Overview
- Jeff Dennis filed the complaint in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington over a January 7, 2023 crash that killed his wife, Wendy, and left him severely injured.
- The suit alleges the 2018 Model 3 suddenly accelerated for at least five seconds and that automatic emergency braking did not engage before the car struck a utility pole.
- According to the complaint, the car’s power‑dependent exterior handles and hard‑to‑find manual releases thwarted bystanders’ rescue attempts until first responders extracted the couple.
- Plaintiffs contend defective battery chemistry and pack design increased the likelihood and intensity of a post‑impact fire.
- The filing seeks compensatory, wrongful‑death and punitive damages under California law, and it comes as federal regulators examine Tesla door systems; Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment.