Suzuki Motor Corporation Hit With $161 Million Verdict in Products Liability Case

Products Liability

Thomas Joseph Soulliere v. Suzuki Motors of America, Inc., et al. (Orange County Super Ct. No. 30-2015-00790644-CU-PL-CJC): On April 25, 2023 a jury entered a verdict in favor of plaintiff Thomas Joseph Soulliere in the amount of $161 million against defendant Suzuki Motor Corporation in a products liability case. In the underlying matter, plaintiff was injured while riding his recently purchased 2009 Suzuki GSX-R600 when attempting to come to a sudden stop to avoid hitting another vehicle. During his attempt to slow the motorcycle down, the front brakes failed, resulting in a collision where plaintiff suffered numerous injuries including a fractured right femur, fractured right patella and lower back and shoulder injuries. Four months after the accident, Suzuki issues a recall for a defective front brake master cylinder on all of their GSX-R series of motorcycles manufactured between 2004 to 2013. At trial, plaintiff argued that defendant Suzuki knew or should have known about the brake cylinder defect years prior to the actual disclosure, and that Suzuki failed to notify the NHTSA of such a defect within 5 days of discovering one. Plaintiff further argued that Suzuki’s conduct led to his actual injury and argued that their behavior in failing to timely disclose the defect constituted malice and oppression or fraud. Defendant argued that plaintiff was solely at fault for causing the accident and that plaintiff’s motorcycle had no evidence of a defect prior to the accident. Plaintiff was represented by The Trial Lab Corporation and The Simon Law Group. Defendants were represented by Frost, Brown & Todd LLC; Butler Snow LLP and Bowman & Broke LLP.