Connecticut Personal Injury Lawyer Sentenced to 4 Years for Fraud

An attorney has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for his role in an insurance fraud scheme.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says Joseph Haddad of Orange was sentenced Thursday in Bridgeport to four years and three months.

Prosecutors say Haddad, a Bridgeport-based personal injury attorney, conspired with chiropractors and others to defraud insurance companies by exaggerating the auto accident injuries of his clients and the cost of their medical care, to justify larger monetary settlements. Authorities say the co-conspirators fabricated medical records, prescribed unnecessary pain medication and performed unnecessary chiropractic treatment.

Haddad’s attorney sought a sentence below guidelines, citing his remorse, lack of previous wrongdoing and other issues.

Prosecutors say insurance carriers lost at least $1.7 million from the scheme.

Two chiropractors were sentenced last week.