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$287 Million Recall Nightmare: The Harley Davidson Trike Case Breakdown
In this gripping episode of Trial Bible, host Gennady Voldz sits down with seasoned trial attorney Daniel A. Thomas to dissect the $287 million verdict in a case that rocked Harley-Davidson. What started as a freedom ride on a Harley Tri Glide trike ended in tragedy—and a courtroom battle that revealed a pattern of corporate deception, buried evidence, and a calculated attempt to silence justice.
Daniel walks us through how he and co-counsel Paul Edelstein proved a product defect that Harley claimed “couldn’t happen,” uncovered 90+ hidden complaints, and persuaded a jury to deliver one of the most emotional and punitive product liability verdicts in recent memory.
What you’ll learn:
- The recall that wasn’t: How Harley-Davidson misled customers and regulators
- Leveraging pre-impact terror as a legitimate and powerful damages claim
- How storytelling and emotional connection influenced the jury
- Using Excel metadata to uncover hidden truths during discovery
- Jury selection strategies for out-of-town trial lawyers
- The psychological edge of preparation, sleep, and presence in court
- How to make punitive damages real, reasonable, and persuasive
KEY MOMENTS:
0:00 – Welcome + Case Intro: Harley Trike turned tragedy
5:42 – Corporate Goliaths vs. Trial Davids
15:18 – Discovering the hidden Excel layers that changed everything
27:33 – Jury selection in small towns as a city lawyer
34:25 – Humanizing damages through neuroscience and “time dilation”
41:00 – Harley’s odd trial tactics: Waived opening and no cross
48:50 – The bag-on-handlebar theory that backfired
55:01 – Final summation strategy and verdict reveal
58:20 – How to stay sharp during long trials
1:04:45 – $287M Verdict: The moment Harley’s narrative collapsed
1:09:30 – Why wins like this change more than one life
🧰 PJI HIGHLIGHTS MENTIONED:
- Negligent Manufacture: PJI 2:125
- Negligent Design: PJI 2:126
- Punitive Damages: PJI 2:278
- Pre-Impact Terror (Conscious Pain & Suffering): PJI 2:320
🔎 GUEST CONTACT:
Daniel A. Thomas — Trial Attorney
Email: [you can insert if applicable]
Website: [optional]
📩 Subscribe & Share:
If this episode resonated with you, forward it to a fellow trial lawyer or leave us a review. Because winning cases doesn’t just come from knowing the law—it comes from knowing the fight.
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By Gennady VoldzIn this gripping episode of Trial Bible, host Gennady Voldz sits down with seasoned trial attorney Daniel A. Thomas to dissect the $287 million verdict in a case that rocked Harley-Davidson. What started as a freedom ride on a Harley Tri Glide trike ended in tragedy—and a courtroom battle that revealed a pattern of corporate deception, buried evidence, and a calculated attempt to silence justice.
Daniel walks us through how he and co-counsel Paul Edelstein proved a product defect that Harley claimed “couldn’t happen,” uncovered 90+ hidden complaints, and persuaded a jury to deliver one of the most emotional and punitive product liability verdicts in recent memory.
What you’ll learn:
- The recall that wasn’t: How Harley-Davidson misled customers and regulators
- Leveraging pre-impact terror as a legitimate and powerful damages claim
- How storytelling and emotional connection influenced the jury
- Using Excel metadata to uncover hidden truths during discovery
- Jury selection strategies for out-of-town trial lawyers
- The psychological edge of preparation, sleep, and presence in court
- How to make punitive damages real, reasonable, and persuasive
KEY MOMENTS:
0:00 – Welcome + Case Intro: Harley Trike turned tragedy
5:42 – Corporate Goliaths vs. Trial Davids
15:18 – Discovering the hidden Excel layers that changed everything
27:33 – Jury selection in small towns as a city lawyer
34:25 – Humanizing damages through neuroscience and “time dilation”
41:00 – Harley’s odd trial tactics: Waived opening and no cross
48:50 – The bag-on-handlebar theory that backfired
55:01 – Final summation strategy and verdict reveal
58:20 – How to stay sharp during long trials
1:04:45 – $287M Verdict: The moment Harley’s narrative collapsed
1:09:30 – Why wins like this change more than one life
🧰 PJI HIGHLIGHTS MENTIONED:
- Negligent Manufacture: PJI 2:125
- Negligent Design: PJI 2:126
- Punitive Damages: PJI 2:278
- Pre-Impact Terror (Conscious Pain & Suffering): PJI 2:320
🔎 GUEST CONTACT:
Daniel A. Thomas — Trial Attorney
Email: [you can insert if applicable]
Website: [optional]
📩 Subscribe & Share:
If this episode resonated with you, forward it to a fellow trial lawyer or leave us a review. Because winning cases doesn’t just come from knowing the law—it comes from knowing the fight.