A man wrongly prosecuted for insurance fraud may pursue claims against insurers and attorneys.

Record source: CourtListener

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA CHAD LIGHTFOOT, ET AL., CIVIL ACTION Plaintiffs VERSUS NO. 26-434 PROGRESSIVE DIRECT SECTION: “E” (1) INSURANCE COMPANY, ET AL., Defendants ORDER AND REASONS Before the Court is a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim filed by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (Liberty Mutual)1 and a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim filed by Progressive Direct Insurance Company, Progressive Paloverde Insurance Company (sometimes collectively referred to as “Progressive”), and United Financial Casualty Company (“United”)2 (sometimes collectively referred to as “Insurance Defendants”). Also before the Court is a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim filed by Henry Minor Pipes and Kristin Beckman,3 as well as a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim filed by Adam Massey and David Strauss (sometimes collectively referred to as “Insurance Attorneys”).4 Plaintiffs Chad Lightfoot, Geralyn Hawkins, and their minor children filed oppositions to these motions.5 The Insurance Defendants and Massey and Strauss filed replies.6 1 R. Doc. 64. 2 R. Doc. 79. 3 R. Doc. 65. 4 R. Doc. 80. 5 R. Docs. 75; 93; 94. 6 R. Docs. 76; 97; 98. BACKGROUND7 This case arises out of a vehicle accident in Orleans Parish and the subsequent criminal prosecution of Plaintiff Chad Lightfoot for insurance fraud.8 Plaintiffs allege that, on August 29, 2011, Mr. Lightfoot was involved in a vehicle accident in Orleans Parish.9 Mr. Lightfoot filed insurance claims with multiple insurance carriers, including Liberty, Progressive Insurance Company,10 and others.11 Plaintiffs allege the insurance claim was not “resolve[d]. . . to Mr. Lightfoot’s satisfaction” and, as a result, in 2012, he brought a personal-injury lawsuit in Orleans Parish Civil District Court against Progressive Insurance Company and other related defendants (“the underlying civil action”).12 Plaintiffs allege that, on or about September 19, 2014, Megan Kiefer and Ignatz Kiefer assaulted Mr. Lightfoot inside the Orleans Parish Courthouse in retaliation for his bringing the underlying civil action.13 Plaintiffs further allege that, in December 2014, Megan Kiefer prepared and swore to a false affidavit she submitted to the New Orleans Police Department stating that Mr. Lightfoot fraudulently obtained a $50,000 payment from Progressive Insurance Company in connection with the August 29, 2011 accident.14 Plaintiffs allege the affidavit included Megan Kiefer’s statement that, in obtaining the $50,000 payment from Progressive Insurance Company, Mr. Lightfoot committed perjury, insurance fraud, and filed false public records.15 Plaintiffs allege these statements 7 These factual allegations are based on the Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint. R. Doc. 60. 8 Id. 9 Id. at ¶ 85. 10 Progressive Insurance Company is the parent company for Progressive Direct Insurance Company and Progressive Paloverde Insurance Company. 11 R. Doc. 60 at¶ 87. Apparently, these are Chad Lightfoot’s underinsured motorist insurance carriers. 12 Id. at ¶¶ 87-88. 13 Id. at ¶ 90. Plaintiffs do not bring a cause of action for damages resulting from this physical altercation. 14 Id. at ¶¶ 95-96. 15 Id. at ¶ 96. were false and the “Progressive” records confirmed that Mr. Lightfoot never received a $50,000 payment.16 Plaintiffs allege the Insurance Attorneys obtained a judgment for attorneys’ fees in the underlying civil action against Mr. Lightfoot.17 Plaintiffs further allege that, on August 22, 2016, this judgment was recorded as a judicial mortgage against Mr. Lightfoot’s homestead, which “clouded Mr. Lightfoot’s title and exerted improper financial pressure. . . .”18 Plaintiffs allege that Kristin L. Beckman and Adam Massey “participated in preparing, filing, recording, or enforcing civil judgment and judicial- mortgage materials. . . .”19 Plaintiffs allege New Orleans Police Department Detective Frank Denton, without conducting further investigation into the affidavit’s validity, relied on Megan Kiefer’s false affidavit and Denton’s report to obtain an arrest warrant for Mr. Lightfoot charging him with theft of over $50,000, automobile insurance fraud, perjury, filing false public records, or related charges.20 Plaintiffs allege that, on January 6, 2015, Mr. Lightfoot was arrested pursuant to this warrant.21 Plaintiffs further allege that the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud Division began an investigation into Lightfoot’s alleged insurance fraud scheme.22 Plaintiffs allege that Defendant State Police Lieutenant Alan Arcana stated in a police report that Mr. Lightfoot received $50,000 in payments from “Progressive.”23 Plaintiffs allege Lieutenant Arcana testified that “Progressive” insurance investigator Glenn Pardiane represented to him that Mr. Lightfoot received a $50,000 payment.24 16 Id. at ¶ 98. 17 Id. at ¶ 124. 18 Id. at ¶¶ 125-27. 19 Id. at ¶¶ 43, 45. 20 Id. at ¶ 107. 21 Id. at ¶ 110. 22 Id. at ¶ 115. 23 Id. at ¶¶ 117-18. 24 Id. at ¶ 121. Plaintiffs allege that, during the criminal proceedings, it was discovered there was no record of a $50,000 insurance payout to Mr. Lightfoot but that, despite this lack of evidence, Mr. Lightfoot was criminally prosecuted for insurance fraud.25 Plaintiffs allege the criminal charges against Mr. Lightfoot were dismissed on or about October 15, 2024.26 Mr. Lightfoot and his spouse, Geralyn Hawkins, filed this suit pro se on October 20, 2025 in Orleans Parish Civil District Court.27 In their original petition, Mr. Lightfoot and Ms. Hawkins brought a single claim against “unknown named Defendants” under La. R.S. 15:572.8, which provides compensation to persons wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.28 On November 10, 2025, Mr. Lightfoot and Ms. Hawkins filed a First Amended Petition, addin

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