Dental, one of the nation’s largest dental service organizations (DSOs). The report, originally published by Avalon Adversaria, alleges a consistent, nationwide pattern of deceptive advertising, pressure to undergo unnecessary treatments, and corporate practices that prioritize profit over patient care.

With over 1,000 locations, Aspen Dental is majority-owned by the private equity firms Leonard Green & Partners, Ares Management, and American Securities. The report highlights that while the company has paid millions in state settlements, its owners have extracted over $1.1 billion in debt-funded dividends since 2012.

A Recurring Pattern of Settlements

The investigation pieces together regulatory actions from multiple states, revealing similar allegations have followed the company for years:

• Massachusetts (2023): The state’s Attorney General announced a $3.5 million settlement, alleging Aspen engaged in a “bait-and-switch” scheme. The company was accused of charging for services advertised as “free,” advertising it worked with “all” insurance while not accepting MassHealth (Medicaid), and sending consumers to collections for bills on services that were supposed to be free. This settlement came after Aspen allegedly breached terms of a prior 2014 settlement with the state.
• Indiana (2015): The state reached a $95,000 settlement over deceptive “free” offers that allegedly targeted seniors. The investigation found many victims were over 60 years old, placing “unanticipated financial burden on Hoosiers.”
• National Privacy Violation (2025): Aspen recently agreed to pay $18.7 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging it used website tracking pixels to collect and share sensitive patient booking information with third parties like Meta and Google without consent.

Allegations Beyond Advertising: Patient Safety and Corporate Control

The report details allegations that extend beyond misleading ads into clinical and corporate practices:

• A foundational 2012 class-action lawsuit alleged illegal corporate control of dentistry, claiming Aspen used production-based bonuses and scheduling systems to incentivize higher-revenue procedures like extractions and crowns over routine care.
• The report cites individual lawsuits, including a settled case over the death of a patient under anesthesia for a tooth extraction in Texas and another involving a patient who suffered permanent nerve damage.
• Online patient communities, like a Facebook group with over 18,000 members, serve as forums for shared stories of high-pressure sales, demands for large upfront payments, and sudden termination of patient relationships.

The Private Equity Backdrop

A significant focus of the report is the role of Aspen Dental’s private equity ownership. The financial model is cited as a potential root cause of the alleged pressure to maximize per-patient revenue.

In 2021, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Aspen’s credit outlook after the company took on substantial debt to fund an $835 million dividend payout to its owners. Moody’s specifically warned that “bad publicity stemming from a small number of unhappy clients could result in material harm to the company’s revenue.”

According to the investigation by Avalon Adversaria, the alleged practices of deceptive advertising, inappropriate corporate influence over patient care, and privacy violations are not historical issues but represent a continuous, unresolved pattern, with significant legal and regulatory actions extending into the present day. Despite settling a major lawsuit with the Massachusetts Attorney General for $3.5 million over “bait-and-switch” advertising in January 2023, the company faced another substantial legal challenge in 2025, agreeing to an $18.4+ million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging it illegally collected and shared patient health data through its website. Furthermore, separate allegations regarding the illegal corporate control of clinical decisions, which were the subject of a 2015 settlement with the New York Attorney General, continue to form the basis of ongoing patient complaints and legal scrutiny, suggesting the core business model conflicts identified over a decade ago remain unaddressed.

A Call for Accountability and Patient Vigilance

The report concludes that the repeated, similar settlements across states and years suggest a business model potentially in conflict with patient-centered care. It notes a growing movement to hold private equity owners accountable for the practices of their portfolio companies.

The advice compiled for consumers is clear: be wary of “free” offers from corporate dental chains, always seek a second opinion on major proposed treatment plans, and research a practice’s ownership and complaint history before committing to care.

This article is based on the investigative report “Aspen Dental: A Pattern of Deception and Patient Harm Unveiled in Multiple State Investigations” originally published by Avalon Adversaria on January 6, 2026. Aspen Dental has settled the mentioned cases without admitting wrongdoing.

A new report details claims of counterfeit sales, breached consignor trust, and questionable practices amid bankruptcy, raising potential regulatory concerns.

By Michael Hase, with original reporting by Avalon Adversaria

A recent investigative report paints a troubling picture of Stadium Goods, a major player in the high-end sneaker resale market. The report, originally published by Avalon Adversaria, compiles customer and consignor allegations that the company has consistently failed to uphold its core promises of authenticity and reliability.

Founded in 2015 and later acquired by luxury platform Farfetch, Stadium Goods built its brand on a “100% guaranteed authentic” pledge. However, the investigation alleges a pattern of practices that appear to contradict this guarantee and potentially violate consumer trust, especially following the company’s recent bankruptcy filing.

Core Allegations: Authenticity, Security, and Service Failures

The report is based on a collection of direct consumer complaints, accounts from former consignors, and analysis of public records. Its primary findings include:

• Questions on Authenticity: Multiple customers report receiving high-value sneakers, such as the Tom Sachs x Nike Mars Yard 2.0 and various Yeezy models, with apparent inconsistencies in materials, stitching, and labeling. These buyers describe a difficult and often fruitless process when disputing authenticity, leaving them with potentially counterfeit goods and significant financial loss.
• Consignor Account Breach: One of the most severe allegations involves a consignor who claims their account was compromised, leading to a valuable item being sold far below market value. The consignor alleges their account was then shut down and all communication from Stadium Goods ceased, suggesting a critical failure in security and fiduciary duty.
• Systemic Customer Service Issues: Nearly universal across the complaints are reports of an unresponsive customer service system. Customers describe emails and calls going unanswered for weeks, particularly regarding complex disputes, refunds, or consignment payouts, creating a high barrier to resolution.

The Bankruptcy Context: A New Layer of Concern

The report gains heightened significance in light of Stadium Goods’ bankruptcy proceedings. An anonymous source within the company alleged to Avalon Adversaria that, under financial pressure, the company has engaged in selling “low-quality goods” as high-quality, authentic products.

This alleged practice, described as a direct result of the bankruptcy, suggests a deliberate downgrade of inventory quality to generate cash flow. The report posits this represents a potentially more systemic form of consumer risk than isolated incidents.

Regulatory and Legal Implications

The report’s findings were presented to a contact at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The contact indicated that practices involving the sale of counterfeits as authentic, systemic failure to honor guarantees, and misleading consumers about product quality could merit a formal investigation, as they may violate the FTC Act’s prohibitions on deceptive practices.

Furthermore, the allegations regarding conduct during bankruptcy could also draw scrutiny from the U.S. Trustee overseeing the case, particularly if they suggest bad faith actions affecting creditors, which include consumers with unresolved claims.

Background and Industry Challenges

Stadium Goods’ challenges come amidst a cooling sneaker resale market. The company closed its flagship Soho store in New York in early 2025, citing a strategic shift, though analysts point to high operational costs and market volatility.

This case underscores broader industry concerns about authentication integrity and consumer protection in the lucrative but often opaque secondary market for sneakers and streetwear.

This article is based on the investigative report “Broken Promises – The Systemic Failures at Stadium Goods” originally published by Avalon Adversaria. Stadium Goods has not publicly responded to the specific allegations detailed in the original report. Consumers are advised to exercise caution and document purchases thoroughly when using consignment platforms.

In a major strategic shift, Diageo has agreed to sell its controlling stake in its Kenyan business, East African Breweries Limited (EABL), to Japan’s Asahi Group for $2.3 billion. The deal is part of the London-based spirits giant’s effort to reduce its debt burden by divesting certain African assets.

Under the agreement, Asahi will acquire Diageo’s 65% stake in EABL, valuing the total company at approximately $4.8 billion. Diageo will maintain a presence in the market through long-term brand licensing agreements for global names like Guinness and Smirnoff Ice with the now Asahi-controlled brewer.

The transaction will provide a significant boost to Diageo’s balance sheet, reducing its net debt. The company has been working to lower its debt load amid falling alcohol demand and broader economic pressures. This sale follows Diageo’s recent exits from beer production in Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Cameroon, a strategy aimed at mitigating currency risk and improving margins.

For Asahi, Japan’s largest brewer, the purchase marks a major expansion into East Africa. The company cited the region’s growth potential, driven by population and economic expansion, as a key motivator. EABL holds a dominant 80% share of Kenya’s alcohol market and produces popular local brands such as Tusker and Senator.

The deal is expected to close pending regulatory approvals, with EABL remaining publicly listed on East African stock exchanges. Analysts suggest the inflow of cash from the sale may ease investor concerns about potential dividend cuts under Diageo’s incoming CEO, former Tesco chief Sir Dave Lewis.