Attorney Profiles

Joseph A Motta

Joseph A. Motta was born and raised in the East Bay. He attended St. Mary’s College and graduated in 1984. He graduated from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento in 1987. Joe’s legal career started as a Deputy District Attorney in Contra Costa County; from 1988 to 2004. There, he handled thousands of cases, from minor to serious, and from simple to complex. He was a trial attorney on the following teams: Misdemeanor, Juvenile, Law and Motion, Felony Trials, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Career Criminal, and Homicide. He also supervised the Misdemeanor Trial Team, the Domestic Violence Team, and the Sexual Assault Team. As a supervisor, he also maintained his own case load of serious cases. While a deputy, he also prosecuted a number of high profile homicide and sexual assault cases. He was the first in the county to qualify a detective as a gang expert, and he was the second prosecutor in the state to prosecute someone for assault with a deadly weapon for exposure to the Aids virus. He has significant court experience working with DNA, medical injuries, and psychiatric\psychological issues. He co-authored new law as well as testified before the State Assembly and State Senate Committees regarding new legislation.

In 2003, the Deputy District Attorneys started a prosecutor’s association. Joe was nominated and elected their first President. As a prosecutor, Joe also maintained a leadership position on several subcommittees with the County’s Advisory Committee Against Domestic Violence. He also trained police, dispatchers, social workers, and several other professions in subjects such as domestic violence, report writing, and sexual assault.

Joe left the DA’s office in good standing and joined an old friend Greg Rueb in January 2004 to start Rueb & Motta. They had originally met on a rugby field in law school and later, they worked together at the District Attorney’s office. Greg left the DA’s office after a few years to start his civil practice. When they formed the law firm, it was the perfect fit. Joe’s extensive trial skills and experience with victims of crime have been a great asset to his clients who have been seriously injured by the carelessness (negligence) of others. Those who suffer sever injuries need someone who can steer them through the several obstacles and hurdles often imposed by the insurance companies representing the defendants and the courts that oversee their lawsuits. It is the utmost priority to Joe and his partner Greg that their clients receive a fair and just result. They are not afraid to go to trial and have won hard fought battles to protect the rights of their clients. Their trial verdicts and negotiated settlements speak for themselves; they are impressive.

Joe and his wife are very involved in the community, local charities, local politics, and in the Courts. Among those, Joe has served on the board and as president for 100 Club of Contra Costa since 2004. He is a regent at St. Mary’s College. He has and continues to coach his sons in youth sports, and he is a member of the Alamo P2B board.

Bar Admissions:

California, 1988

Education:

McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, California, 1987

St. Mary's College
Major:  Business Administration
Major:  Economics

Past Employment Positions:

Contra Costa County, Deputy District Attorney, 1988 - 2004