Double Crash, Double Damage: Harley’s $287M Lesson in Safety

A New York state jury awarded $287 million in damages in a lawsuit against Harley-Davidson involving a defective “trike” motorcycle (Tri Glide Ultra model) that caused a fatal crash. The verdict was reached in August 2024 following a four-week trial in Livingston County Supreme Court.

The case involved Harold Morris and his late girlfriend Pamela Sinclair, who experienced two crashes due to faulty traction control software. The first incident occurred in February 2019 in Florida, causing moderate injuries when the brakes locked, and the vehicle crashed into an embankment. After this crash, Morris received a recall notice and had the vehicle serviced, with Harley-Davidson assuring him it was safe to operate.

However, a second, fatal crash occurred in June 2020 in Pennsylvania when the software malfunctioned again, causing the motorcycle to swerve into the opposite lane and crash into an embankment. This crash resulted in Sinclair’s death and catastrophic injuries to Morris.

The jury’s award included: $240 million in punitive damages ($120 million each to Morris and Sinclair’s estate), $17 million to Morris for medical expenses, $19 million to Morris for pain and suffering, and $6.5 million to Sinclair’s adult daughters for loss of consortium.

Paul Edelstein, the plaintiffs’ attorney, called the verdict “small-town justice” and emphasized the importance of holding companies accountable for unsafe products. Harley-Davidson had maintained that both accidents were Morris’s fault, but they plan to appeal the verdict.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed under the same or similar circumstances, call the law firm of Abraham Watkins today. It is imperative that you find a law firm to manage your claim as soon as possible following an injury or death of a family member. Further, it is important to find a skilled law firm with experience handling these cases to ensure that the responsible parties are held fully accountable.

The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner is the oldest personal injury firm in Texas, and our attorneys are standing by to assist with your claim. Call us today at 713-222-7211 and 1-800-870-9584 for your free consultation.