• Tesla Tesla has to pay historic $243 million judgement over Autopilot crash, judge says A federal judge has rejected Tesla’s bid to overturn a $243 million jury verdict over a fatal 2019 Autopilot crash in Florida, dealing a significant blow to the automaker’s legal strategy as it faces a growing wave of lawsuits tied to its driver-assistance technology. • District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami ruled that the evidence at trial “more than supported” the verdict and that Tesla raised no new arguments to justify setting it aside. • The ruling, made public on Friday, means Tesla’s last hope to avoid paying the massive judgment at the trial court level has been exhausted. • The crash and the verdict The case stems from a deadly 2019 collision in Key Largo, Florida. • George McGee was driving his Tesla Model S with Autopilot engaged when he dropped his phone and bent down to retrieve it. • The vehicle blew through a stop sign and a flashing red light at approximately 62 mph, slamming into a parked Chevrolet Tahoe.
Article Summaries:
- A federal judge in Miami rejected Tesla’s bid to overturn a $243 million jury verdict for a 2019 Autopilot crash that killed a woman in Key Largo, Florida. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ruled that the trial evidence “more than supported” the verdict and that Tesla offered no new grounds for reversal. The case stemmed from a collision in which a Tesla Model S, while on Autopilot, struck a parked truck after the driver’s phone was dropped. The jury awarded $43 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages, marking the first major plaintiff victory against Tesla in an Autopilot‑related wrongful‑death case. Tesla plans to appeal but may face a nine‑figure payout.
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