NEW ORLEANS – A Jefferson Parish man claims that Suzuki Motors is liable for his injuries after his motorcycle allegedly caught on fire.
Alexander Berger filed a lawsuit Jan. 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District Court of Louisiana against Suzuki Motor of America Inc., citing violation of the Louisiana Products Liability Act.
Berger alleges that he was driving his Suzuki GSX-R600 on or about Jan. 27, 2015, when, as he was turning onto Marietta Street from Veteran’s Highway in Metairie, he smelled fuel. He alleges that when he looked down, he noticed his motorcycle was on fire. He claims to have attempted to ditch the motorcycle but the fire spread to his person and he had to be pulled away from the flaming bike. The motorcycle was destroyed by the flames, the complaint states.
Berger claims to have suffered severe injuries to his right leg and back. He asserts that the defendant manufactured and sold a product that was “unreasonably dangerous” and that the defendant should have known about the likelihood that such a product would cause harm to potential consumers, such as it did to plaintiff. As a result of said negligence, plaintiff suffered permanent disfigurement and disability, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and medical expenses, the complaint states.
Berger is suing for general, special, punitive and exemplary damages as well as judicial interests, costs of suit and any other rewards deemed just by the court. He is seeking a jury trial and is represented by attorneys Stephen M. Huber and Brian P. Marcelle from Huber, Slack, Houghtaling, Pandit & Thomas LLP in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-00688-SSV-KWR