Defense secures verdict in bicyclist injury case using plaintiff’s social media

Summary

• Defense secured a full verdict for St. Louis County Cab Company in a bicyclist injury lawsuit.
• Plaintiff sought $910,000 for pain and suffering after colliding with a taxi.
• Defense introduced Instagram photos showing the plaintiff biking, hiking and jet skiing after the crash.
• Jury assigned 100% fault to the plaintiff and awarded zero damages.

A plaintiff who was injured by a taxi while riding his bicycle demanded just under $1 million for his pain and suffering. After the defense showed the jury his social media posts, they returned a full defense verdict.

Mehdi Bouasba sued the St. Louis County Cab Company after he collided with a taxi he alleged made a U-turn in front of him, leaving him no room to stop. The taxi driver died of unrelated causes before the case was brought, leaving the cab company that rented the driver the vehicle the sole defendant.

Bouasba was represented by Jason Hine of Miller & Hine in St. Louis. The cab company was represented by Matt Vianello of Jacobson Press in Clayton.

Vianello said he successfully secured a verdict in his client’s favor by showing Bouasba’s conflicting testimony at trial about how the accident happened.

“He also testified about long-lasting pain and limitations that were shown to be false when he was presented with his Instagram photos in the years that followed the accident,” according to Vianello. “These photos showed that plaintiff continued riding bicycles after the accident despite testifying that he stopped riding. The photos showed (he) went hiking, jet skiing, and kayaking all over the world including in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Morocco, Peru, Iceland and domestically in North Carolina, Chicago and California.”

Vianello said he showed the jury about 10 of the Instagram photos of the plaintiff’s continued physical activity that contradicted his statements that it was difficult to walk long distances or to bike following the crash.

Bouasba said he had a hairline fracture in his foot and a bulging disc in his lumbar spine. A surgical specialist testified as an expert witness on his behalf.

“The plaintiff’s Instagram photos undercut any credibility that he may have had,” Vianello said. “I’d say that my, my opponent, I thought (…) did a good job, but he had bad facts.”

There were other prior injuries Bouasba hadn’t initially disclosed, Vianello added.

Hine said one of the major barriers in the case was the taxi driver’s death.

“So, the person who we were alleging was at fault and caused the crash and was negligent, we never got a deposition. There was nothing to go off of as to question him on the facts of the case, which is hurdle number one,” Hine said. “Then the second hurdle was obviously that [St. Louis County Cab Company] denied agency and so we had that to battle through as well.”

Just before trial, Vianello said his client offered $2,000 to settle with the plaintiff but the offer was rejected. Bouasba asked the jury for $910,000 for pain and suffering and did not ask for economic damages.

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Amount of verdict, judgment or settlement: $0

Type of action: Motor vehicle collision

Allocation of Fault: 100% to the plaintiff

Breakdown: Plaintiff asked the jury to award him $910,000 for pain and suffering. There was no request for any economic damages.

Venue: St. Louis County Circuit Court

Case Number/Date: 22SL-CC02586 /04/29/2026

Judge: Kristine Kerr

Plaintiffs’ Experts: Dr. Steven Stahle, a surgical specialist.

Defendants’ Experts: None

Injuries: Hairline fracture in the plaintiff’s foot; bulging discs in his lumbar spine.

Last Pretrial Offer: $2,000

Caption: Mehdi Bouasba v. St. Louis County Cab Company, Inc.

Plaintiffs’ Attorneys: Jason Hine of Miller & Hine in St. Louis.

Defendants’ Attorneys: Matt Vianello of Jacobson Press in Clayton.