Criminal Justice
2 lawyers convicted in staged truck accidents scheme
A federal jury has convicted two personal injury lawyers in New Orleans for their role in a scheme to stage collisions with tractor-trailer trucks to collect settlement payouts. (Image from Shutterstock)
Two personal injury lawyers have been convicted by a federal jury in New Orleans for participating in a scheme to stage collisions with tractor-trailer trucks to collect large settlement payouts.
The Guardian reports that the lawyers, Jason Giles and Vanessa Motta—a former Hollywood stuntwoman—were found guilty Friday of fraud, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
The Guardian credited local television news outlets WVUE and WWL Louisiana with providing information for the story.
The attorneys’ law firms also were convicted of related charges. A third defendant, Diaminike Stalbert, was convicted of making false statements but acquitted of a conspiracy charge, according to the Guardian.
Prosecutors said Giles and Motta paid “slammers” to intentionally crash into tractor-trailers to then file lawsuits and seek settlement payouts. WWL Louisiana reported that the attorneys admitted that they were aware of the plot but claimed ignorance about its full scope, according to the Guardian.
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