Judge upholds $243M verdict against Tesla in Autopilot

Judge upholds $243M verdict against Tesla in Autopilot

A federal decide rejected Tesla’s request to overturn a $243 million jury verdict over the 2019 crash of an Autopilot-equipped Model S, which killed a 22-year-old lady and severely injured her boyfriend.

In a call made public on Friday, US District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami said the proof at trial “more than supported” the August 2025 verdict, and Tesla raised no new arguments to set the verdict apart.

Tesla, led by Elon Musk, is anticipated to attraction. Its legal professionals didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

A federal decide rejected Tesla’s request to overturn a $243 million jury verdict over the 2019 crash of an Autopilot-equipped Model S, which killed a 22-year-old lady The inside of a Tesla Model S, above. REUTERS

The case arose from an April 25, 2019, incident in Key Largo, Florida, in which George McGee drove his 2019 Model S via an intersection at about 62 mph while he bent to search for his cellphone, which he had dropped.

McGee crashed into Naibel Benavides Leon and Dillon Angulo’s SUV, which was parked on a shoulder and which they stood beside.

Jurors discovered Tesla 33% chargeable for the crash.

They awarded compensatory damages of $19.5 million to Benavides’ property and $23.1 million to Angulo, plus $200 million of punitive damages to be break up between them. McGee beforehand settled with the plaintiffs.

The verdict was the first from a federal jury regarding a deadly accident involving Autopilot.

In looking for a reversal, Tesla said McGee deserved sole blame for the crash, his Model S wasn’t faulty, and the verdict defied frequent sense.

In looking for a reversal, Elon Musk’s Tesla said McGee deserved sole blame for the crash, his Model S wasn’t faulty, and the verdict defied frequent sense. Tesla is anticipated to attraction. AP

Tesla said automakers “do not insure the world against harms caused by reckless drivers,” and punitive damages must be zero because it didn’t exhibit “reckless disregard for human life” under Florida regulation.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs also didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Tesla has confronted many related lawsuits over its autos’ self-driving capabilities, however they’ve been resolved or dismissed without going to trial.

Musk, the world’s richest individual, has lengthy touted Tesla as a pacesetter in autonomous driving for personal autos and robotaxis.

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