Two New Orleans law firms charged with staging accidents for settlements

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

In a blockbuster federal indictment more than five years in the making, two New Orleans-based law firms and their attorneys who specialize in car accident claims have been charged with several others for their roles in staging wrecks, faking injuries and collecting millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements.

Among those indicted on Monday is a television stuntwoman-turned-attorney named Vanessa Motta, who in May had two clients criminally charged with helping orchestrate the 2020 shooting death of another client of hers. The slain client of Motta - who was indicted along with her namesake firm - had been cooperating in the federal investigation that produced Monday's indictment.