Apart from the fact that these bikes were being used for “official” business and modified accordingly, I don’t quite see how such an accident would be proven without a reasonable doubt that the manufacturer would be at fault...unfortunate as the whole affair is.

Thoughts?

Should have started on a 250cc

won't lie, this did come to mind when I read it

Rider error. A sixty mile per hour procession on an onramp or was it offramp seems a bit erroneous. Deep pockets and the need to find someone else to blame for this tragic circumstance. If I were a family member I could be talked into it being the fault of others while in deep emotional strain.
Bottom line Mr. Johnson bit off more than he could chew and his loved ones found someone to sue. No Victory lap here.

You can't blame a manufacturer for an accident caused by an inexperienced idiot riding a bike badly without having the skills or brain to not run into the back of another bike at 60KPH. The fact that he was a police officer makes no difference at all but maybe the family should be suing the police department who surely should be responsible for their own training procedure?