INSURANCE

Two More Lawyers Charged in Medical Fraud: State and federal authorities announced that two Southern California lawyers have been charged in an alleged personal injury kickback scheme that defrauded insurers of millions of dollars. Michael Ehrman, 43, of Beverly Hills, and Harvey T. Weiner, 54, of La Jolla, both accused of mail fraud and tax fraud, are the eighth and ninth persons charged in a yearlong investigation dubbed “Med Law,” U.S. Atty. Charles J. Stevens and Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush said in a joint statement. The federal-state task force has identified about 175 potential suspects in the alleged scheme, which they say involves a statewide system of kickbacks and inflated medical billings for auto accident injuries. Ehrman is charged with defrauding his clients and insurance companies of $2.7 million while receiving kickbacks from medical providers of up to 50% of the medical payment portion of insurance settlements. Weiner allegedly defrauded clients and insurers of $1.3 million in similar fashion, investigators said.