Man sues BMW for giving him 20-month erection after motorcycle ride

It is not entirely unheard of for an automobile or motorcycle company to be sued, but a new lawsuit waged against BMW North America appears to be a first. By now you’ve probably seen an erectile dysfunction commercial saying to call a doctor if your erection lasts more than 4 hours. But what it lasted 20 months? A California man is currently suing BMW and Corbin-Pacific, a motorcycle-seat maker because he claims that a four-hour trip on his 1993 BMW motorcycle has given him “a severe case of priapism” (a persistent erection). The man alleges that his unfortunate case of priapism has now gone on for 20 arduous months. Henry Wolf and his lawyer Vernon Bradley filed the lawsuit last Thursday in California Superior Court in San Francisco. Wolf claims that the bike’s ribbed “banana” seat design caused his affliction.

Wolf v. BMW reads as follows:

“Plaintiff was riding his 1993 BMW motorcycle equipped with a Corbin-Pacific seat. The ride lasted approximately two hours each way to plaintiff’s destination, after which plaintiff developed a severe case of priapism (a persistent, lasting erection). Plaintiff alleges that this condition was caused by the ridge-like seat on his motorcycle, negligently designed, manufactured and/or installed by defendants.

“Plaintiff now suffers from priapism (a long lasting erection), and has been experiencing continuing problems since his motorcycle ride. He is now unable to engage in sexual activity, which is causing him substantial emotional and mental anguish. Plaintiff is distraught and distressed because of this. Defendants, and each of them, are liable to plaintiff due [to] their negligent design, manufacture and/or installation of the seat on plaintiff’s motorcycle.”

Wolf’s costly four-hour road trip allegedly occurred on May 1, 2010, according to court documents. Wolf is now seeking compensation from BMW and Corbin for lost wages, medical expenses, product liability and negligent infliction of emotional distress and “general damage.”

Although cases such as Wolf’s are uncommon, there have been concerns related to “banana” motorcycle seats in the past. Previous claims associated motorcycle seats with infertility. It had been thought that seats could cause impotence due to their configuration and vibrations. Despite these assertions, a credible link between motorcycle riding and infertility has never been established. That said, there have been studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic and BJU International connecting bicycle riding with infertility.

Stay tuned to see if Wolf’s claims have any validity as the case unfolds.

Photo: BMW

Source: Courthouse News Service