In the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, plaintiff Joseph Gonsoulin has filed a lawsuit against Beta USA, Inc. The case, identified as 2:24-cv-01005-EEF-KWR, was filed on April 21, 2024. The suit alleges that a defective product from the defendant led to catastrophic injuries for the plaintiff.
The plaintiff is represented by an unnamed counsel and claims that he was permanently disabled and catastrophically injured due to a defective Beta Explorer Electric motorcycle manufactured by Beta USA, Inc. The incident occurred on October 10, 2023, at Champion Cycle Center in Covington, LA.
The motorcycle in question is identified as model Beta Explorer Electric Motorcycle model year 2024. The model lacked an ignition cutoff switch which is required by federal law. Gonsoulin turned on the ignition key and the motorcycle fully engaged the 17.5-kilowatt motor and created unexpected acceleration resulting in a crash.
According to the filing, Gonsoulin's injuries have rendered him a paraplegic. He had previous experience with gasoline engine motorcycles but had never ridden a Beta Explorer Electric Motorcycle before.
Gonsoulin seeks damages from Beta USA, Inc., alleging strict liability for defects in the design and construction of the motorcycle. The court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 based on complete diversity of citizenship between Plaintiff and Defendant and an amount in controversy exceeding $75,000.