Boca Raton Dentist, Chase Bank Accused Of Preying On Elderly Implant Patient

Friday, 12 December 2025, 9:10Friday, 23 January 2026, 13:52
Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Florida, News, Palm Beach County

Woman Sues. One Bank Refunds $12,500. Chase Refuses. Dr. Eli Friedman Named In Suit.

A Boca Raton dentist is named in a lawsuit filed by an elderly woman who claims the dentist tried to bilk her out of $22,000. One bank has already canceled part of her debt.

UPDATE January 23, 2026: An attorney for Ms. Zimmerman says that the case has been “settled.” No terms of the settlement have been released. Palm Beach County confirms the case has been closed.

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boynton Beach senior citizen has filed a lawsuit against a Boca Raton dental implant center and JPMorgan Chase Bank, alleging that a “free consultation” resulted in thousands of dollars in debt for services she never received. Joan Zimmerman is suing One Solution Dental Implant Centers, LLC, Dr. Eli Friedman, and JP Morgan Chase, claiming she was misled into signing financial documents she believed were merely for a credit estimate. The suit, filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, seeks to void the financial arrangement and demands damages for what Zimmerman describes as deceptive and unconscionable business practices.

Part of contract, as seen in the legal complaint.

According to the complaint obtained by BocaNewsNow.com and published below, Zimmerman visited the dental office on April 23, 2025, for an estimate regarding dental implants, allegedly receiving assurances that her signature was only necessary to check credit availability for potential future work. However, court documents claim she unknowingly signed a “Financial Arrangement” totaling $22,500, which included an immediate, non-refundable $10,000 payment. Zimmerman contends she was promised a three-day cancellation window, which she exercised by sending cancellation letters on April 24 and April 26, believing this would nullify any obligations since no dental work was ever performed.

One lender refunded the elderly patient’s fees. Chase Bank has not.

While one lender, Security First Bank, successfully cancelled a $12,500 portion of the financing after receiving Zimmerman’s cancellation notice, the lawsuit alleges that JPMorgan Chase has refused to rescind the remaining $10,000 charge. The complaint states that Chase is currently demanding over $11,000, including interest and fees, and has negatively impacted Zimmerman’s credit score despite her disputes. The filing accuses the dental center of conversion and fraud, arguing that enforcing a five-figure charge for a consultation where no services were rendered is “unconscionable” and a violation of Florida law.

Zimmerman is seeking a declaratory judgment to declare the financial arrangement null and void, effectively erasing the debt. Additionally, the suit demands the removal of all negative credit reporting and seeks compensatory damages of $10,000 plus punitive damages of $30,000 against both the dental practice and Chase Bank. The plaintiff asserts that the defendants’ actions constitute intentional misconduct and gross negligence, asking the court to intervene to prevent the collection of what she terms unsubstantiated medical bills.