PERSONAL-INJURY ATTORNEY, JOSEPH HADDAD, PLEADS GUILTY TO MAIL FRAUD AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MAIL FRAUD WHEN HE INFLATED AUTO INJURIES
Personal-injury lawyer Joseph Haddad, working in concert
with the owner of a chain of chiropractic clinics, an unlicensed doctor and a
medical diagnostics testing company, ran an industrial-scale insurance fraud
centered on victims of minor traffic incidents.
The Bridgeport, Connecticut-based attorney bought police
accident reports that identified the victims. His agents then induced the
motorists to get treatment at the medical facilities aligned with Haddad, which
would inflate the seriousness of the patients' conditions. Over 145
prescriptions for more than 4,400 pills were written for accident victims who
were never diagnosed.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, more than 10
insurance carriers lost up to $2.5 million as a result of the conspiracy.
Haddad pleaded guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and
agreed to pay $1.75 million in restitution to his victims.