St. Petersburg, Russia - August 8, 2017: Motorcycle Harley Davidson. Motorcycle tank..Decision of the Day: Judge Reduces $287M Jury Verdict Against Harley-Davidson in Wrongful Death Suit
This ruling was selected and summarized by the New York Law Journal's decision editors.
December 25, 2024 at 11:00 AM
2 minute read
A Livingston County jury in August found Harley-Davidson liable in a 2020 crash that seriously injured plaintiff Harold Morris and killed his longtime companion Pamela SinClair. Morris alleged that the software for his three-wheeled motorcycle caused him to lose control of the vehicle and veer off the highway.
Following a trial, the jury awarded Morris a total of $287 million, which included $240 million for punitive damages. Livingston County Supreme Court Justice Craig Doran reduced awards for Morris' future damages and vacated the jury's award to SinClair's estate for conscious pain and suffering. Doran also reduced the total punitive damages award to $64 million, finding that the reduced amount brings the damages award closer to similar verdicts in recent case law.
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