US judge has upheld a $243 million verdict against Tesla in relation to a fatal Autopilot crash
A federal judge has denied Tesla’s request to overturn a $243 million jury verdict related to the 2019 crash of an Autopilot-equipped Model S, which resulted in the death of a 22-year-old woman and left her boyfriend with severe injuries.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami announced that the evidence presented at trial “more than supports” the verdict from August 2025, noting that Tesla did not introduce any new arguments to overturn the decision.
Tesla, under the leadership of Elon Musk, is anticipated to file an appeal. Neither Tesla nor its legal representatives provided an immediate response to requests for comment.
The case originated from an incident on April 25, 2019, in Key Largo, Florida, where George McGee drove his 2019 Model S through an intersection at approximately 62 mph (100 kph) while he was searching for his dropped phone.
McGee collided with the SUV belonging to Naibel Benavides Leon and Dillon Angulo, which was parked on the shoulder while they stood next to it. Benavides has lost his life.
The jury determined that Tesla bore 33% of the responsibility for the crash. Compensatory damages of $19.5 million were awarded to Benavides’ estate and $23.1 million to Angulo, along with $200 million in punitive damages to be divided between them. McGee has previously reached a settlement with the plaintiffs.
The ruling marked the initial decision from a federal jury regarding a deadly incident linked to Autopilot.
TESLA ATTRIBUTED RESPONSIBILITY TO DRIVER FOR HITTING VICTIMS
Tesla argued for a reversal, asserting that McGee was solely to blame, that his Model S was not defective, and that the verdict was contrary to common sense.
Tesla stated that automakers “do not insure the world against harms caused by reckless drivers,” arguing that punitive damages should be zero as it did not demonstrate “reckless disregard for human life” according to Florida law.
Adam Boumel, an attorney representing Benavides’ estate and Angulo, expressed that his clients were satisfied with the ruling.
“Since the very beginning, Tesla has declined to take responsibility,” Boumel stated in an email. “The Autopilot system had flaws, yet Tesla deployed it on American roads prior to its readiness and safety.”
Tesla has encountered numerous lawsuits regarding the self-driving capabilities of its vehicles, yet these cases have been resolved or dismissed without proceeding to trial.
Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, has consistently promoted Tesla as a frontrunner in autonomous driving technology for personal vehicles and robotaxis.
