Tesla challenges $243 million verdict in Autopilot death trial

Tesla has filed a motion seeking to overturn or retry a $243 million verdict against the company in a lawsuit related to a fatal 2019 crash involving its Autopilot system. The case arose after driver George McGee, operating a Tesla Model S with Autopilot engaged, failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a parked SUV, killing 20-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and severely injuring her boyfriend. The jury assigned two-thirds of the blame to McGee and one-third to Tesla. Tesla’s lawyers argue that the verdict contradicts Florida tort law and due process, emphasizing that McGee’s reckless behavior—specifically, reaching for his phone at the time of the crash—was the primary cause. In their court filing, Tesla contends that product liability should only apply when a vehicle performs in ways that defy consumer expectations or are unreasonably dangerous, which they claim is not the case here. They warn that upholding the verdict could stifle innovation