Case Overview: Coast Dental Services has agreed to pay up to $3.8 million to resolve a TCPA class action lawsuit alleging the dental chain sent unsolicited promotional text messages in violation of federal do-not-call rules.

Consumers Affected: Individuals who received unwanted marketing text messages from Coast Dental Services

Court: To be confirmed upon settlement filing

Latest Development: Proposed settlement of up to $3.8 million reached in Chaviano v. Coast Dental Services

Coast Dental Services Agrees to $3.8 Million Settlement Over Alleged Unsolicited Text Messages

Coast Dental Services has reached a proposed settlement of up to $3.8 million to resolve a federal class action lawsuit alleging the Florida-based dental chain sent unsolicited promotional text messages to consumers in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), according to recent reporting from TCPA World.

The case, Chaviano v. Coast Dental Services, is one of a growing number of TCPA text message and do-not-call (DNC) class actions resulting in seven-figure settlements in recent months.

What Happened

The lawsuit alleges that Coast Dental Services sent marketing text messages to consumers without the required prior express consent, in violation of the TCPA's restrictions on unsolicited commercial messaging. Under the TCPA, consumers who have registered on the National Do Not Call Registry — or who have not provided consent to be contacted — may have legal protections against such communications.

The proposed settlement would establish a fund of up to $3.8 million to compensate affected class members, according to the reporting. The settlement has not yet received final court approval.

Background on the Case

The TCPA is a federal law that restricts unsolicited telephone calls and text messages sent using autodialers or prerecorded messages. Text messages are treated the same as calls under the statute. Violations can carry statutory damages of $500 per message, and up to $1,500 per message if a court finds the violations were willful.

Class action lawsuits under the TCPA have become increasingly common, particularly involving SMS marketing campaigns. The Chaviano case follows a broader wave of TCPA text message settlements, including a recently reported $6 million settlement involving Teleflora.

What It Means for Plaintiffs

If the settlement receives court approval, class members — generally individuals who received the allegedly unsolicited text messages — may be eligible to file a claim for a portion of the settlement fund. The per-person payment amount would depend on the number of valid claims submitted and the final terms approved by the court.

Potential class members should note that settlement funds in TCPA cases are typically distributed on a pro-rata basis, meaning the individual payout can vary significantly based on claim volume.

What's Next

The settlement remains subject to court approval. In most class action settlements, a judge will evaluate whether the proposed terms are fair, reasonable, and adequate before granting final approval. A claims period would follow, during which eligible individuals could submit claims for compensation.

Details on the claims process, class definition, and court schedule had not been publicly confirmed at the time of this reporting.

Lawsuit: Chaviano v. Coast Dental Services

Case Number: To be confirmed

Court: To be confirmed

MDL Number: N/A

Status: Proposed settlement reached; pending court approval

Do you believe you received unsolicited text messages from Coast Dental Services? If a claims process opens, affected individuals may be eligible to participate. Check back for updates as this settlement moves through the court approval process.