Jury sides with ex-wife in assault, battery case — $250,000 verdict

Type of action: Civil assault and battery

Injuries alleged: Five separate instances of civil assault and battery

Name of case: Ali v. Adeel, et al.

Court: Fairfax County Circuit Court

Case no.: CL-2019-8609

Name of judge or mediator: Judge Grace Burke Carroll

Date resolved: 10/20/2022

Offer: $100,000

Verdict or settlement: Verdict

Amount: $250,000 for counter-plaintiff on counterclaim

Attorneys for defendant (and city): Jason Zellman and Mariah Henry, Farifax

Description of case: The plaintiff filed an eight-count complaint against his ex-wife and brother-in-law. The ex-wife counterclaimed for five counts of civil assault and battery. Plaintiff Adeel Ali sued ex-wife Wardah Adeel for two counts of malicious prosecution, one count of abuse of process and one count of civil conspiracy.

Plaintiff sued brother-in-law Hamza Rashid for one count of malicious prosecution, one count of abuse of process, one count of civil conspiracy and one count of tortious interference with parental relations. The abuse of process counts were dismissed on demurrer. The tortious interference with parental relations count was dismissed on a motion to strike the evidence at trial.

The jury ruled in favor of the defendants on the remaining counts of malicious prosecution and civil conspiracy. The jury ruled for counter-plaintiff Wardah Adeel on all five counts of civil assault and battery and awarded $250,000 in damages. Counter-plaintiff’s counsel, Jason F. Zellman, provided case information.