Federal indictment, more than five years in the making, claims attorneys and firms collected millions of dollars

Summary

Two New Orleans law firms, including Vanessa Motta’s firm and the King Firm, have been federally indicted for orchestrating staged car accidents to secure fraudulent lawsuit settlements, a scheme uncovered by the FBI’s Operation Sideswipe.

The conspiracy involved “slammers” intentionally colliding with 18-wheelers, faking injuries, and even undergoing surgeries to inflate payouts.

The investigation faced setbacks, including the murder of a cooperating witness, but recent charges mark a significant escalation.

The fraud, tied to rising insurance costs, has already led to 49 guilty pleas among lower-level participants.