Lawyers' filing deemed 'improper conduct'

DETROIT (AP) — Lawyers for a doctor who performed unnecessary spinal surgeries are in hot water with a Detroit federal judge after they filed hundreds of pages just a few days before the sentence.

Judge Paul Borman canceled a court hearing that was set for Monday. He called it a “drastic” but necessary step after “improper conduct” by Aria Sabit’s attorneys.

Earlier, Sabit pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud but still hasn’t been sentenced. He took kickbacks in exchange for using or encouraging the use of certain surgical implants in Ventura, California.

Separately, he performed unnecessary surgeries and caused serious injury to patients in the Detroit area. He moved to Michigan in 2011.

Sabit is barred for life from the medical profession as the result of a plea deal with prosecutors.