Woman’s crash case ‘could have broken either way’

A St. Charles County woman claiming injuries in a car crash won a $300,000 award despite complications at the trial due to social media photos. 

“I think the crux of this case came down to showing the jury that Instagram life is not real life,” said Tarun Rana of Rana Law Group, who represented the plaintiff along with lead attorney Brent Sumner of Sumner Law Group. “We really had to undo a lot of what the photographs showed.” 

In 2015, motorist Sandy Qumsieh was struck from behind by defendant Kelly Harrison. Rana said liability was disputed at trial, noting that the defendant claimed his client “darted out” in front of her while Qumsieh contended she was stopped. 

He said that MRIs showed bulging discs in the plaintiff’s neck. However, the defense presented an expert who argued against the resulting surgical recommendation and buttressed its case with photos from social media showing Qumsieh enjoying life engaged in various activities. 

Rana said the plaintiff’s husband was a “linchpin” of the case saying the jury “loved” him. 

“He just did a phenomenal job and really put into context the struggles that they had gone through as a young married couple,” he said. “Not even a year into their marriage, she’s completely different because she’s got this spine injury. She isn’t the same.”

Rana also tried to undercut the expert using deposition testimony from a similar situation previously in which he’d recommended surgery.

“It was a very tough case,” he said. “It could have broken either way. We had a very good jury.” 

Stephen Wilke of Wilke & Wilke, an attorney for the defendant, did not return a request for comment. 

Rana said the insurer, which didn’t appeal the verdict, has paid only $50,000 of the verdict, along with the taxable court costs and interest. He said the plaintiffs are assessing options to obtain the remainder from the insurance company. 

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