Overview

• The first federal jury trial over a Tesla Autopilot–related death began July 14 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
• Plaintiffs presented in-car video showing that Autopilot detected a parked SUV, a pedestrian and the roadway end without activating emergency braking or issuing alerts.
• Tesla maintains that driver George McGee overrode the system by pressing the accelerator while distracted by a dropped cellphone.
• Judge Beth Bloom ruled that the jury may consider punitive damages, noting a reasonable jury could find Tesla acted in reckless disregard of human life.
• A verdict against Tesla could influence its financial exposure, stock value and the rollout of its planned robotaxi service.