A full panel of justices for the Supreme Court of Virginia unanimously said evidence from a 2014 car accident supported the reinstatement of a $7 million jury verdict in favor of an injured passenger.
On Jan. 16, the high court reversed a 2-1 split appellate court decision from May 2023 that said the evidence from a car accident that left the plaintiff, Tamara Al-Saray, with serious injuries was “purely circumstantial” and failed to make a prima facie case of negligence. Al-Saray was a passenger in Janaia Spurlock’s vehicle in November 2014. Spurlock allegedly made a left-hand turn and her vehicle was struck by another car driven by Sharon Furr. Al-Saray filed a negligence claim in Prince William County Circuit Court against both drivers claiming they were both liable for her injuries, which included a traumatic brain injury.