Court declines to overturn jury decision
A federal judge in Miami has rejected Tesla’s request to overturn a $243 million jury verdict tied to a fatal 2019 crash involving the company’s Enhanced Autopilot system. The ruling requires Tesla to compensate the family of 22-year-old Naibel Benavides, who was killed in the collision, as well as Dillon Angulo, who survived but suffered severe injuries.
U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom wrote that the evidence presented at trial “more than supports the jury verdict,” concluding there was no legal error or new argument that warranted a new trial or a change to the award.
Details of the 2019 Key Largo crash
The crash occurred in Key Largo, Florida, when Tesla owner George McGee was driving his Model S while using Enhanced Autopilot, a partially automated driver assistance feature. During testimony, McGee said he dropped his phone and believed the system would automatically brake if an obstacle appeared.
Instead, the vehicle accelerated through an intersection at just over 60 miles per hour, striking a parked car and then hitting Benavides and Angulo, who were standing nearby.
Last year, a jury found Tesla partially responsible for the incident, determining that both the system’s performance and the company’s representations about its capabilities contributed to the fatal outcome.
Tesla sought reduced damages
Tesla moved to appeal the verdict, requesting either that the judgment be vacated or that a new trial be granted. The company’s legal team, led by Gibson Dunn, argued that compensatory damages should be reduced from $129 million to no more than $69 million, which would have significantly lowered the total payout. They also contended that punitive damages should be eliminated or capped at three times compensatory damages under Florida law.
The court declined those requests. Attorneys for Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the ruling.
Implications for Tesla’s autonomous ambitions
The decision adds pressure on Tesla as it works to expand its autonomous driving ambitions. The automaker is attempting to establish a stronger position in the emerging robotaxi market, where it trails competitors such as Alphabet’s Waymo in the United States and Baidu’s Apollo Go in China. Both rivals already operate commercial driverless ride-hailing services.
While CEO Elon Musk has said Tesla aims to roll out a broad network of driverless robotaxis in the U.S. by the end of 2026, the company currently operates only a limited number of autonomous vehicles in select areas, including Austin, Texas, and does not yet provide widespread fully driverless services.
The court’s decision underscores the legal and regulatory scrutiny surrounding automated driving technologies and the evolving standards for accountability when such systems are involved in serious accidents.
