Cicarella–again. Republican senator failed to report income while collecting worker’s compensation from state. Seeking $490k for injuries in 2020 auto accident. Suffers from photophobia.

State Senator Paul Cicarella has some explaining to do. Hearst Connecticut’s Jacqui Rabe Thomas peels another layer off Ciccarella’s curious and lucrative history of worker’s compensation benefits.

Rabe’s first investigation of Cicarella’s disability claim and subsequent work history was published in March.

Cicarella, a North Haven Republican, declined to respond to Thomas’s subsequent questions about earning $123,000 while also receiving worker’s compensation benefits from an injury suffered as a corrections officer. Cicarella made a further blunder when he sent a state employee to provide cover in the growing controversy. Cicarella used Johnny Angel, also known as John Healey, to offer more than one version of events in response to Thomas’s questions. It is not the job of the Senate Republican Caucus chief of staff to intervene in a member’s personal matters. This is what is often referred to as misuse of public resources.

Questions about Cicarella’s receipt of hundreds of thousands of dollars in worker’s compensation benefits while he appears to have been earning income are a personal matter. The litigious Ciccarella appears to do business with a constellation of lawyers.

On May 23rd, Cicarella filed a document in Superior Court offering to settle a motor vehicle collision claim for $490,000.00. The second term legislator claims to have suffered injuries to his neck, left arm, thoracic spine, pain radiating down his shoulders, more pain extending down his left arm and hand, trouble sleeping, anxiety, pain to the top of his head, and continues to endure “great pain to the mind and body.” Cicarella also underwent a surgical procedure on a toe.

Cicarella alleges that as a result of the collision he endures the burden of photophobia.

With so many injuries dating from 2008 to today, do not look for Cicarella to participate in many sign waves during his campaign re-election campaign this year. He’ll have to make up ground by appearing at public forums, and there may be plenty of those. The prospects of a Cicarella victory in the Republican-leaning district are becoming less certain with each revelation. Republicans may find themselves having to divert resources from three endangered Republicans to the Cicarella race. Choices must be made.

Published June 12, 2024.