ARTICLE
26 March 2026

Personal Injury Attorneys Convicted In Staged Accident Case

JW
Jones Walker

Contributor

At Jones Walker, we look beyond today’s challenges and focus on the opportunities of the future. Since our founding in May 1937 by Joseph Merrick Jones, Sr., and Tulane Law School graduates William B. Dreux and A.J. Waechter, we have consistently asked ourselves a simple question: What can we do to help our clients succeed, today and tomorrow?
A federal jury has convicted New Orleans personal injury attorneys Vanessa Motta and Jason Giles for orchestrating a years‑long scheme that staged car crashes with 18‑wheelers to obtain fraudulent insurance payouts.
United States Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Jones Walker are most popular:
  • within Antitrust/Competition Law, Law Practice Management and Privacy topic(s)

A federal jury has convicted New Orleans personal injury attorneys Vanessa Motta and Jason Giles for orchestrating a years‑long scheme that staged car crashes with 18‑wheelers to obtain fraudulent insurance payouts.

I spoke with The New Orleans Advocate about the potential sentences the two attorneys, Jason Giles and Vanessa Motta, are facing. Due to the scope of the fraud, the amount in controversy, and sophistication of the scheme, the two may be looking at 15–20-year prison sentence.

The case gained a lot of notoriety for many reasons, including the murder of the Government's principal informant. You can read more in the article below.

Based on an estimate of about $10 million in alleged fraud, Magner said the federal sentencing guidelines for a first offender run 188 to 235 months. Vitter can veer above or below that range. Magner said he expected both of the convicted lawyers to receive sentences of at least 10 years. "She will no doubt consider the potential for serious bodily harm to the participants in the crashes as well as the societal harm stemming from the effects of this brazen scheme on insurance rates in Louisiana," Magner said.

www.nola.com/...

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

[View Source]

Mondaq uses cookies on this website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies as set out in our Privacy Policy.

Learn More