Dermacare Laser Clinics: Where in the world is Carl Mudd?

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a94_w10.jpgIt seems as though Dermacare and Carl Mudd have attracted the attention of the local press in Arizona. Here's an email discussion I had with Angela Gonzales, a reporter for the Phoenix Business Journal.

You'll notice that Angela is asking to be commented by the physicians on the site who may have personal experience with Dermacare and Carl Mudd. Her contact information is below. Comments welcome.

 

Via the contact form on Medical Spa MD:

Subject: Dermacare and Carl Mudd
Message: I'm writing a story about Carl Mudd and Dermacare. Do you have a phone number or email I can use to reach him? Do you have an update on the DLC Dermacare LLC v. John and Jane Does (CV2008-090071) lawsuit. It looks like there was an intent to dismiss in April Any updates?

Angela Gonzales
Senior Reporter
Phoenix Business Journal
agonzales@bizjournals.com
602 308 6521

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My Response:
Hi Angela,
I'm afraid I don't have any information about where Carl Mudd is. However, I do know that there is a tremendous amount of discussion about where he is on my site at Medical Spa MD. There are plenty of people asking that exact question. If you'd like, I can get you in touch with some of those people. The only interaction I've had with Carl Mudd or Dermacare is a couple of cease and desist letters he's sent me and a threat to sopenia and sue me if I didn't hand over all of the names and IP addresses of people discussing Dermacare on my site.

Let me know if you'd like some of these physicians to contact you.
Yours,
Jeff Barson

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On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 2:37 PM, Angela Gonzales writes back:
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, Jeff. Yes, I would really like to talk to these doctors.
It looks like that lawsuit is in limbo since Dermacare’s attorney withdrew as general counsel and because it doesn’t look like Dermacare has served anyone.
Thanks for your help!
Would you like to give me an official comment for my story regarding the immense dialogue on your site?

Angela Gonzales
Senior Reporter
602.308.6521

 _________________

I responded:
Hi again Angela,
I'll see if I can't get you some feedback from the physicians on the site. I'd also be happy to provide a comment.

MedicalSpaMD.com is an active community of thousands of plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aesthetic physicians looking to enhance the free exchange of information about the treatments and business of cosmetic medicine. (With more than 50,000 unique visitors each month and thousands of members it's by far the leading site on the web in this area.)

Among the more active  discussion threads have to do with the practices, treatments, and leadership of medical spa franchises like Dermacare, American Laser Clinics, Sona, Solana, and others. The most active Dermacare discussion has almost 1000 comments from existing and former franchisees.

The site has become the focal point for these physicians to communicate to each other and hadn't gone over well with the medspa franchises looking to isolate these physicians. MedicalSpaMD.com has received numerous cease and desist letters, threats and demands, including copies of a lawsuit and threats against the site and myself personally if I didn't close down the discussion forums and identify all of the individuals who may have commented. (The lawsuit named all of these individuals by their 'screen name'.) I refused to comply and posted the letters and suit as well as the case law around anonymous comments on the web.
Happy to provide more if needed.
Yours,
Jeff Barson
Medical Spa MD