Minimichael -- Briggs was its own insurance company, they were self insured and just like any insurance company when you have too many claims you drop the company you insure or like Briggs drop the industry you are selling to. Briggs had just as many lawyers as the insurance company and when those claims added up you make the decision lets get out, there are just too many people that don't accept the fact that shit happens.
The insurance companies did the very same thing to the go kart manufacturers they left the base premium at $159,000 if you made 100 go karts of 60,000 go karts like Manco but the kick in the ass for 2005 was you are responsible for the first $5,000 of every claim. It doesn't take a math major to figure out if you sell a kart to a dealer for $400 and now you have a potential liability for $5,000 it is time to lock the door. There were just to many nuisance suits and when a kid is involved you have loss from the get go. Those 12 people on the jury always side with the family. I was an expert witness in several suits and even when it was a stolen go kart the manufacturer still lost. I could write several books on how dumb the judicial system is and the truth means nothing --the best bullshiters win if he can tell a better story than your lawyer. The truth does NOT win out. God help us all, just think how many lawyers are in Washington, DC.